WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ADOPT BUDGET
Washington County Commissioners approved adoption of their new budget at today’s (Tuesday) meeting.
After no one came forward during public hearing, commissioners voted unanimously to set the budget for 2019.
The total budget will sit at $29,346,764, with about $18,636,859 as part of the general fund.
County Judge John Brieden noted that these budget numbers include property tax fines and fees, as well as sales taxes.
This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget, by $592,577, about a 3.677 percent increase.
About $341,323 of that is tax revenue from new property added to this year’s tax roll. About 50 percent of revenue in the budget comes from property taxes.
The court also approved an order to levy the county’s property tax rate of $0.5171 per $100. With the increase in property valuations, this is effectively a 1.61 percent increase in the tax rate.
The county also agreed upon an EMS Medical Director Agreement with Baylor Scott and White Clinic. EMS Director Kevin Deramus said that the county required a new agreement, following the Brenham Clinic joining Baylor Scott and White.
Brieden says the contract details are more or less the same as what they were with the county’s previous provider, the College Station Medical Center.
In addition, commissioners authorized the EMS Department to have Frazer, a state contract vendor, remount an ambulance module on the county’s new chassis. Deramus says this will save about $78,000, as otherwise, the county would have had to purchase a new box for the ambulance chassis.
Commissioners also renewed a service agreement with Appriss, Inc. for the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) program. VINE lets crime victims be notified when information becomes available about criminal cases important to them.
The county also discussed a mass gathering and right of way permit for the Real Deal Trail Ride on Gibbs Creek Road, in the Chappell Hill area. Brieden said the permit application was withdrawn, because the applicant claimed the ground to be used in Chappell Hill was “too saturated.” He said the event would be moved to FM 1362 in Caldwell.
Commissioners also heard a series of reports. During the Washington County Sheriff’s Office report, Sheriff Otto Hanak mentioned that the county reported no burglaries over the past month. Hanak commended deputies for their work, stating increased patrols have helped considerably.