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Public hearings set on county tax rate

Posted Monday, August 18, 2008

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Two public hearings have been set to allow a tax rate increase of up to 5.1 percent above the present effective rate for Brazoria County.

The hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Sept. 2, in the commissioners courtroom, with each to begin at 10 a.m.

Commissioners emphasized that the 5.1 percent figure is "just a proposal," and emphasized that they would consider an increase only "up to this amount, and it could be much lower."

The court is scheduled to adopt the tax rate at its regular meeting on Sept. 9.

Workshops on the county budget for FY 2009 have been held by the court for several weeks. As for individuals, escalating costs have been a problem.

The steep rise in oil prices over the past year has affected not only the operation of county vehicles, but many products and services, particularly in the county's road and bridge department.

Inflation has also hit employees, many of whom drive from other parts of the county to their jobs.

Jim McCoy, the director of human resources, said the court has adopted a new grade and step schedule considered more understandable and easier to implement that will go into effect for employees' salaries in FY 2009.

With re-grades and a 3.4 percent cost of living adjustment, the amount of pay to county employees and elected officials will be a little over 5 percent, he said.

"This seems a reasonable amount for the county, and hopefully will be enough to help our employees," he said.

County Judge Joe King said Commissioner Matt Sebesta had asked that a $25,000 item for the Alliance for Economic Development be added to the county's budget.

In previous years, the county has not directly aided the Alliance, but has passed on a portion of fees in connection with tax abatements.

This includes an economic development fee paid by the companies during the term of the abatement. When the abatement period ends, however, the property is placed on the tax rolls, and this fee ends.

The amount collected from this source for the current year is down from that in previous years, court members said.

Melanie Oldham, who attends most meetings of the court, urged that no county funds be designated for the Alliance.

She said the Alliance had refused to allow her to speak at its meetings, and would give her no reason for this decision.

"I am a taxpayer and advocate for public health," she said, stating that she had paid the $200 fee to become an Alliance member, but the fee was returned and she was told she could not be a member.

Court members made no comment concerning her statement.

In a brief discussion of other budget items, Commissioner Donald "Dude" Payne said he has received a call asking increased funding for the county's emergency service providers.

That aid "has been $6,000 since I have been here," he said. "We might look at increasing it."

Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh commented that the court "may be forced to do some cutting to the budget" before it is adopted, but Judge King said a great many reductions have already been made.

He praised the work of County Auditor Connie Garner in "trying to get the budget's numbers to turn out even," and noted that many of the department heads have reduced their own budget requests.

Brazoria County's tax rate is 10.5 cents below the average rate for a group of counties its size, Judge King said. He noted that some of these counties have no budgets for library operation.

County Library Director Catherine Threadgill said several of the counties mentioned have no county library system. Their libraries are funded by the cities in which they are located, with the county providing a portion of their funds.

Judge King noted that Brazoria County currently funds library salaries and operation costs, while the cities provide the library buildings.

He would favor reversing that policy for cities seeking a second library, he said, apparently a reference to efforts by some Pearland residents to acquire a second library in their city.

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