(a)
Ad valorem taxes.
The city council shall have the power within the city to annually levy and collect taxes in an amount not exceeding two and one-half percent (2½%) of the assessed value of property situated in the city which is not exempt from taxation by the Constitution and Laws of the State of Texas, for all purposes, including the payment of interest and sinking funds for all bonded indebtedness, and for all other purposes, and shall at the time of the levy provide first for the payment of the interest and sinking funds, and allocate the remainder as may be required.
No debt shall ever be created by the city unless at the same time provision be made to assess and collect annually a sufficient sum to pay the interest thereon, and create a sinking fund of at least two percent (2%).
(b)
Franchise taxes.
The council shall have the power annually to levy and collect a franchise tax and a gross receipts tax against any public service corporation, person, or entity holding a franchise for the use and occupancy of public streets, alleys, or grounds of the city, separately from the tangible property of such corporation, companies and corporate institutions, as the same now or may be assessed by the state laws, and shall have full power to enforce the collection of such taxes.
The council shall also have the power to regulate, control, and prohibit the use of streets, alleys, sidewalks, and public grounds of the city by the said franchise holders, and may fix and impose a reasonable annual tax on each pole or other obstruction maintained by the said franchise holders in any street, sidewalk, alley or any other public grounds of the city, and may also fix, regulate, and graduate the taxes so imposed by levying and imposing a greater or less tax, depending upon the location of said poles or other obstruction.
(c)
Reserved.
(d)
Hotel/motel taxes.
The city council shall have the right to impose a tax on the rental of hotel and motel rooms, as provided by the laws of the State of Texas.
(e)
Sales taxes.
The city council shall have the right to impose various taxes on taxable sales and uses, as provided by the laws of the State of Texas.
(Ordinance 4745, sec. 2, adopted 3/8/99; Resolution 6300 adopted 11/20/17)