THREE PEOPLE SPEAK AT PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNTY BUDGET

  

Three people spoke this morning during the public hearing on the county budget.  Local funeral home director Clarence Gerke stated that he took issue with the county removing funding for the transport of bodies back from autopsies.  Although it is a very small part of the budget, he said it places an undue burden on those that are financially deprived.  County Judge John Brieden stated that the Texas Attorney General has ruled that counties are not required to pay for the transport of bodies back from autopsies.  Brieden said that the way he reads the ruling, counties are not authorized to pay for the return, that it is the family’s responsibility.  Also speaking during the public hearing, Victor Murski said that the county needed to tighten its belt and stop looking to taxpayers for extra funds.  Local Real Estate Agent George Dillingham stated that although the county makes up only a portion of property taxes, the commissioners need to be aware that tax increases will eventually make the county an unaffordable environment.

Commissioner Joy Fuchs responded that the county does tighten its belt and tries to be fiscally responsible. Commissioner Luther Hueske said that they went through the county budget line by line during the lengthy budget meeting process.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the 2018 budget.  They also ratified the tax rate of $0.5171 per $100 valuation.  That tax rate is 1 cent lower than last year, but with property appraisals in the county up 7 percent, it will bring in 3.5 percent more to the county.