Fort Bend Sun Covers Missouri City Tax Increase Controversy--

Missouri City Tax Hike Draws Pointed Words--

At the Monday city council session more words were exchanged by Jerry Wyatt, Allen Owen in support of a recent 5-1 vote in favor of a 5%+ increase in city property taxes with newly elected reform council member Cynthia Gary, who voted against the increase.

Missouri City already touts the highest taxes for a city its size in Fort Bend County and has many retirees and people living on fixed incomes. This was some of the reasoning given by Professor Gary, the district B council representative for her opposition. She continued that she couldn't in good conscious vote to raise homeowners and business taxes even before the purchase of the potentially tax consuming QVCC.

The controversy came to a head at the Sept. 17th regular city council session at the only reading and vote on the property tax hike. Most city ordinances involve two readings and votes giving the public time to attend and comment. Later the city would deny that this was "rushed" through. Kevin Tunstall, rumored to be viewing one of the at large city council seats, confronted city council in a challenge to them to just "say no" to more taxes and to re-examine your spending habits first.

MCC will continue to follow-up on this as we approach the spring council races. . . -stay informed and keep in touch!