WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE KEEPING COUNTY TAX RATE UNCHANGED

  

Washington County Commissioners are looking to keep the county’s property tax rate the same.

Commissioners moved today (Tuesday) to formally propose a tax rate of $0.3840 per $100 valuation.  Formal adoption will come at a later date.

The exact makeup of the rate, which includes maintenance and operations (M&O), interest and sinking (I&S), and road and bridge, has not been finalized.  Currently, the rate is broken down into $0.2975 for M&O, $0.0790 for road and bridge, and $0.0075 for I&S.  Commissioner Kirk Hanath said the county has paid off its debt, so it does not need an I&S rate. 

County Judge John Durrenberger said the proposed budget is set to raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by $2,201,805, an increase of 7.58 percent from the prior budget.  Property tax revenue being raised from new property on the tax roll this year is $568,933. 

County Auditor Shawna Hollis said the county must file its proposed budget by Friday. 

During a public meeting for the Pecan Glen Road District, a tax rate was proposed at $0.284546 per $100, which is less than the current rate of $0.297725.  The tax only applies to residents inside the Pecan Glen subdivision for the purpose of funding road upgrades. 

In other regular session business, the court:

• Approved an amendment to the county’s interlocal cooperation contract with the DPS Crime Lab.  District Attorney Derek Estep said due to administrative changes on DPS’ end, the cost of the final year of the contract is increasing by around $22,000.  The cost is split between Washington, Austin, Fayette and Lee counties based on an average of case submissions, so Washington County will pay an increase of $7,841.  The contract is up on April 30, 2026. 
• Agreed to hire an executive administrative assistant in the county judge’s office for a pay rate exceeding the 6 percent allowable in accordance with county policy.
• Approved a salary exceeding the 6 percent allowable increase for the new Human Resources Director, Amber Skalka. 
• Approved an order of public interest and the plat revision for the Gates Crossing subdivision in Precinct 1.
• Agreed on an offer of road right-of-way dedication from Gardner Capital LLC for the public purpose of bridge reconstruction along Artesian Park Road in Precinct 4.  Commissioners also passed an agreement of road right-of-way acquisition from Glenn Rosenbaum and Judy Krause for the public purpose of bridge reconstruction.
• Approved a road use agreement for Audubon Companies, LLC on Dogwood and Adamek Road in Precinct 4.
• Discussed formal notices from Industry Communications for new service line installations across the county right-of-way of Dead-End Lane and Koether Road in Precinct 4.  No action was needed.