COMMISSIONERS GET UPDATE ON ANNUAL TAX PHASE IN COMPLIANCE REPORT

  

The Washington County Commissioners met Tuesday morning were presented with the annual Tax Phase-In Compliance Review Committee report.

According to Washington County’s Tax Phase-In Policy, a Compliance Review Committee collects from every tax phase-in incentive recipient a sworn statement of compliance and verifying documents to insure that all requirements have been met. The Committee then provides a report on the status of all Tax Phase-In incentive agreement to the County Commissioners on or before December 15th of each year.

The tax phase-in is giving on a descending scale, valid from between six to eight years. Property tax, including Blinn College and Brenham ISD taxes are always paid in full.

According to County Judge John Brieden, the County’s sales tax is up slightly for the year despite the recent layoffs, which he attributes to the tax phase-in given to these companies, which hire locally and contribute locally to the sales tax base.

Clint Colby, Project Manager for the Brenham Economic Development Foundation, explained that there are ten companies receiving the tax abatements:

Advanced Data Storage – in their 5th year

Stanpac – in their 4th year

QuestVapco – in their 4th year

Blue Bell Creameries – 2 Tax Phase-In agreement/ One agreement is in the 4th year and the other is in its 2nd year.

Valmont Industries – in their 3rd year

Longwood Elastomers – in their 3rd year

MIC Group – in their 2nd year

Brazos Valley Brewing Company – in their 2nd year

PPE/GSL – in their 1st year

Tempur Sealy – in their first year.

Those on the Tax Phase in Compliance Committee include Susan Ebel and Catherine Kenjura representing the City, Roger Chambers and John Gunn, representing the County, and Willy Dilworth, representing the Appraisal District.

All ten companies have met the criteria to continue receive the tax phase-in incentive.

The Commissioners also discussed awarding bids for several items in the county including tree removal and culverts and fuel for several county departments.

Bids were considered for a driving bridge piling, oils, asphalts and emulsion, road construction materials and steel products.

An Interlocal Agreement between the City of Brenham and Washington County for sanitation services at the Citizen’s Collection Station was approved. This agreement is for one year, and will be for keeping roads cleared of brush and other debris, in conjunction with the Road and Bridge Department.

Reports from the county offices were also heard by the Commissioners.