WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ADOPT NEW BUDGET & TAX RATE

  

Washington County Commissioners unanimously voted today (Tuesday) to adopt next year’s county budget and tax rate.

There were no comments from the public on the new budget, which sets out $49,414,555 in disbursements.  The total is made up of $40,873,243 in general fund expenditures and $8,541,311 for the road and bridge fund.  The new budget is projected to raise an additional $2,201,805 in property tax revenue, including $568,933 from new property added to the tax roll.

The new tax rate of $0.3840 per $100 valuation is the same as the previous year’s, though it is different in the way it is distributed.  The tax rate no longer has an interest and sinking (I&S) portion due to the county not having any outstanding debt it needs to pay off; therefore, the $0.0075 that was previously set for I&S payments will go into maintenance and operations (M&O) and into road and bridge.  The new M&O rate allocation is $0.3040, up by $0.0065, while the rate for road and bridge is $0.08, an increase of $0.0010.

The no-new-revenue rate for the county was $0.368477 per $100, meaning the approved rate of $0.3840 is effectively a 4.2 percent increase, despite being unchanged from the old rate.  The voter-approval rate was $0.402669. 

While the court’s discussion on the budget was brief, the county issued a release with further details about what is included in the new budget.  Among the focal points are a 3 percent employee pay raise and an additional 3 percent merit-based increase, not including elected officials; adjustments to the public safety pay schedule that are intended to better reflect compensation for shift work; and a county-wide review to provide insights for competitive pay. 

In public safety, the budget accounts for additional funding to bring in a deputy, jailer and vehicles at the sheriff’s office; new EMS ambulances; upgraded dispatch software; a new vehicle and technology and equipment improvements for the constables’ offices; and a restructured staff position for better collaboration between the county and volunteer fire departments.

The budget also includes new paving equipment for Engineering and Development Services’ in-house paving program, facility maintenance at the courthouse and sheriff’s office, and investments into information technology infrastructure and software.

Click here to view the adopted budget.

At the conclusion of the regular meeting, commissioners opened a public meeting for the Pecan Glen Road District and approved an order levying taxes for the road district at a rate of $0.284546 per $100.  The rate, which is below the past rate of $0.297725, only applies to residents inside the Pecan Glen subdivision for the purpose of funding road upgrades.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

• Approved reductions to the speed limits on Gideon Lincecum Lane in Precinct 3, from Rehburg Road to the end of the roadway, and on Rolling Creek Road in Precinct 4, from FM 389 to Sawmill Road.  The action followed the receipt of citizen petitions.  The new speed limit is 30 mph on both roads, down from the unposted 60 mph.
• Read a proclamation declaring September 5 – October 8 as the official period for the Washington County READ.
• Accepted a donation of $3,915 from Charles Frede.  The donation is a match to the one presented last week by Bluebonnet Materials, going toward road improvements on Mt. Falls School Road and Pickens Road. 
• Approved a collateral assignment of rights to reimbursement from BK Stringer, LTD to Southstate Bank, N.A.  County Judge John Durrenberger said BK Stringer has applied for a loan and is using funds from the Chapter 381 sales tax rebate agreement with the county as collateral.