County To Lower Tax Rate; Revenue Goes Up
At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court tentatively agreed to set the 2008-2009 tax rate very near the rollback figure, but well below the previous year’s rate. Last year’s rate was $.343165 per $100 valuation, and the planned new rate is $.263400, just under the rollback of $.263451. The effective rate is $.243937.
At a July 28 meeting, Commissioner Marck Schafer said taxpayers probably wouldn’t object to leaving the rate where it is for another year in order to build the county’s reserves, if they were assured the extra money would be saved and not spent. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the discipline of the commissioners’ court is the only guarantee of not spending revenue or reserves. Commissioner Jimmy Strube said the court has tried to stay under budget, but sometimes couldn’t, due to unforeseen problems.
Last year’s tax base was $774,389,980 and the new adjusted tax base is $1,089,391,310. Revenues last year were $3,096,476; expected revenues for the coming fiscal year are $3.4 million. The county has an unencumbered fund balance (cash reserves) of $1,850,000.
The tax rate will be officially set and the budget adopted at the Sept. 8 court meeting after two public hearings Aug. 25 and 29, which are required because of the increase in revenue. Times for those meetings are not yet set.