Water District May Boost Tax Rate
Glasscock Underground Water Conservation District Manager Rick Harston reported to the district’s board June 17 that, barring a Governor Perry veto, the weather modification effort across the state should have enough carryover money to operate for another year. However, there are no state funds appropriated after that, meaning that water districts will need to find ways to cut expenses and will probably have to raise taxes in order to continue their cloud seeding programs. He said GUWCD will probably have to go up from 4.4 cents to 5 cents per $100 valuation in its next budget. The district will probably have a budget workshop in August, and set the tax rate in September.
Because of financial concerns, Harston said the West Texas Weather Modification Association, to which GUWCD belongs, may take over Abilene’s cloud seeding program since it would bring additional revenues to the association. He said the group would charge Abilene by the acre, and that Abilene’s inclusion could net WTWMA approximately $80,000 per year on a three-year contract.
After three years as GUWCD’s secretary/bookkeeper, Donna Donica resigned effective July 11 to take a job in New Braunfels. Selecting from a field of several applicants, the water district board on June 30 hired Donnita Coats to fill the job. Her salary will be $19,000 plus insurance and benefits, and there is a one-year probationary period.
The water district board approved payment of $13,291 as the second half of its annual payment to WTWMA. In other financial matters, the board approved a three-month renewal of a $101,000 certificate of deposit when it matures Aug. 11. They also will renew a second CD after withdrawing $20,000 from it to cover operating expenses until new tax dollars starts coming in later in the year. That CD ($31,000) will also be renewed for three months.