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Pflugerville Firefighter Association Asking For Tax Increase


A new proposal could increase taxes in Pflugerville and Northeast Travis County. The money would be used to fund fire and emergency medical service. It's an issue that's being watched closely and could lead to an increase in taxes in Pflugerville and the residents of Wells Branch Parkway in northeast Travis County.

The Pflugerville Firefighters Association Local #4137 is asking to create a new district that is geographically identical to an existing district, also known as an "overlay" district.

If you live in these areas it means your tax rate would go up ten cents per $100 of property value. Which on a $200,000 house is somewhere around $190-$200 a year. Pflugerville Mayor Jeff Coleman says he and other council members are concerned about the possibility of increasing taxes.

The attorney for the firefighters association says the money is needed because firefighters in the area are not currently meeting response time and more money is needed for additional personnel and equipment. Mayor Coleman says, "The Pflugerville City Council is sympathetic to that but I guess we're really trying to make sure that whatever is done is best for Pflugerville citizens."

City council members are still gathering information about what the money will be used for and how much is really needed.

Some residents we spoke with don't mind paying the extra tax. "Firefighters are very underpaid and overworked and often times they don't have enough equipment so, I would be okay with a tax, as long as it's benefitting the community and I think it would," says Pflugerville resident Kahra Perrette.

By Lydia Pantazes