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.
EQUITY of city-county services budget
I need help understanding why the EMS is so well funded. Other services such as police, Sheriff’s department and Fire Department only receive a fraction of the budget compared to the EMS.
I’m not sure if all first responders are required to know CPR. But I know the EMS are not the only first responders saving lives. Let’s level the playing field.
Complain now but when you are in a life threatening situation and need to go to higher care you will be glad they are near to transport.
We live in a rural county that doesn’t have a hospital equipped to take care of certain medical emergencies. Transport by helicopter may be the only factor preventing a person receiving specialty care. This county is growing and will continue to grow. One thing I can’t figure out is with property values going up why the rate per 100 isn’t going down. Who’s not paying their fair share? I know my taxes are going up. Oil and gas wells have popped up everywhere!
Speak up people…get informed…the EMS program is a shame….let your commissioner know your feelings. If you love it so be it…if you don’t really know anything about, find out…if you don’t like how it’s being crammed down the throat of taxpayers, tell them. If you sit back and do nothing, they’ll keep up the joke of a program.
Most counties within the size of Washington County do not operate their own air ambulance service.
Helicopters are expensive to maintain, with crew, fuel, etc. It’s a real luxury for Washington County residents to own one. Once the financial data and billing receivables are all made public to see how much the air ambulance actually takes in, we can understand more clearly the costs. Most service calls for air ambulances in Texas range from $20,000- $60,000.
The commissioners have stated that there will be full transparency for the Air Ambulance project.
How about no. Things are barely affordable now…….
After I did a little investigation the budget for EMS in 2020 was 3.7 M In 2021 they added HELICOPTER in budget which became 5.2 In 2023 the budget is 8.4 with 4 plus months left. In three years the budget has gone up 116.81%.. Show us the revenue vs the debt. no county this size has 7 EMS stations including Prairie Hill just a few miles away from hospital. Have you looked the at the facility at Old Washington on Hwy !05 , What at a facility. Maybe overdone but not for this EMS. THE HELCOPTER costs tax payers 180 k per month but we were going to be reimburse from insurance companies. What about salaries of those on board? That’s why we are 1.7 in the hole for 2022. Wait for audit of 2023 Again the government of this county has no clue . Get on board ,don’t continue to support the good old boys, elect business people .It amaze me that more people are not upset or do not want to get in involved. Remember when the commissioner said that the helicopters its going to be free?????
I agree with everything you have stated. I too, am amazed at the spending of the EMS ! , and yes, the helicopter costs are killing us. Insurance companies are very critical on paying these costs. Now they want another station and helipad at Lake Somerville so the taxpayers of Washington Co can pick up the tab for that !! Mostly, as you stated, I cannot believe that the citizens of this county just sit by and let this happen. Some say, vote the incumbents out, but then the voters don’t show up at the polls. People write in to KWHI with their disdain, but never show up to a County Commissioners meeting. Spending by city and county government is out of hand. Now, let’s see how many show up at the meeting on Sept 12 at 9 a,m,?
Yep the ems is a joke Wants wants You haven’t seen a dime in the budget for income from the insurance company in the treasure report
You people need to live like the rest of us. You cut expenses when your revenues don’t increase. We the taxpayers are sick of your spend like crazy, approve everything especially for EMS, build new stations when you can’t afford what you have, etc. Oh it’s ok, because us taxpayers have an endless cash flow. Wrong. I think we need to clean house and vote out all of you.
How about no, no, no.
No. No. No.
Make due, or due without, like EVERYONE ELSE, who is not funded by taxes.
Thank you.
I’d like to propose an increase to my paycheck to hope to have enough to live, while also paying these taxes.
So it is a double whammy. 7% increase and then 7.5 evaluation increase. Should help pay of the 1.7 million shortage..