City sets rate at .3050

GONZALES — After agreeing to a rollback rate at .2248 on Monday, the Gonzales city council met in a special session Wednesday to approve the 2018 ad valorem tax rate. The City of Gonzales decided to keep the tax rate at .3050, which opens them up to a tax rollback election if citizens petition the city.

The lone dissenting vote was Councilman Gary Schroeder, who wanted to give the taxpayers a break while also avoiding a rollback election.

“I have been advised that there will certainly be a petition and if there’s enough, there will be an election for it and that’s going to cost us more,” Schroeder said.

“I would like to see us give the citizens a break and we just have to rework the budget numbers,” he added. “I know that’s not popular for staff but I’d like to see some cuts being lower than the tax rate. We certainly going to save them money in the rollback election that’s going to be coming, because they got the signatures going, they’ll get it again.”

Councilman Tommy Schurig countered, by stating he’d like to see the rate go as high as the rates set in the surrounding cities.

“Luling just adopted theirs at .56, Nixon .40, Lockhart .71 and here we are still the lowest in the state of Texas,” Schurig said. “You ain’t seen nothing yet if we go back. The streets, you think they’re bad now? I drove around for an hour while it was pouring down rain, looking at the backup of water.”

Restoring infrastructure as well as investing in the fire and police departments was a common theme of throughout the night for the three councilmen as well as Mayor Connie Kacir who voted for the rate to be set at .3050.

“I am dedicated to continue to make fiscally sound decisions in the best interest of this city,” Kacir said. “Our city should not be held hostage to insolvency. I believe that this council has the leadership to engage and educate our citizens on why that tax rate is needed and why we need that to sustain our future.”

Councilman Dan Blakemore pointed at past mistakes made by the policymakers at the time who did not run the city “lean and mean.”

“It was run with total disregard for maintenance and any infrastructure improvements to this city that would make this better for the citizens that they at that point in time were in power to protect and serve,” he said. “And so, if we’re subject to a rollback rate, so be it. It is time for the citizens of the city to decide whether or not they want a sound, fiscal government here or if they want to allow the people who put us in this position to continue to influence the mismanagement of this city. This city is not mismanaged now and is not going to be in the future. That is over. We need to make that statement.”

Councilman Bobby O’Neil then questioned how a tax rate so low could help maintain the various departments.

“I hope that anybody that decides to sign the petition, if there is one, there likely will be, they will realize that they’re probably putting themselves in a position where there may be a cut in the police department, there may be a cut in the fire department, there may be a cut in the water maintenance,” he said. “It could affect us adversely and I hope they understand that.”

Earlier in the meeting, Kacir made the point that the difference between the current tax rate and the proposed tax rate is worth the investment.

“I’ve asked individuals that represented the tax group, what will you be saving?” Kacir said “What amount will you be saving the taxpayers from our rate today was 27.5 cents to 30.5 cents? What will you be saving on a $100,000 valuation? I have yet to receive one person give me that number. I calculated the number. It’s $2.50 per month. $2.50 per month on a $100,000 valuation. I believe, if challenged, our citizens will vote in favor of prospering their city.”

After another few minutes of discussion, the mayor called for voting, with Schurig, Blakemore, O’Neil and Kacir voting in favor of setting the rate at .3050 while Schroeder casting the lone “nay” vote.