Commissioners Court approves to post proposed Rockwall County tax rate for Fiscal Year 2019

Commissioners Court approves to post proposed Rockwall County tax rate for Fiscal Year 2019

(ROCKWALL, TX – August 20, 2018) During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14, the Rockwall County Commissioners approved to post a proposed tax rate for the county for the Fiscal Year 2019.

County Judge David Sweet said he filed the first draft of the FY2019 Rockwall County budget based on an effective tax rate of 32.84 cents per $100 valuation – two cents lower than the current tax rate.

“The effective rate would be an extra revenue of $1.3 million, or a 3.8 percent increase in revenue. It does address all four of the items of concern we touched on a few months back. The court-appointed attorneys in all three of the courts were increased based on historical data to forecast for the future in discussions that we had with all three of the judges. The autopsy services were also increased as well as conveying prisoners as I mentioned before, and there was an increase over what that projection was for that $510 mention. As far as the overtime expenses for the jail are concerned, the request from the detention center was six additional full time staff and I included those as well,” Sweet said.

Commissioner David Magness suggested to set the proposed tax rate to the current rate adopted in the 2018 budget of 34.98 cents per $100 valuation.

“As far as the court’s concerned in 2018, we’ve had one short workshop of about 30 minutes and today marks the second time we’ve had a chance to discuss it together as a court. We’re still early in the process, so I’d be for setting the rate at what it is today on the 2018 budget, knowing that we’re going to come down to some other number,” Magness said.

Commissioner Dennis Bailey agreed that the court should set the proposed tax rate at the current rate, but should keep in mind the impending jail expansion project and various road projects happening throughout the county.

“We just found out most recently that a 200-lot subdivision is going out on Smith Road. There are two entrances and exits coming out of that subdivision, both of which dump out on Smith, a road which is maintained by the county. Four hundred potential cars going in and out of there is not going to support that road system that’s there. Dirt is flying down there and that subdivision is going to happen, and that’s going to be a big cost to us going forward. You can also accomplish that through bonds, but I’d like to see our rates be able to cover that,” Bailey said.

“County Judge David Sweet has done a gentleman’s job of holding all the department heads to set an effective tax rate, and we need that from an operations standpoint. But if you consider some of the things we’re facing that I think are realities, I think we better be prepared moving forward.”

Bailey made a motion to set the proposed tax rate for Rockwall County for the Fiscal Year 2019 of 34.98 cents per $100 valuation, which was seconded by Commissioner Lee Gilbert. The motion passed 4-1, with Judge Sweet against.

The Commissioners Court unanimously approved to schedule two public hearings for the proposed tax rate. The first public hearing will take place on Aug. 28 at 9 a.m., followed by another public hearing on Sept. 4 at 9 a.m. The public hearings will be held in the third floor courtroom of the Rockwall County Historic Courthouse (101 E. Rusk St.).

Submitted press release.

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