NEDERLAND — The average Nederland homeowner with a house valued at $100,000 could pay about $2.15 more in city taxes next year if the city council adopts the proposed tax rate of $0.5940 per $100 valuation, or 18 cents more per month.

The proposed tax rate is 0.36 percent more than the current tax rate of $0.591853 per $100 valuation, or an increase of $0.002147. It is 0.15 percent above the effective tax rate, the rate that would raise the same amount of money for the city using the new property valuations.

“The reason we proposed this modest adjustment is [Nederland] Chief of Police asked for an additional police officer position,” Chris Duque, City Manager for the City of Nederland, said. “We went through the goals and felt that there was a definite need in the community.”

The Nederland City Council attempted to fit the new position into the already existing budget, but as Duque said, “As much as we tried to get it into the budget, it was not doable without an increase in the tax rate.”

Duque was quick to point out though that even with the proposed increase, Nederland would still have the lowest tax rate of any full service city in Jefferson County.

“I think only one other municipal has a lower tax rate in the county, but it’s not a full service city,” Duque said.

What this means for an average homeowner whose home is valued at $200,000 is that his or her taxes would cost about $4.29 more in a year, or 36 cents more per month. For a home valued at $300,000, the tax increase would be about $6.44 more in the year, or 54 cents more per month.

“This slight adjustment gives us more law enforcement and allows our safety personnel to be properly compensated for their work,” Duque said.

Homestead exemptions of $15,000 will be available for the elderly and disabled.