County proposes 63.65¢ tax rate

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners proposed a tax rate and heard a presentation about building a data center adjacent to the Lone Star Wind Farm during their meeting on Monday, Aug. 28.

A workshop at the end of the regular session gave elected officials some time to refine the $4,955,169 budget that was proposed and filed after an Aug. 14 session, as required by law.

Adjustments can be made before the budget is adopted, but no action was taken Monday to change the total.

Tax Rate Proposal

Chief appraiser Clayton Snyder was present at Monday’s meeting to go over different tax rate options with the commissioners, as well as further explain the unused tax increment rate.

After some discussion, commissioner Steve Riley voiced a motion to propose a rate of 66.31 cents per $100 valuation, which is below the rate that requires voter approval and includes the county’s “unused tax increment” of 3.69 cents. Last year’s actual rate is 63.65 cents, and the No New Revenue rate is 60.07 cents.

If adopted, the 66.31 cents is calculated to generate an M&O tax revenue of $3,464,350. When added to the I&S tax revenue for the LEC bond, the total is $3,867,391.

The motion, seconded by Ace Reames, passed unanimously.

The commissioners decided to set the public hearing for the proposed budget at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, which falls within the parameters of the state requirements.

The public hearing for the tax rate, also required because the proposed amount is above the No New Revenue rate, will follow at 9:30 a.m. the same morning, Sept. 7.

Data Center Possibility

Brock Peterson and Alia Wallenstom with Satoshie Energy explained a project being planned for a “data center” involving crytocurrency that would be constructed near the Lone Star Wind Farm I in Shackelford County, possibly allowing the county to take advantage of a tax ageement with the company.

The presenters stated that the company “would never build a center that consumes more than a wind farm can produce” and that it “becomes a huge win” for wind farms that aren’t able to sell excess energy otherwise. It also falls under the guidelines of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, Peterson said.

No action was taken, but county judge John Viertel and commissioner Cody Jordan will work on research and negotiations for a possible agreement.

Other Business

•Depository contracts with Clear Fork Bank and First Financial Bank were extended for two more years.

•Voting precincts were consolidated for the Nov. 7 special election.