County values take big hit

By Donnie A. Lucas

County commissioners voted on Monday to leave state road and bridge fees, along with the sheriff’s and constable’s fees, at the current level in an effort to keep the taxpayer burden as low as possible for the coming year.

Commissioners Ace Reames and Lanham Martin, along with county judge Robert Skelton made up the members attending. Commissioners Steve Riley and Cody Jordan were not present.

The commissioners got their first look at the certified tax roll last week, noting an almost $38 million drop in property values. The six percent decline would mean about a $225,000 decline in revenue, although the effective tax rate calculation has not been completed yet.

The effective rate will take the drop in values into account in order for the county to receive the same amount of taxes depite the lower values.

“We are going to have to be as conservative as possible with as many people out of work as there are,” commissioner Martin said.

The judge passed out budget worksheets to the commissioners present, asking each one to fill expenses for their precinct for the 2021 fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

The court decided to hold a budget workshop on Monday, Aug. 3, with each department budget due then to start working on the final budget document.

“I hope that we have the effective rate by the Aug. 10 meeting so we can see what we are going to need to do,” Martin said. 

The current tax rate totals 58.91 cents per $100 of evaluation, generating a total of $3,612,338 for the current year.

The county could adopt the effective rate or any increase of up to 3.5 percent for the coming year, which would require public hearings.

A rate of up to eight percent could be implemented if county voters approve such an increase in the November general election.

Judge Skelton asked the court if there was any interest in holding such an election, with those present agreeing that they want to hold taxes to a minimum and not contemplate any significant increases.

On a motion by Martin, the court unanimously approved leaving the road and bridge fee that is added to license plate renewals at the current $10 fee for the 2021 fiscal year.

Commissioner Reames made a motion to adopt the current sheriff and constable fees at the current rate for the next year. The motion passed unanmiously.

Other Business

•The current burn ban was left in place, and no progress was made on the effort to repave the courthouse parking, although the permit needed to modify the north entrance where it connects with Highway 6 has been initiated.

•The judge read a proposed bid notice for pest control, with minor changes made. The sealed bids will be accepted for quarterly maintenance for the courthouse, JP office, and the LEC beginning with the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

•Martin also moved to hire former county employee Gayala Askew for a sum of $200 to provide training on the highway sign machine that the county owns. The vote was unanimous.

•The court also held the first meeting of a committee to review applications for $14,000 in Coronavirus Relief provided by the federal government. The group is working on an application form and has not yet decided how to make the applications available to the 30 businesses outside the city limits of Albany and Moran.