Thursday, March 28, 2024

Dixon: Dedicated sales tax dollars benefit town in many ways

Flower Mound Mayor Steve Dixon

A lot of great things have happened in Flower Mound this year. Just last month, voters passed the reauthorization of the dedicated street maintenance sales tax, keeping the sales tax rate in Flower Mound at 8.25 percent. Although it may seem unimportant, the dedicated street maintenance sales tax pays for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Flower Mound roadways. Did you know that since it was first authorized by voters in 2007, the quarter-cent dedicated sales tax has helped pay for more than $18 million in road projects?

Flower Mound has a total of four, one-quarter cent dedicated sales tax that goes specifically toward our parks, streets, as well as Police and Fire Departments.

Although it may be convenient to shop online during the hectic holiday season, those sales tax dollars have a big impact on Flower Mound. The dollars and cents you pay on everything from batteries to big screen TVs add up to important improvements to the community we call home.

During this 2019 – 2020 Fiscal Year budget cycle alone, dedicated sales tax dollars will pay for the following projects and personnel:

Streets

  • Forest Vista Drive reconstruction, from Morriss to Chancellor
  • Blue Ridge Trail reconstruction, Branchwood to Country Meadows
  • Colonial Drive reconstruction, Whitney Lane to Homestead Drive
  • Edgefield Trail reconstruction, from Wood Creek to Timber Valley Drive

Parks

  • Chinn Chapel Park playground replacement
  • Pecan Orchard Park playground replacement
  • Bakersfield Park enhancements
  • Lightning Detection System replacements at six parks
  • Rheudasil Park improvements
  • Trails Master Plan updates
  • Partial funding toward Peters Colony Memorial Park
  • Other park and trail amenities

Fire Control

  • 5 full-time employees
  • Firefighting equipment
  • Communications backup equipment
  • Two outdoor warning sirens

Crime Control

  • 5 full-time employees
  • School Resource Officer vehicle
  • Equipment for officer who serves on regional drug enforcement task force
  • Radio enhancements
  • Commercial vehicle enforcement scale (determines if 18-wheelers are over the designated weight limit on our roadways)
  • Other officer equipment

Flower Mound has approximately 125 restaurants and 200 retailers. Over the last six years, sales tax has increased by more than 40 percent, which accounted for nearly 20 percent of the Town’s revenue in 2018. I’m thankful for our thriving business community and for everyone who shops and dines local this holiday season and throughout the year. You are making a difference in Flower Mound. For a list of new businesses in Flower Mound, visit www.flower-mound.com/newbusinesses.

I hope you and your family have a safe and memorable Christmas and New Year’s. Throughout December, please visit www.flower-mound.com/specialevents for all our upcoming events for the whole family.

CTG Staff
CTG Staff
The Cross Timbers Gazette News Department

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