The Reno City Council rolled up its sleeves and took care of business when it met Monday, Sept. 14. Over the course of three hours — and on the heels of two water main breaks that essentially drained the city’s entire water system over the preceding weekend — the council adopted a proposed tax rate; conducted a public interview of a candidate for a consulting position; held two public hearings; approved an increase in water rates for those who use the highest amounts of water; accepted the resignation of the city secretary and named a longtime employee to fill in as interim city secretary, and named an interim police chief, among other items on the packed agenda.
Likely the most important thing to Reno citizens was the adoption of a proposed tax rate of $0.412974 for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The council will formally adopt a tax rate when it meets again Sept. 28. The rate represents an increase of 8.7467 cents per $100 valuation from the current rate.
During discussion, council member Place 5 Darrin Talley pointed out that over the last 10 years, the city’s tax rate has consistently dropped, from a high of about 53 cents per $100 valuation in 2016 to a low of $0.325507 per $100 valuation for the current fiscal year. He added that because the city had not completed its audits, it was not able to legally raise the tax rate for a portion of that time.
