Resolution 2025-20_Opposition to Senate Bill 9

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RESOLUTION NO. 2025-20 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 9, AND URGING THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO REJECT THIS AND SIMILAR MEASURES IN THEIR CURRENT FORM WHEREAS, Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) proposes to lower the revenue multiplier in the voter -approval tax rate calculation for a city or county with certain populations from 3.5 percent to 2.5 percent, meaning that for roughly the 113 most populous cities in the state, the voter -approval tax rate calculation would be lowered and an automatic election on the November uniform election date would be required for any adopted tax rate exceeding the voter -approval rate; and WHEREAS, SB 9 proposes to further limit cities' ability to raise necessary revenue without voter approval; and WHEREAS, SB 9 takes an overly narrow approach that will have unintended and harmful consequences for cities across the state, particularly in areas of public safety, infrastructure, and community services; and WHEREAS, property tax constraints on cities can drive the creation of more MUDS and special districts, ironically shifting the tax burden to less accountable and less transparent entities with higher tax rates and WHEREAS, SB 9 presumes that city property tax rates are a primary driver of rising property tax burdens across Texas, but in many communities Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Special Purpose Districts impose significantly higher tax rates than general-purpose municipalities. MUD tax rates often exceed $1.00 per $100 valuation, while many cities maintain rates well below that level, despite the rising cost of service delivery and inflationary pressures which generally exceeds the already restrictive 3.5% voter approval rate; and WHEREAS, SB 9, if it becomes law, would be particularly dangerous in the context of public safety funding, as police, fire, EMS, and 911 communications are core municipal responsibilities and that represents 30% of La Porte's budget. With cities already operating near the margin of voter -approval tax rates, SB 9 could force reductions in emergency response times, recruitment and retention of first responders, and capital replacement for critical equipment.; and WHEREAS, while the City of La Porte supports meaningful tax relief for citizens, SB 9 presents significant financial and operational risks to the City of La Porte and its citizens, warranting strong opposition. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS: SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of La Porte, Texas, formally opposes SB 9 and urges the Texas Legislature to reject this and similar measures in their current form.