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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-09-2:00PM-PUBLIC HEARINGF 6 P o~ -22 SRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT THE BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL~ CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2008 AT 2:00 P_M_ YTIT THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE COL J1VTY ADMINZSTR_ATION BUILDING, 200 SOUTH TEXAS AVENUE, SUITE 106, BRYAN, TEXAS. THE COURT WILL HEAR COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE FOR 2008. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND SAID HEARING AND PRESENT THEIR CAUSE, IF ANY, FOR OR AGAINST THE TAX INCREASE FOR 2008. `l'he County Administration Building is wheelchair accessible- Handicap parking spaces are available- Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 361-4102- Otfca oftha County Judge • 200 South Texas Avenue Suite 332 • Bryan, Texas 77803 Fax: (979) 361-4503 ; ; a a57 I of 9 COMMISSIONERS' COURT PUBLIC HEARING September 9, 2008 The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas met in a Public Hearing in the Commissioners' Courtroom of the County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Suite 106 in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday September 9, 2008, with the following members of the Court present: Randy Sims, County Judge, Presiding; Lloyd Wassermann, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Duane Peters, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Kenny Mallard, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Carey Cauley, Commissioner of Precinct 4: Karen McQueen, County Clerk; absent. Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in attendance. Attached is a transcript of the meeting. Vol I l r\ Page a5 & 2of9 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT Proposed Tax Increase for 2008 September 9th, 2008 Tape begins mid-sentence. Sims: for coming to our public hearing on a tax increase. Brazos County will hold two public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 13.11%. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate or even decrease depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted. The first public hearing will be on September the 4th, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioner's Courtroom, Suite 106 in the County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, Texas. The second public hearing will be held on September the 9th, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Commissioners' Courtroom, Suite 106 the County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, Texas. The members of the governing body voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase as follows; Randy Sims, County Judge, Duane Peters, Commissioner of Precinct 2, Carey Cauley Jr., Commissioner of Precinct 4, Lloyd Wassermann, Commissioner of Precinct 1, and Kenny Mallard, Commissioner of Precinct 3. The average taxable value of a resident homestead in Brazos County last year was $140,826.00. Based on last year's tax rate of $0.4650 per $100.00 evaluation of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was $654.84. The average taxable value of a resident homestead in Brazos County this year is $154,180.00. If the governing body adopts the effective tax rate for this year at $0.424382 per $100.00 evaluation of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on an average home would be $654.31. If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of .480000 per $100.00 taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $740.06. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings and express their views. I think we have one person that is registered to speak and if they would, Mr. Stokes, come up and use the microphone if you will and give us your name and address and talk to us about what you would like to. Stokes: Glad to have yall here. I appreciate the opportunity to speak. I don't have much to speak about , I guess. But I am concerned about taxes when they go Vol l 1 a Page a5~ 3 of 9 up like most of the public is. I am concerned about the hearing process that happens. I'm sure there are a lot of folks that have concerns about taxes. One of the concerns I have is having these hearings in the middle of the day when folks are working. That is a little troubling. I don't know the alternative, what yall have considered doing in the past that did or did not work. I'm not sure who these other people are here but there is on a couple of us here because we're retired and we're concerned. Tax increases are a serious thing. Taxes never seem to go down and being retired, that puts you in an even more difficult position so you really want to know and understand what is going on. Has there been an explanation of why we are getting a 10% or 11 % increase. It's quite a bit of increase. Is there a definition of why we're getting this sort of increase? Why this is happening at this point in time? Sims: To be honest with you, I think everything... as you well know ...it happens to you, it happens to me, everything has gone up that we use; gasoline, to repair roads we have hot mix and seal coat that is petroleum based, our Sheriff just told us this morning in our Commissioners' Court meeting that we're at 588 prisoners out in our jail which is quite a few that we have to feed, house, and all of that. And, basically, the only thing ...I can't explain it any better than that because I know you know what your family has had to pay in an increase. Stokes: Yeah. And we're looking at another one right now. Peters: The cost of the bond issue for the jail. Sims: Cost of the bond issue for the jail is figured into this year's budget. We either take them off the streets or put them back on the streets one or the other. You know, I understand. We tried to keep it to a minimum which, basically, to tell you the truth, on a $100,000.00 house, it went up a penny and a half is what we increased the tax rate itself. And on a $100,000.00 house, that means it's $15.00 a year increase. That is the only way I can answer what you asked. Mallard: And if anyone is over 65, they will receive no tax increase. Stokes: Is that right? Peters: Yes it is. And a $75,000.00 homestead exemption if you're over 65. And your taxes are frozen once you reach 65. I'm not saying you fall in that category but if you happen to be in that category of 65, your County taxes will be frozen. Vol I I Zk Page N20 4of9 Stokes: (inaudible) Sims: There are benefits to 65, aren't there? Stokes: Ok. I guess that's why I was here, just to hear what was going on. I expected increases but I was kind of surprised it was this much. I know that things are getting more costly. So that was my main reason. Sims: We will take it into consideration about having it at a different time. Gallego: We did have it last year in the evening and we didn't have any more people in the evening. Sims: I know. Gallego: And you still have to remember that we have to pay overtime for some staff to come in at night and to not have any more spectators than we have here today. Peters: We have a regular Commissioners' meeting at 6:30 at the Brazos County and very seldom does the public show up. We do it because we want to try to get the public involved but it's not very often that the public shows up. Sims: The third Tuesday of every month we have it at the Brazos Center. Stokes: Ok. I'll remember that. Sims: 6:00 o'clock. Stokes: Ok. I'll remember that. Sims: You are welcome to come. Stokes: Yeah, I'd like to find out what's going on. Sims: Sure. Stokes: Ok. Thank you. Sims: Thank you, Mr. Stokes. Weldon: I didn't sign the piece of paper, can I have a couple of questions? Sims: If you will come up here and give us your name and address, certainly. Vol R Page ~2b I 5 of 9 Weldon: Thank you. I'm Jim Weldon. I live at 5811 Stallion Ridge, College Station and I'm a lot older than him, I'm going on 75. What I am worried about is the County giving money to lobbyists like I have here. Remember this? (inaudible) lobby for County funds. Now are you guys going to...I didn't realize that it is a core value for the County to give ...in other words, they're supposed to take care of the people in the County, roads, police and stuff like that. I don't think it's really the County's position to give money to lobbyist for businesses and everything else. Yes, we'll bring people in and we'll get more tax rolls but there are other organizations that do that. I think that instead of raising the taxes, if you're going to spend $300,000.00 to this lobbyist, how much money are you going to get on the tax increase that could off set that. To me, it's not really a County function to give the taxpayers money to private enterprise to bring companies in or anything else. There are other organizations that do that as their main function. Sims: Ok. Weldon: I don't know what you're feeling is on that. Have you already put that in the budget? Sims: No. What they were requesting, we did not put that in the budget. I take it your talking about Economic Development? Weldon: Yeah. Right. Right. Sims: Ok. Ok. Weldon: Or any other lobbyist. Sims: They were lobbying us for that. Weldon: Right. But they are lobbyist. Sims: Yeah. I guess you could say they're lobbyist. I sat on that Board and I listened to them and, basically, I told them we were not going to put incentives in their budget this year. Weldon: That's great. Sims: And so I think everybody on this Commissioners' Court agrees with that. And so that is not going in our budget at all. I'll be honest with you; I think if you don't have growth in a community then the community starts to die. I believe that. Weldon: Oh yeah, but also, it's going to grown by itself. Vol I l oN Page a b a 6of9 Sims: I agree. We got a big bear on the hill out there called Texas A&M University. Weldon: That's right. It's going to bring in... Sims: And that's going to certainly help us. You got it. I agree with you. Weldon: Right. But of course growth does ...you have roads, you have more population, got people in jail and all this other problems. Sims: That comes with it. Agreed. Weldon: Inflation. That's just my opinion. I think you're doing a good job...all of yall. I was telling them that I've been visiting a whole bunch of other counties ...I'm retired and we've got a special deal ...I go out in the field for public assistance if the County is having disasters. I get to know the County Commissioners real good because I'm working with them. Of course, they want me to understand what their problems is, that we get the money. Sims: Right. Weldon: But anyway, you find what their problems are, how much their taxes are doing and what they're doing and it's kind of interesting that I know more about these counties in Oklahoma and West Texas than I do my own. But I'll go with them down there and we'll find out what's happening there. Sims: What areas do you work? Weldon: Well, they have a deal that you only work when you want to. See, I've been retired for 20 years with (inaudible). But if you don't have anything to do...they'll send you out if they have a disaster and we're in public assistance. We work with counties, cities, certain non-profits like city sewers and stuff if they have problems.... and lots of roads. But it's interesting because you get to find out how they (inaudible). Oklahoma is completely different... how they do the County Commissioners and Judges than you do here. Of course, I've worked out in West Texas and those guys out there are raising cows or wheat or cotton or something to make ends meet. A lot of those counties don't have much money at all. You have it much better than some of the counties around the country. Sims: I bet those Commissioners and County Judges are lobbying you, aren't they? Weldon: No, they just tell me where the damage is. But I have found that working with the County Commissioners and the Judges is that they are honest guys. Vol 0, Page a &3 7of9 Sims: Uh-huh. (positive) Weldon: They're not going to try and pull the wool over your eyes. I have been really impressed. In other words, if they have a road damaged and they're going to show it to you but they're not going to stretch it. They need to replace a bridge and they say, "Hey, this is what it was. Here's a photograph before and here is photograph after." I've never come across anybody who is trying to get to you. Everyone I've ever dealt with is up board. In other words, they're trying to be honest, they're trying to say, "Hey, this is what we need to do." It's been really impressive. Now, there's other guys who work at other parts of the country that had other problems. Where I've been, I've been really impressed with all the County Courts. Sims: You provide money to replace a bridge or a road. Weldon: Right. Sims: Can we get you down here? We've got some that way too. Weldon: Well, if you have a disaster. Sims: We have to have a disaster first. Ok. Weldon: This is only if you have a big rain and it washes out the roads or the culvers or bridges or stuff like that. Sims: Sure. You work for FEMA? Weldon: They have a program.... I've been retired for 20 years. They have a program that you only work when you want to. You get a computer system and call in and say, "Hey, I'm available." Of course you have to go through some courses and I have an engineering background (inaudible). So they call you and say, "Hey, do you want to go to..." Sims: Can you got to Midland? Weldon: Yeah. Or you want to go to...a Sunday school teacher I got is up in Iowa. My neighbor was up in Oklahoma so it's really self retirement. Because you only have to work when you want to. But the only problem is that they want a commitment. They have two to three months but you get to come home every month for a week if you want to. But it's a good (inaudible) for retirees plus you get to know people around the Country. To me, it's been the great part of the game is talking to this guy. Because you drive around in two weeks with the County Commissioners' who is showing you all of the damage. I said, "Do you know who votes for you?" And he said, "Yeah, I Vol P l Page a b 8 of 9 know everyone who votes for me. I know their dog's name." (inaudible). But anyway, I appreciate it but I think we need to keep our eyes on what the core responsibility of the County is. In other words, everybody is going to try to get in your pocket but I think you need to take care of the citizens in the County as the most important. And like you said, keep the tax rate low. Appreciate it. Sims: Thank you. Appreciate it Jim. Weldon: Ok. Sims: I will call for anyone else that would like to speak to the tax increase. Hearing none, I will close this tax increase hearing by the Commissioners' Court and...oh, I'm sorry ...yes, Kristy, would you come up? Roe: Sir, I was just going to make sure that you noted the date, time and place of your votes before you adjourned the meeting. Sims: You mean of the budget? Roe: Of the notice of the tax revenue increase. Of the actual vote on the venue increase, the vote on the tax rate. If you would note the date, time, and place that you're going to hold that vote. Jett: The 19th, Judge. Gallego: 10:00 o'clock. Sims: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The vote will be taken on the increase and the budget on the 19th of September at 10:00 o'clock did you say, Candy? Gallego: Yes sir. Sims: And it will be here in the Commissioners' Courtroom. Roe: Thank you. Sims: Seeing no one else that would like to speak to the Commissioners' Court, I will adjourn this public hearing. Thank yall for coming. End of tape. Vol I l a Page P L5 9of9 The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Public Hearing held September 9th 2008, have been examined and approved in open Court this the day of 4y- , 20L4/1 in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. Randy ms Count Judge Duane Peters Commissioner, Precinct No. 2 Attest: rey C ley, Jr. Commiss'oner, Precinct 4 Lloyd 'Wassermann Karen McQueen County Clerk Commissioner, Precinct No. 1 Kenny Malla Commissione Precinct No. 3 Vol 1 l o'~ Page ato ~ BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING ON ~ ~r~enhr~ 2008 AT~2 -cb ak, i Name (PLEASE PRINT) Organization/Department p~ Je L