COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON TAX RATE

KWHI September 9, 2014

322

Several residents spoke at the public hearing on the proposed increase in the county tax rate Monday. The County Commissioners plan to increase the tax rate to 52.11 cents per $100 valuation. That is an increase of 12.65 percent from the current rate of 46.26 cents.

The tax increase became necessary after the county acquired emergency communications from the City of Brenham in a service exchange. The move will take full effect on October 1st.

Clarence Gerke asked what would have happened if everything had stayed the way it was. County Judge John Brieden reviewed how they got to this point and said he felt that in the long run it would save the county taxpayers money. He noted that the city was looking at building a new library, new fire sub-station, and a new animal control center. They wanted the county to fund a percentage of each, but the county would not have any control or ownership of them.

Brian Jaeger asked what the commissioner’s opinion was on allowing the rural volunteer fire departments to set up Emergency Service Districts. Judge Brieden said that they were not opposed to the idea, but at this time, with the ESDs limited to a 10 cent maximum tax rate, it would not allow most of the rural fire departments to meet their budgets. Jaeger also commented that with the growth in the county, he would like see more Sheriff’s deputies on patrol. Commissioner Kirk Hanath stated that over the last 2 budgets, the Sheriff’s Department received an increase of $448,000. Sheriff Otto Hanak, who was also at the meeting, stated that his department is down 5 employees from where it was 4 years ago, and the increases in the budget only restores three of those positions.