NRH city employees take care of our community in many ways and over the past year we rose to the many challenges presented by the pandemic and winter storm Uri. Long-term planning and budgeting allow us to address the needs of the community in an efficient and cost-effective manner, even in challenging times. As we prepare the annual city budget and tax rate for the next fiscal year, we want your input on how we can better serve you. Residents are invited to submit comments during a public hearing next Thursday, Aug. 12 or via the city’s website at www.nrhtx.com/budget.

The proposed budget for FY 2021/22 is balanced and provides funding to continue services that residents depend on every day including police, fire and emergency medical services, street, drainage and utility infrastructure, animal control, code compliance, building and health inspections, library services, and parks and recreation.

The city’s proposed property tax rate is $0.572184 per $100 property valuation, which is a slight reduction from the current rate of $0.5757. At the proposed rate, a home in North Richland Hills with an average taxable value of $220,247 would pay $1,260.22 in annual property tax to the city. Just over half (50.8%) of your city property tax goes to Public Safety and around 22% goes to Public Works, with the rest split among other city services.

Individual taxpayers’ property taxes may decrease, increase or remain the same depending on changes in the appraised value of their property. 28.3% of NRH homeowners benefit from the senior / disabled tax freeze and will not pay more in property taxes to the city than what they paid in the year their tax freeze went into effect unless they bought a new home or added on to their home.

As a reminder, the city’s property tax rate is just one portion of your overall tax bill. Residents also pay property taxes to the school district, county, county hospital district, and county college district. In accordance with Senate Bill 2, the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019, you can view the proposed taxes for your property and email comments to the taxing districts at www.tarranttaxinfo.com.

Fireworks at NRH₂O this Saturday

Fireworks will light up the sky over NRH₂O Family Water Park on Saturday, Aug. 7, starting at around 9 p.m. Pets may be startled by the noise, so if you live nearby please keep them indoors.

NRH₂O Family Water Park is open daily through Aug. 15 and then on weekends through Sept. 19. For hours and admission information visit www.nrh2o.com.

The annual Doogie Beach Bash benefiting the NRH Animal Adoption & Rescue Center will be held at NRH₂O on Saturday, Sept. 25. Visit www.nrhtx.com/beachbash for details.

After a long pause, live music returns to North Richland Hills with free Friday evening concerts from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1. Join us at City Hall Plaza, 4301 City Point Dr., as some great area music groups take the stage to entertain you. Seating will open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and prepare for fun, relaxation and your favorite tunes under the stars this fall.

Admission is free and parking is free. Free take and make arts and crafts packets will be available at each concert for the younger music fans in attendance. Food will be available for purchase from a variety of food trucks. You are welcome to bring your own picnic, but please no glass containers.

Good times and great music are back in North Richland Hills! Please visit www.nrhtx.com/sounds to view the fall concert series lineup and get more information. Questions can be directed to the Parks & Recreation Department at 817-427-6620.

Free Comic Book Day is an annual celebration promoting the joy of reading through comics. So, grab your best hero attire and head over to the NRH Library on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 1 - 3 p.m. to celebrate all things comics. We'll have themed activities, photo ops with costumed characters, and of course - free comics while supplies last.

The Perot TECH Truck, a mobile makerspace from the Perot Museum, will be visiting the NRH Library on from 2 - 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28. Stop by The Maker Spot on the 2nd floor of the Library to experience a variety of fun and engaging STEAM activities.

The NRH Library is located at 9015 Grand Ave. For more information on Library activities, call 817-427-6800 or visit www.library.nrhtx.com.

The NRH Animal Adoption & Rescue Center is partnering with the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection for a Low-Cost Pet Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the center located at 7301 Iron Horse Blvd. The clinic will include: $5 rabies shot; $10 City registration; $30 microchip.

Please visit www.texasforthem.org/hours-locations/vaccinations/ for additional information. Dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers for their safety.

It takes all of us working together to combat mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. Any amount of standing water can give mosquitoes a place to lay their eggs. Most mosquito species require 8 to 14 days to complete their development, so puddles and other areas of standing water become a cause for concern if they don’t dry up and remain stagnant for more than a week.

Use this backyard checklist to eliminate any standing water on your property and remember to protect yourself by wearing mosquito repellent whenever you spend time outdoors.

City staff have treated creeks and drainage channels throughout North Richland Hills with larvicide to reduce mosquito breeding sites. Areas are monitored and re-treated as needed. The city also works with Tarrant County Public Health to monitor for mosquito-borne illnesses and implement mosquito control activities. Targeted spraying is conducted in areas where a mosquito-borne illness is confirmed.

Visit www.nrhtx.com/mosquitocontrol to get more information and sign up for spraying alerts. Questions regarding mosquito control may be directed to NRH Neighborhood Services at 817-427-6650.