Higher taxes, an issue most citizens do not like to hear, has been on and will continue to be on Brown County Commissioner’s Court agendas as commissioners investigate exactly how much debt the county can afford to complete infrastructure repair and improvements throughout the county.
Commissioners discussed the subject at their Monday morning meeting of the court and stated that the original amount considered, $9 million, was not a reasonable possibility when considering the burden it would place on some taxpayers. Other taxing entities throughout the county are also considering bond elections which will possibly affect a portion of county taxpayers. Commissioner Precinct 2 Joel Kelton suggested that a smaller amount of tax notes spread out in a series of projects over a few years would be more logical and easier for the tax payers to accept.
Brown County Auditor Nina Cox stated that right now the county must decide on an amount to have the county’s financial advisor, 1st Southwest Company, analyze along with a certain length of the term of these notes.
“We’re down to needing to determine an amount each precinct needs and can afford, along with the term,” said Cox. She explained that a smaller amount spread over a shorter term might be easier for the taxpayers to consider and accept. The amount and terms will be up to commissioners to decide.After a discussion, Commissioner Precinct 1 Gary Worley stated that he has a large project planned on Stephen F. Austin that will be very expensive; however it will be a joint project with the City of Brownwood and the railroad, according to Worley. His suggestion to the court was an amount of $1.5 million dollars over a term of 3-5 years.
Commissioner Kelton stated an amount of $2.5 million dollars over a term of 3-5 years would be good. His largest project will be a reconstruction of County Road 411 which runs from Cross Cut to May, a main thoroughfare within his precinct.
Cox stated that both amounts can be considered in both 3 and 5 year terms or as a series of tax notes issued in increments – possibly $2.5 million issued the first year and then $1.5 million in another year, each payable over a period of 3 or 5 years.
The $1.5 million and $2.5 million dollar tax notes payable in 3 or 5 years will be analyzed by 1st Southwest and reconsidered by the court at their next regularly scheduled meeting at 9:00 AM on Monday, June 3rd.
In other matters of on Monday’s agenda:
*Commissioners took no action on issuance of a burn ban.
*The only bid received by the county for caliche and crushed rock was opened and considered by the court. The bid from Diamond P Aggregates of Rising Star was considered; however, a motion to accept the bid died for lack of a second. Cost of transportation of the caliche and crushed rock was a concern for commissioners other than Kelton whose precinct is close to the supplier’s location.
*County Auditor Nina Cox received approval of hiring new employee Amber Monguia to replace Valerie Williams, at starting salary, which according to Cox will save the county “quite a bit of money.”
*A bond was approved for newly appointed constable C.T. Ham.
*In the reports portion of the court’s meeting, Kelton stated that a repeater has been put up on a radio tower; however, programming is not completed yet. This repeater will allow for better communications for volunteer fire departments in the north part of Brown County.
Cox reported that the bills being paid during this meeting also included subsidies paid to the local volunteer fire departments in the county.
