Hearing Needed for County Tax Rate Hike
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court voted 3-1 (Schafer against) Sept. 11 to propose a 2000-2001 tax rate of .51, which is 7.96 percent above the effective rate of .472396 and therefore requires a public hearing before the rate can be set. Commissioner Hugh Schafer had made a previous motion to propose a rate of 3 percent above the effective rate, but the motion died for lack of a second. The proposed rate is the highest possible without a tax rollback election.
The county’s taxable valuations are $334 million, up from $252 million last year when the county’s tax rate was .624363 per $100 valuation.
County Treasurer Alan Dierschke estimates that even though the tax rate would increase, actual taxes paid under the new rate would be $45 lower on an average house than under last year’s tax rate; $7 lower on an acre of ranchland, and $41 less on an average acre of irrigated cropland.
On Sept. 21 at 9 a.m., the court will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2000-2001 budget in the county courtroom, and is expected to adopt a budget that will project $2.4 million in expenses and $2 million in revenues.
The public hearing on the proposed tax rate is expected to be at 9 a.m. on Sept. 25, also in the county courtroom. The tentative date for actually setting the tax rate is Sept. 28.
Also on Sept. 21, the court is expected to approve a new budget for the Garden City Water System consisting of $54,000 in expected income and $54,159 in projected expenses.
Community Center Bonds Issued
The court authorized issuance and sale of Limited Tax Permanent Improvement Bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $825,000 for the construction of a community center. In a negotiated private placement, Texas Independent Bankers has agreed with Southwest Securities, acting on the county’s behalf, to purchase the seven-year bonds at an interest rate of 5.35 percent. With 30 days notice, the bonds are callable at any time, in any amount, with no penalty. The commissioners’ court will set the tax rate for the bond debt in the near future. That rate will be reset in each year of indebtedness, as tax valuations fluctuate.
EMS Chairperson a Possibility
County Judge Wilburn Bednar told the court that the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel want the county to hire an EMS Chairperson. He gave the court a statement of job requirements and a job description, both written by EMS volunteers, who suggested a salary of $500 per month for the position. No action was taken.
Odds and Ends
The county increased its budget for medical insurance by $125,000 to cover employee premiums for the next year, and has budgeted $20,000 for possible legal expenses. A new Chevrolet pickup ($24,490) was recently purchased from Wheeler Motor Co. for agriculture extension agent Steve Sturtz (his former pickup is being used by the county road crew). A $3,500 copier for the county treasurer/water system administrator was bought with funds from the Garden City Water District. New chilled, reverse-osmosis water fountains to be installed in the courthouse and in the sheriff’s office will cost a combined $1,790, and will replace bottled water, which has been costing about $120 per month.