COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPT BUDGET AND TAX RATE

  

Washington County Commissioners formally adopted the 2015 budget this morning. The budget represents a 15 percent increase over last year, due mostly to the County taking on Emergency Dispatch.  There were no comments during the public hearing on the budget, but there was a question about the process:

 

The Commissioners also adopted the new tax rate of 52.11-cents per $100 valuation. That is an increase of 12.65-percent from the current rate of 46.26 cents.  With the increase from new property on the tax rolls, the revenue generated by the new tax rate will match the adopted budget.

In other action, the Commissioners voted down a burn ban, noting that all of the county received rain in the past week and there is more forecasted in the next few days.

Nathan Preston small
Emergency Communications Director Nathan Preston

Emergency Communications Director Nathan Preston gave an update on how the October 1st changeover of communications to the county is progressing.  He said they are on track building a team that will be ready on the changeover date.  Preston also stated he wants to improve upon an already outstanding department.

EMS Director Kevin Deramus noted in his monthly report that this is a busy time of year for them with football, fairs and festivals in the county. He also noted that out of county transfers were up 30 percent over last year, most of those going to Scott and White Hospital in College Station.  Deramus stated that the transfers were adding more miles to the ambulances, but they were also a revenue generating source.

In the Sheriff’s Department monthly report, Captain of Operations Claude Free noted that home burglaries were up. He said a lot of these were on weekend homes where the burglars knew no one would be at home.  He also said that a lot of the loose livestock calls they receive were from non-resident properties.  Free stated that his department is now issuing citations to livestock owners if they are dispatched 3 times to their property about loose livestock.

In other action, the Commissioners approved a Mass Gathering Permit process for the County.  This would require a permit for gatherings of 2500 or more that last longer than 5 hours and that require a ticket.  It would not cover events that are held inside the city limits.  The permit would require the promoter to coordinate with the Sheriff and EMS to plan for traffic and security.

Play
What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
Back to top button