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Waco's attractive qualities include its low cost of living and low cost of doing business.

Zoning Maps
Brazos River Corridor
Tax Increment Finance Zone
Public Improvement District

City of Ordinances

COST OF LIVING
89.3 4th Quarter 2007
Comparison Cities:
El Paso
93.2
San Antonio
94.4
Dallas
90.9
Tyler
94.4
Purchasing Power
Housing
79.7
Groceries
80.9
Health Care
95.4
Misc. Goods/Svc
98.8
Transportation
88.6
Source: American Chamber of Commerce
Researchers Association (ACCRA)
TAXATION
Sales & Income Tax 2007
Municipal Sales Tax
1.5%
State Sales Tax
6.25%
McLennan County Tax
0.5%
State Income Tax
0%
Total
8.25%
Real Property Tax (per $100) 2007
City of Waco
0.78623
McLennan County Tax Rates 2006
0.4529
McLennan Community College
0.153002
Waco ISD
1.162050
Total
2.566482
Real Property Taxable Value 2007
McLennan County
Assessed Value $12,339,712,965
Taxable Value (after exemptions) $9,466,357,737
Franchise and Special Fees 2007
(net earned surplus)
Telephone
$1.04 / line (residential)
$2.78 / line (non-residential)
$2.78 / line (point-to-point)
Water, Wastewater & Solid Waste
4% gross receipts
Cable Television
5% gross receipts
Electricity
.002709 per KWH
Gas Energy
4% gross receipts
Commercial Solid Waste Haulers
4% gross receipts
Unemployment tax rate on taxable wages:
Texas Workforce Commission:
Approx. 2.7% up to $9,000
per employee

 


Major Housing Starts
by School District    
District 2003 2004 2005 2006
China Spring ISD
199
229
162
187
Robinson ISD
75
73
109
131
Midway ISD
317
420
474
481
Waco ISD
100
137
124

137

 

 

 

 





Waco MSA
Retail Sales Information
  TOTAL
2006
$3,063,342,120
2005
$2,848,257,766
2004
$2,739,301,661
2003
$2,629,053,899
2002
$2,535,226,240
Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts


 

 

 

 

 




Available Tax Exemptions
Property Tax Exemptions (Form 50-128)
Certain property types may be exempt from property tax. Tax abatement is also available for industrial development business investments that create new jobs and income. 
Sales Tax Exemption (Form 01-339)
Manufacturing Machine, Equipment, replacement parts, and accessories along with electricity and natural gas used in manufacturing, processing or fabricating may be eligible for tax exemption.
Freeport Tax Exemptions (Form 50-113)
Certain goods (goods, wares, merchandise, ores, and certain aircraft and aircraft parts) detained in Texas for a period of 175 days or less for assembly, storage, manufacturing, processing or fabricating more be eligible for tax exemption.
Additional Information

Assessment Rate of Property Value: 100%

Personal Property Depreciation Schedule






 

 

 

 

 

 





City of Waco Building Permits
Type 2007 Value

2006

Value

2005

Value

2004

Value

Single Family

484 $75,555054 488 $80,328,135 498 $75,799,613 410 $60,928,126

2 Family/Multi Family (# permits:# dwelling units)

15:34 $12,735,400 138:217 $15,912,194 25:287 $19,930,000 75: 566 $31,042,000

Commercial

45 $62,747,086 39 $192,090,441 27 $17,726,197 43 $25,009,630

Renovation – Dwelling

734 $4,348,624 1629 $11,589,907 979 $7,219,905 1072 $6,175,209

Renovation – Commercial

305 $94,325,498 374 $66,737,445 265 $32,754,394 375 $42,878,406

Total

2588 $273,469,785 2668 $366,658,122 1794 $153,430,109 1975 $166,033,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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