City of Mesquite to address Tax Rate Election in town hall sessions

Mesquite, Texas - In light of growing public interest, the City of Mesquite has arranged two Town Hall Tuesday sessions to discuss the forthcoming Tax Rate Election with residents.

The first session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on September 26 at the Florence Recreation Center, located at 2501 Whitson Way. The subsequent session will take place at the same time, 6:30 p.m., on October 10, but will be held at the Rutherford Recreation Center, located at 900 Rutherford Drive.

Recent survey data has highlighted concerns among the community. A significant 66% of respondents indicated that street maintenance is a pressing concern, while 64% identified the quality of police and fire services as a top priority for the city over the next five years.

In response to these findings and other considerations, the Mesquite City Council endorsed the city’s financial plan for the fiscal year 2023-24 in August. This budget addresses various concerns, including road maintenance, increasing law enforcement personnel, building a new fire station with necessary staffing and equipment, and introducing a new Behavioral Health Division.

To fund these initiatives, there will be an increase in the municipal tax rate—an exact raise of $0.03186 per $100 of ad valorem value. Because this increase exceeds the state-mandated tax cap of 3.5%, a public vote is required. Therefore, residents will be asked to vote on Proposition A on November 7. Early voting will begin on October 23 for those who wish to participate before the official date.

Credit: Dallas Metro News