Commissioners Court approves 2017 tax rate

Commissioners Court approves 2017 tax rate

(ROCKWALL, TX — August 25, 2017) The Rockwall County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, Aug. 15  unanimously approved a proposed 2017 effective tax rate of 34.98 cents per $100 valuation, which is about 2.63 cents below the current rate.

The lower proposed tax rate is based on the first draft of the Fiscal Year 2018 budget that was prepared and presented by County Judge David Sweet.

County Auditor Lisa Constant Wylie pointed out before the vote during the special meeting that commissioners were not setting the tax rate, but were setting the proposed tax rate for the 2017 tax year and Fiscal Year 2018.

Commissioners will consider adopting the tax rate and budget at a meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 12. A public hearing on the proposed budget will also be held at the meeting.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Lee Gilbert made the motion to set the proposed effective tax rate at 34.98 cents. Sweet provided the second.

Before the vote, Gilbert pointed out “for the record” that the proposed rate is about 2.63 cents below the current rate.

David Magness, the senior member of the court, said after the vote that the proposed 2017 tax rate is the lowest since he has been a commissioner. The Precinct 4 commissioner said the rate was 35.07 cents his first year on the court, which was 2003.

Wylie said the rate that will be adopted on Sept. 12 can be lower, but not higher than the proposed rate approved Tuesday.

The effective tax rate is based on calculations provided by the Rockwall County Central Appraisal District, according to Wylie. The effective tax rate is the total tax rate needed to raise the same amount of property tax revenue for the county from the same properties in both the 2016 and 2017 tax years.

Commissioners are still working to finalize the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Discussions will continue during a special meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday.

Submitted press release.

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