County budget, tax rate okayed
By Melinda L. Lucas
After holding two required public hearings in the past few weeks, neither of which recorded any opposition from local residents, Shackelford County commissioners adopted the proposed budget and tax rate at a special meeting on Monday, Sept. 30.
Elected officials also opened and awarded bids for mowing and fuel, as well as acting on a number of other routine items in a fairly long agenda on Monday morning.
Budget, Tax Rate
Since the tax rate proposed on Aug. 30 was the highest option without a rollback election, county officials had complied with state laws to post and publish several notices before voting on the increase.
The proposed tax rate of 58.91 cents is actually about 2.5 cents less than the current year’s tax rate of 61.51 cents, due to higher property valuations, but is calculated to bring in about $181,982 more than the effective tax rate.
No one from the general public was present at either of the hearings to protest or comment on the action.
A $4,329,454 balanced budget was also proposed at the Aug. 30 session. The expenditure figure is $144,631 more than the current year’s original budget of $4,184,823.
Prior to the vote on the budget and the tax rate, the commissioners formally ratified the proposed property tax increase.
With no discussion, the budget and then the tax rate were both approved unanimously.
Other Business
•The sole fuel bid from Lion Fuels, quoting 20 cents above the distributor’s invoice price, was awarded the county business for the next contract period.
•Texas Grass Shall Grow submitted the only bids for mowing – one for the Courthouse lawn and the other for historic cemeteries within the county. Both were approved.
•A memorandum of understanding was approved with the Abilene Recovery Council (formerly ARCADA), agreeing with no monetary obligation that the county will support the organization when appropriate.
•The August treasurer’s report was okayed.
•Upcoming inspections of the public scales and the Courthouse elevator were approved.
