El Campo homeowners could face higher tax bills next year after City Council voted 4-0 to set the levy ceiling at 49.144 cents per $100 of value, up from 46. Officials say the change isn’t technically a tax hike but is needed as sales tax revenue falls short. City Manager Courtney Sladek said the city is tightening spending with no employee raises and limited new purchases. The lone boost goes to EMS, which will add another ambulance crew. Final adoption of the rate comes later this year, marking El Campo’s first tax increase in six years.