Commissioners Court ratifies tax rate, approves budget for 2020-2021

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The Gonzales County Commissioners Court voted not to raise its tax rate for fiscal year 2020-2021 at its regular meeting on Sept. 21, 2020. The Commissioners also voted to adopt its proposed budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

“I think that the auditor may have given y’all this morning that shows the two differences that we have there. One of them was the proposed one which was the 0.3958 (Voter Approval rate), and then the other one which is the No New Revenue, which is 0.3839,” County Judge Patrick C. Davis said. “Basically, on the No New Revenue, it would be the same on as we would have went with last year, it was the 0.3839. If you’re looking at this one here, at the 0.3839, this would raise more property taxes than last year’s budget by $61,459 or 0.46% of the amount of $83,645 in revenue raised from new taxes.”

“If we went with the one that was initially proposed, which is the 0.3958, this one here would increase last year’s budget by $477,358, or 3.61%, in the amount of $86,260 in the tax revenue raise from the property tax from this year’s tax roll.”

Judge Davis pointed out to Commissioners that while this tax rate is not different from the previous year’s, it would still raise more money due to the increase in property values within the county according to the property tax roll. Davis indicated that his preference would be to choose the No New Revenue rate.

“However, just to let the court know that each of these are okay with our budget,” Davis said. “I’ve had the opportunity to visit with the auditor, and just to let y’all know that each one would suffice. However, the one with the 0.3839, the No New Revenue tax, would be the one that we went with last year, and the only way that the taxes are gonna be increased is because of the values going up, so it’s entirely up to you.”

Precinct 1 Commissioner Dell Whiddon put forth a motion to approve the No New Revenue tax, which was seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Collie Boatright.

Although time was allotted in the agenda for public comment as separate items for both the tax rate and budget, no one present offered any comment.

The month of October was also designated as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month in Gonzales County.

Following up on previous action regarding communication infrastructure improvements for first responders, the Commissioners also considered and approved the purchase order to Motorola for a radio tower to be erected in Smiley. The funding for this project is being done through a General Land Office 2017 Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. The Commissioners also awarded bids for Asphaltic materials as well as flexible base materials for this project.

In other business:

  • Minutes from the Sept. 14 meeting were approved, and the monthly report was received by the Commissioners from the County Treasurer and an affidavit stating that the County Treasurer had fulfilled requirements pursuant to Local Government Code 114(c).
  • The Commissioners approved the County Clerk's report of fines and jury fees for approval and filing in the minutes pursuant to Texas Government Code 51.402.
  • Action for updating the fire alarm system at the Randle-Rather Annex, which amounts to updating the signature on the customer agreement, was approved by the Commissioners.
  • The salaries, expenses and allowances of elected county and precinct officers were voted on, approved, and set.
  • Inclusive of budget amendments which were presented at the previous meeting, the 2020-2021 Gonzales County Budget was adopted, and the no-new-revenue tax rate of 0.3839 was adopted. While this tax rate in itself is not an increase from the previous year's, it will still collect more tax dollars for the county as a result of increasing property values in the area.
  • Budget amendments which were approved and rolled into the approved budget include:
  • A transfer of $5,000 from the SCAAP fund balance to Other Services to cover expenditures for a contract with Blue Bonnet Trails Community Services.
  • Another transfer from the General Fund of money intended to cover the cost of a conference or seminar expense to C.O. Computer Equipment to purchase a laptop computer, in the amount of $1,265.
  • A total of $3,535.52 in unclaimed Capital Credits was pulled from the General Fund, to be divided in donation between the Gonzales Youth Center and Norma’s House.

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