Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt the 2012 property appraisal roll for the city.

The Jefferson County Appraisal District and Orange County Appraisal District each provided tax rolls to the city.

“The City of Port Arthur 2012 certified appraised values of $2,657,904,331 increased $30,161,151 from 2011,” Assistant City Manager Rebecca Underhill said. “This is an increase of 1.15 percent from 2011. Exemptions in the amount of $454,067,728 reduced the appraised values by 17.08 percent.”

The city council voted to issue a notice of the effective tax rate for the 2012 tax year. The year's effective tax rate totals $0.809375 per $100 valuation. If the city council chose to approve such a tax rate, the city would draw revenues equal to those drawn in the 2011 tax year. The 2011 tax rate was $0.792 per $100 valuation.

The city's rollback tax rate for 2012 is $0.845814. Implementing a tax rate above the rollback rate allows for citizens to petition for a rollback election.

The city council voted to approve a contract with Jesse Branick as the city prosecutor.

The city council voted to appoint John L. Clayton, Dr. Rosalind Queen, George Boutte, Jr., Eddie Scaggs and Deral Seglar as members and Reverend Donald R. A. Toussaint, Sr., Freddie Ruth Earl and Lillie Williams as alternates to the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals.

The city council voted unanimously to approve a one-year contract with Lane Staffing of Houston to provide temporary employment services.

All items were approved.  All votes were unanimous with all members present.  Agenda