Commissioners Propose Tax Rate of 0.565

Limestone County commissioners and Judge Richard Duncan held a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, to propose a tax rate for the new fiscal year. However, much discussion and a failed motion preceded the approved rate.
After confirming with Tax Assessor-Collector Stacy Hall that the rate they eventually adopt can be lower than the proposed rate but not higher, Precinct 4 Commissioner Bobby Forrest proposed a tax rate of 0.565/$100 valuation. Duncan seconded the motion, but the three remaining commissioners voted, “Nay.”
Discussion followed, with Duncan reminding the court of the expenses and raises planned in the upcoming budget and inquiring how they would be funded and where the money would come from if not the tax collections.
County Auditor Natasha Goodman confirmed that should they adopt the “no new revenue” rate of 0.547, the deficit would be about $2.9 million and have to come from the General Fund.
“The tax rate right now is 0.597. I’m asking that we propose this tax rate (0.565), and if we vote for 0.547 later, that’s one thing but at least it gives us two more weeks to study the budget a little more, leaving it open because we can always go down,” Forrest said. “It needs to be stated that a penny of tax brings in $275,000 in revenue. 0.565 is not going to do away with the whole deficit but it’s going to make it smaller, and still provide just over a 3-cent decrease to the public.”
Forrest also reminded the court that last year, they proposed a tax rate of 0.615 but adopted a lower rate of 0.597. Following the discussion, Forrest again proposed a tax rate of 0.565/$100 valuation and it was approved unanimously.
The budget workshop was brief, with Duncan noting the county will more than likely be taking over the senior citizens program, which will come at a cost of about $5,000, initially. He stated that the circumstances and reason for the take-over will be discussed at the next regular meeting when it is on the agenda.
He also stated, without getting into details, that applications are currently open for a new county show barn manager.
“I thought this would be an easy budget but it’s been one of the hardest that I’ve done,” Duncan said.
Before adjourning, the court also approved scheduling the budget adoption and the public hearing regarding the tax rate for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17.
The next regular Commissioners' Court meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the county courthouse. The meetings are open to the public but also available for live-streaming or later playback on YouTube (search: Limestone County Commissioners Court).
The agenda and relevant attachments are also available online at
https://limestonecotx.portal.civicclerk.com/ .