WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE INCREASED TAX RATE
Washington County Commissioners are proposing a property tax rate that exceeds last year’s rate and is the highest rate permitted without requiring an election.
At their meeting this (Tuesday) morning, the court proposed a voter approval rate of $0.3898 per $100 valuation, made up of $0.2998 for maintenance and operations (M&O), $0.0823 for road and bridge, and $0.0077 for interest and sinking (I&S). The rate is an increase from what was adopted last year at $0.3860 per $100, which consisted of $0.2956 for M&O, $0.0826 for road and bridge, and $0.0078 for I&S.
With the proposed rate, the tax on the average homestead will climb from $940 to $1,041. The total tax levy on all properties is projected to go up by 7 percent, or $1,607,604.
The no-new-revenue rate, or the rate that would bring in the same amount of tax revenue for the county, would be $0.370860 per $100.
Commissioner Kirk Hanath said there are some loose ends that still need to be tied up in budget, but this rate being proposed is one that the court feels comfortable with at this time. He said it has been “a really difficult situation” in budget, with new people and some challenges the county had to face this year. He said once that is all addressed, the court will come back next month to vote on a finalized rate.
That vote will follow a public hearing for the tax rate, which will take place during commissioners court on Tuesday, September 12th at 9 a.m.
Also in court today, commissioners:
- Selected Studio 1619 from Williamson County to complete project implementation for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or other federal or state agency. Studio 1619 will deliver application and project-related professional landscape architecture services. Commissioner Candice Bullock said this project is to clean up the exterior of the courthouse, addressing the aesthetic and drainage issues. Hanath said the project needs to look at if the trees around the courthouse are nearing their end of life.
- Accepted an APCO IntelliComm implementation proposal for the E-911 department. E-911 Director Robyn Hood said this will replace the current emergency medical dispatch software that is no longer functioning. The total initial cost for the project will be $53,071, with a $4,000 annual cost for maintenance.
- Renewed an agreement between the sheriff’s office and Trinity Services Group, Inc. for inmate meals. Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley said the renewal includes a 7 percent increase in cost per inmate meal, which previously was $2.20 per meal. He said food service companies are still struggling to recover from COVID.
- Accepted donations of picnic tables for the Washington County Expo. The donations are from Brenham Veterinary Hospital, Collier Construction, Collier Farms and Thrivent Financial.
- Received a quarterly report from the Information Technology department.