WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS VOTE 4-1 TO APPROVE BUDGET, TAX RATE

  

Washington County Commissioners formally adopted the budget and tax rate for the new fiscal year at their meeting today (Tuesday), although not unanimously.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a budget of $40,330,551 and a tax rate of $0.3860 per $100 valuation.  Commissioner Joy Fuchs voted against approval.

The new budget raises more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by $1,671,531, an increase of 7.98 percent.  Of that amount, $600,980 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

The budget consists of $24,019,012 for general fund, $8,387,052 for EMS, $6,725,924 for road and bridge, $783,288 for district attorney and $415,275 for debt service.

Click here for a breakdown of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The new tax rate is lower than last year’s rate of $0.5032 per $100, but it is effectively a 5.23 percent increase in the rate due to higher property values.  It is made up of $0.2956 for maintenance and operations, $0.0826 for road and bridge, and $0.0078 for debt service.  The rate is higher than the no new revenue rate of $0.3668 and slightly below the voter approval rate of $0.3863.

In a written statement, Fuchs explained her “no” vote was due to certain projects the county has undertaken that she fears will not end up being budget-neutral and “are not in the best interest of the county.”  While her statement did not mention any projects by name, she said she has been a strong supporter of health and public safety and that the county currently has strong projects that “have not broken the bank,” adding “this is not the time to take chances on the unknown.”

Fuchs also believes the county has become “top heavy” with higher salaried employees and should focus on increasing wages for lower-paid employees.  She is worried that the county “is headed down a slippery slope if people who have the most influence continue to make decisions based on personal favoritism and agendas.”

Fuchs' full statement can be read below:

I would like to explain why today I do not feel I can vote for the 2023 budget.  In the 23 years and 8 1/2 months I have been in office I have always taken seriously the fiduciary responsibilities and trust placed in me by the constituents of Precinct 4 and Washington County, so I feel strongly that I must vote with my heart and the courage of my convictions, so [I] cannot support the 2023 budget.  

As I study some of the projects the county has voted to support I fear the expenses and revenues will not be budget neutral and are not in the best interest of the county.  It is not with malice or personal vendettas that I say this but because I have always felt that we as a court should be making decisions today that best benefit all of the county and all of our hard working employees in the future.  I have always supported projects that make sense to me – especially when it comes to health and public safety – and believe that every life is important and we have some really great projects that have not broken the bank.  I have always looked out for the common taxpayers and in the economy as it is this is not the time to take chances on the unknown.  

Just as important are the employees in all departments not just a select few.  As we have lost some really excellent employees we replace them with higher salaried people and have become top heavy.  My goal has been to increase the lower paid employees and in come cases we have.  But at the same time [we are] allowing supplements to some department heads making six figures.  

There are some that say I am a pot stirrer or even a cancer to the county but I can assure you that I have always tried to be fair to all departments.  I believe that we are elected by the constituents and should be the ones making decisions, not the appointed department heads who are openly insubordinate to other department heads and elected officials.

My opinions are not personal but I honestly think the county is headed down a slippery slope if people who have the most influence continue to make decisions based on personal favoritism and agendas.

I was born in Washington County and have always loved and will always love Washington County and this has been a decision that is based on my original motto when I first ran for office – to make the best better. 

In other action, commissioners:

• Approved a Chapter 381 agreement between the county and Brenham CFA Series, LLC, related to an economic development grant.
• Approved a resolution calling for additional measures to secure the southern border and stop the invasion at the border.
• Approved an order levying taxes for the Pecan Glen Road District. The tax rate is $0.3738 per $100 for residents of the Pecan Glen subdivision, and will be used to fund road improvements.  The rate is made up of all debt service.  It is higher than the no new revenue rate of $0.1266 and just under the voter approval rate of $0.3739.
• Approved a resolution entering into contracts with funeral homes in Washington County, as well as an agreement and adoption of county policy regarding mortuary services between the county and local funeral service providers. Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Doug Zwiener said this solidifies policy on how to handle deceased persons in the county, as well as the pay for their transportation for autopsy or to a funeral home.  Zwiener clarified that this is just for times where the family does not select a funeral home.
• Approved a contract with Ageint Security for jail security cameras at the Washington County Jail. The contract is for $437,333 with $12,000 for annual maintenance, and will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
• Approved an order for the court to officially lift the county’s outdoor burn ban. Anyone who is planning to have a controlled outdoor burn is asked to call the county’s non-emergency number at 979-277-7373 before they begin, so that firefighters are aware of the burn taking place.
• Approved Engineering and Development Services to accept credit card payments from Certified Payments.
• Approved an oil and gas development permit from Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC with a site location of Eberhardt Road in Precinct 4.
• Received a presentation of a preliminary plat for a 34 lot residential subdivision development of 94.377 acres fronting FM 2447 in Precinct 2.
• Discussed a formal notice from PGMS for a 2-inch road bore for a 1-inch service line on Dixie Road in Precinct 3.
• Discussed a formal notice from ETC Texas Pipeline, Ltd. for a 8-inch LP NGL road bore on Koether Road in Precinct 4.
• Approved a proclamation declaring September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Washington County.