Columbus council has taxes and swimming on its mind

COLUMBUS — City Council held hearings on the proposed 2024 tax rate and voted to allow student swimmers to practice in the municipal pool.

The council Aug. 28 proposed a tax rate of nearly 30 cents per $100 property valuation during discussions about the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

The city’s budget by law must be in place by Oct. 1.

A follow-up hearing on the proposed tax rate will be 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in Council Chambers, 605 Spring St.

If approved, an average homeowner could see a 6.6% increase in property taxes, according to city records.

Elected leaders on the dais also OK’d the use of the city swimming pool by the Columbus High School swim team during September and October.

The move saves the team from having to go to El Capo to an indoor pool for practice, council members said.

In other business, city leaders approved street closures for the Columbus High Cardinal Booster Homecoming Parade 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 20.

Those closures include Cardinal Lane from Park Street to Montezuma Street; Montezuma from Cardinal to Legion Drive; Legion rom Montezuma to Veterans Drive; Veterans from Legion to Milentz Street; Milentz from Veterans to the Marley Giddens Center.

The council also authorized the city fire marshal to look into charging businesses for multiple false alarms cause by anything from a bad sensor to a low battery or other reasons.

Businesses should make sure their alarm systems are up to date and working properly, especially as local firefighters are undermanned and need to be ready for potential grass fires during the extended drought, officials said.

In addition, city leaders approved a certification for cybersecurity training and street closures for all home football games at Columbus High.