Meeting in regular session Sept. 16, the Glasscock Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors decided to keep its 2004 tax rate at .034806 per $100 valuation, the same as in 2003. That rate will generate $66 more revenue than last year, due to increased valuations. Directors Mike Hughes and Larry Wheat were absent.
The board also adopted a 2004 budget with expenditures totaling $133,707, an $800 increase over last year. Total projected revenues will be approximately $131,000, and any deficit at year’s end will be taken from the district’s reserves, which currently stand at approximately $132,000.
Both Directors Dennis Seidenberger and John Phillips opposed an increase in the tax rate, with Phillips saying that he had no problem with the projected budget, “I just hate to raise taxes.” He said when taxes go up, they never seem to come back down. Phillips said oil and gas valuations may well go up next year and provide some added revenue.
Director Kenneth Braden voiced concern that the district not get too far behind with its tax rate, as he said it did a few years ago, because of expenses creeping up. But, he said keeping the same rate as last year, rather than going to the lower effective rate, would provide a little revenue increase, with no tax increase.
The board gave manager Rick Harston a raise of almost $2,000 per year, but denied a raise for secretary/bookkeeper Donnita Coats. Seidenberger said he would rather Coats work for the district at least a year before getting a raise. Neither the manager nor the secretary/bookkeeper was given a raise last year.