WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISIONERS APPROVE PROPOSED 2016 BUDGET

  

The Washington County Commissioner heard public comment concerning the proposed 2016 Budget for Washington County Tuesday morning during their regular weekly meeting.

One member of the public to speak up, Alan Hutson, told the commissioners that he was against the tax hike, noting that it was time that the United States once again become a Constitutional Republic; that the people should retake control of the government.

Hutson also noted that “we are already overtaxed,” and that we should be paying tax on the property, not on the additions. He also noted that we pay twice on property, once when it is bought, and then yearly in the form of property tax.

Also speaking was Ralph Martin, who voiced his agreement with Hutson.

The budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $974,558, or 6.844 percent, and of that amount, $335,358 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

The commissioners also approved had had a  record vote to approve the adoption of the Washington County budget for 2016, and approved by vote the levying the property tax rate for 2015. The rate would be 52.11 percent, which is, in effect, a 4.9 percent increase in the property tax.

Also approved was a formal notice for a proposed buried utility line on Deer Lane in Sandy Creek Estates by PGMS Central Washington County Water Supply in Precinct 4.

The commissioners also opened sealed request for qualifications received by Washington County from four architectural firms to prepare an Historic Courthouse Master Plan, and appointed Commissioners Hueske, Heckman and County Clerk Beth Rothermel to a committee to evaluate and make recommendations to the Court once the committee had a chance to review the proposals

Also approved was a Memorandum of Understanding between Washington County and the Department of Homeland Security, which sets terms and conditions which the County will follow while participating in the E-Verify program.

The Commissioners also approved was the FY 2016 Statewide Automated Victim Notification Service Maintenance Grant Contract between the Office of the Attorney General and Washington County

The commissioners also proclaimed October 4-10, 2015 as National 4-H Week in Washington County.

Shane Bentke and Kendall Smidovec addressed the commissioners on 4H activities and thanked them for approving the proclamation.