Brown County Commissioners rescinded their previous action calling for an election to have the voters approve an exemption to cap the values of homestead properties owned by Brown County senior citizens and disabled people during Monday morning’s meeting of the court. This was followed by commissioners calling for 5% of the voters to sign a petition to put the matter on the ballot of the next general election.
Commissioners were questioned shortly after their action last week of approving that the senior/disabled tax freeze for homesteads be put on the ballot in the fall of this year. Citizen Joe Cooksey asked commissioners what gave them the authority to place the matter on the ballot.
Monday morning Judge Ray West stated that he was not placing blame on anyone but felt “misled” by the Silver Haired Legislature who gave information stating that the courts options according to the House Joint Resolution 16 (HJR 16) passed in 2003 gave authority to the court to either implement the tax freeze on values of these properties, call for a vote, or not approve the matter, which would have to then be brought to the ballot by a petition of 5% of the registered voters of Brown County to call for the matter to be placed on the ballot in the next general election.
“I don’t want to place blame or chastise y’all, but the constitutional amendment – it’s in Article VIII, Section 1b(h), which provides that if a person that is disabled or 65 years of age or older receives a homestead tax exemption, the ad valorem tax value on that home may not be increased while it is the homestead of that person or that person’s spouse,” stated West. “As an alternative, on receipt of a petition of 5% of the voters of the county, the governing body of the county can call for an election to be determined by a majority of the voters whether to establish a tax limitation provided by the subsection. We relied upon the material presented to us, but in looking at the statute of the constitutional amendment, that option is not available to us.”Commissioners had a brief discussion and were divided by a 2 to 3 vote which defeated the motion to implement the tax freeze. Commissioners Gary Worley and Larry Traweek along with Judge West voted against the matter. Commissioners then turned to Nancy Byler of the Silver Headed Legislature to work on getting the petition if the group wanted to see the matter on the ballot.
“I have the petition, which one of you wants to sign it,” asked Byler who was holding the petition with the required signatures.
The tax freeze will be put to vote in the general election to be held in November of this year.
In other matters on the agenda:
*Approval for the oath and bond for C.T. Ham, Constable Precinct 3 was granted by the court. The term of the bond will be for one year. It will be issued pending the results of the election according to County Clerk Sharon Ferguson.
*Ken Thomas, City of Early, received approval for an application to install a private line on County Road 344, which will connect to their new water tower, which is located just outside of the city limits of Early.
*Commissioners approved reappointment of Dr. James Hays as the Local Health Authority of Brown County. Dr. Hays was in agreement to another two year term according to Judge West.
*Commissioner Precinct 2 Joel Kelton received approval to advertise for crushed base and oversize rock for Precinct 2.
*Commissioner Precinct 1 Gary Worley received approval of Indigent Healthcare Solutions LTD software. According to Worley, the software will cost $1520/month as compared to the $1500/year expense of the current DOS software, which is outdated according to Worley. The savings expected to be seen by the increased efficiency of the new software in processing claims is expected to offset the additional expense. Worley stated that the first two months of the contract will be at no cost to the county.
*Judge West received approval of alternate part time employees for County Court Administrator.
*Commissioners approved the assignment of the contract with Guardian EMS to Allegiance Ambulance and a three year extension of this contract.
*Commissioners approved a central office for courthouse mail to be delivered when it does not specify a suite or room number. According to West, these items have been returned to senders lately and establishing Room 320 as the designated drop for these items will help assure that they get sorted and delivered to the proper offices within the courthouse. Room 320 is within the offices of the county commissioners, which will be staffed so that someone is present to sign for registered mail, etc., when necessary.
