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Odessa City Council voted 6-0 to set the tax rate for fiscal year 2021-22 at $ 0.477115 in its Tuesday working session.
Deputy City Manager of Administrative Services Cindy Muncy said the proposed tax rate is the same as for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, but is expected to increase the city’s revenue by $ 587,774.
City Manager Michael Marrero said the increase in income is expected due to the increase in property values ​​and additional housing in the city.
Setting the tax rate requires two votes by the council. The board voted 7-0 in favor at its September 14 meeting. Councilor Denise Swanner did not attend Tuesday’s working session, which resulted in the 6-0 vote.
Marrero said he expects a proposed contract deal to be ready for council consideration on September 28, which would allow the city to donate vacant land downtown to the College. from Odessa. The property is the former US building site in Odessa, which was purchased in 2016 for around $ 1.6 million as part of a downtown revitalization effort. The city paid $ 345,000 to remove asbestos, demolish the building and clear the land.
Odessa College officials recently applied for the Fourth Street and Jackson property where they plan to invest $ 1.5 million to create green spaces and landscaping, and build a stage for concerts and community events. .
The proposed plan would also include the installation of new wading pools, seating areas, and additional programs and activities designed to attract a younger crowd to the city center, school officials said.
The college’s long-term plan includes the construction of a new three-story school building that would house the college’s entrepreneurial classes and serve as the site for a business incubator where students could start new businesses.
On Tuesday, the board considered a request from the fire department to purchase a 2019 Demers Ford F 450 ambulance / chassis for $ 332,370. The vehicle would be purchased from Siddons Martin Emergency Group, LLC in Denton, TX.
The ministry would also like to purchase additional equipment for the vehicle, including a heart monitor, $ 2999.09, a computer, $ 5,926.17 and a radio system, $ 16,800. The purchase of the vehicle and equipment would be paid for through the Fire Department’s Equipment Services account, Chief John Alvarez said.
Alvarez said the ambulance was needed due to the increase in COVID-19 services and calls. This vehicle, which was previously used as a demo, would be delivered and ready for use in 2-3 months, Alvarez said. An order for a new vehicle would take over a year to deliver due to high demand across the country.
Council, which has previously expressed support for the purchase, which votes on the request at Tuesday’s council meeting.
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