The Branson City Council has approved a tax rate hike for property taxes in Branson.
During this week’s scheduled meeting, aldermen approved a measure that increased property taxes by 4 percent. The new  property tax levy will be $0.5494 per $100 of assessed valuation.
In other Branson news: As a result of Branson’s burgeoning population from 6,000 in 2000 to 10,000 in 2010, city officials are working to balance the growth in the three aldermanic wards for equal representation.
During a Board Study Session last Thursday, city Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator Curtis Copeland presented a proposed version of what the wards would look like in the wake of the redistricting.
Copeland said the main criteria are population followed by registered voters, active voters and keeping a 10 percent or less deviation between the city’s wards.
“Ten years ago in 2000, the redistricting turned out to be a major change in wards,” said Copeland. “However, with those changes already in place, the latest redistricting appears to be minimal.”
Currently, Ward 3 makes up the southern end of the city along Lake Taneycomo and goes as far north as Highway 76 and reaches just east of U.S. 65 along the lake.  The 2010 changes put Ward 3 residents east of 65 along the lake into Ward 2.
The proposed map would also have Ward 2 reaching farther west on the north end of the city which currently is part of Ward 1. The city saw a noticeable increase in residents in the Branson Hills area and multi-family complexes on Missouri 248 in Ward 2.  Ward 1 also saw growth near Branson Meadows and developments in the Missouri 376 and 265 areas.
The redistricting proposal is still in the development phase, and it will most likely be November before it goes before the Board of Alderman for public hearing and approval.

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