South Pasadena keeps tax rate level; plans include new fire station

SOUTH PASADENA — The city's property tax rate will not increase in the coming year and city employees can expect raises.

The City Commission recently approved a property tax rate of $3.25 for each $1,000 of assessed, taxable value, the same as this year's, but the city will have more money to spend because property values have increased by 5.7 percent.

That will add about $100,000 in revenues to the city's 2017- 2018 budget, said finance director James Graham.

A home valued at $100,000 after homestead exemptions would pay $325 in property taxes.

Firefighters will get a 3 percent increase and the salaries of general city employees will go up by 1.5 percent. Overall, general fund operating expenditures will go from $4.9 million to $5.1 million, Graham said.

A new fire station is the biggest capital improvement in the works. The city has decided to offer $750,000 to Tradewinds Church for its land on Park Street to build a new station.

"Our fire station is 40 years old," said South Pasadena Fire Chief David Mixson. "Ideally, we don't want to put more money into it."

The fire station on Oleander Way needs major repairs, including a new roof, flooring, a paint job, an upgrade of living quarters and improved fitness area, he said.