Chandler's property tax rising
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Chandler's property tax rate will take a climb this year. The ad-valorem tax, tax based on the value of real estate, will rise to 3.435 cents for every $100. This brings the total property tax rate to .350766 per 100 from .316410 per 100.

Jim Moffeit, Chandler's city administrator, said if a house is appraised at $100,000, the new tax amount for the house is $350.77, rather than $316.41. The payment is a yearly requirement on all real property, such as land and buildings.

"The thing we have to be careful of," Moffeit began, "is if we raise taxes beyond the rollback rate. If we're one penny over the rollback rate, it can be challenged."

A tax's rollback rate determines what a governmental entity, for example, the city of Chandler, can do before the decision can be challenged and reversed by the populace.

"We're at our rollback rate right now," Moffeit explained.

Even one cent more and the tax rate could be challenged and lessened by the populace to the rollback rate, Moffeit continued.

The reason for the increase is due to the rising costs of operation, Moffeit said.

"We have to stay abreast of inflation. Fuel costs, insurance for employees, these continue to rise," Moffeit remarked. "There are going to be a few people that don't like it, some that will, and some that won't care."

Byron Redden, a Chandler resident, is among those who don't like it.

"The reason I moved from Tyler was to lower my taxes, not increase them every year," Redden said.

Redden added that though taxes in Chandler are still lower than Tyler's taxes, he said he believes Chandler taxes will likely go up again.

"I see taxes going up again, and I see people leaving Chandler," Redden said.

Moffeit said the collective certified value of all Chandler property is worth $124,273,298 with $24,308,127 of the amount frozen.

"Some of the older people don't have to pay the tax increase, " Moffeit explained. "Their taxes are frozen at a certain point and will not rise."

Regardless of how much the taxes are worth, the price is just something people will have to pay, Moffeit said.

"Cities are nonprofit organizations, " Moffeit commented. "We shouldn't make money; just enough to cover expenses."

Redden expressed some anxiety over Chandler's tax rate.

"I would like to see Chandler go in the right direction," Redden said.