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Home My WebLink About2019-09-03 6:00PM PUBLIC HEARINGBRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN, TEXAS PUBLIC HEARING � 3- � - .. �� ^ •moi BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 39 2019 AT 6 RM. IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 200 SOUTH TEXAS AVENUE, SUITE 106, BRYAN, TEXAS The court will hear comments on the Proposed Tax Increase for 2019. Interested parties are. invited to attend said hearing and present their cause, if any, for or against the tax increase for 2019. The BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT 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. MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PUBLIC HEARING The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas held a Public Hearing at the Brazos County Administration Building in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Steve Aldrich, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Sammy Catalena, Commissioner of Precinct 2, Absent; Nancy Berry, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Irma Cauley, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk. Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in attendance. The purpose of the hearing is to hear commentary on the proposed tax increase for 2019. The County Judge called the meeting to order and announced the following: Maintenance and Operations: $0.4475 Debt Service: $0.0500 Total Rate: $0.4975 Judge Peters also announced the adoption of the FY 2019-2020 Budget will be on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 10:00 a.m, in the Commissioners' Courtroom. At this point the County Judge invited others to speak. First to speak was George Rogers, a resident of south Brazos County. Mr. Rogers Vol. 9 Pg.J'y� said he would like to understand how much of the increased tax rate is due to the new senate bill. He said he wonders if the increase is just to get ahead of the new legislation when it was meant to hold taxes down. He also asked if new buildings and growth pays for itself. Judge Peters said it is in small relationship to what the legislation did. He said that he took a look at roads that will need to be rehabbed in the next five years, He said the number given by Road and Bridge is estimated to be 60 million. This does not include roads that may have unexpected issues. He gave examples of McAllister Lane, Leonard Road and I G& N Road, all needed costly repairs that were not expected. He said based on the tax rate there is no way that we would be able to get the 60 million dollars for the road repairs. Judge Peters stated that we are growing and with growth comes expenses. He explained that he is not an advocate of raising taxes but 70% of the county's operating budget comes from property taxes. He said sales tax off set the property tax but we are not able use sales tax for roads, law enforcement, jails or courts. He said he can see issues coming up and the 3.5% cap is a cause for concern. Mr. Rogers said he realizes there is growth but asked if we are covering the growth on the taxes we are collecting now. Judge Peters noted that we have done fairly well so far, but it will be a challenge with the 3.5% cap going forward. Commissioner Berry explained the effective tax rate. Judge Peters also explained that as the population grows so does population in the jail, which are added costs to the county. Jennifer Popescu, a resident in Precinct 2 asked if oil companies are required to pay for damage they do to the roads. Judge Peters stated that in the past Brazos County had permits for road use, but a company filed suit against Brazos County and won. He said the companies can get a state permit and the county cannot do anything about it. Ms. Popescu then asked if the Court is also looking at the burden tax increases place on citizens and will it become so much that people leave Brazos County. Judge Peters said the largest part of taxes is from school tax and that is how the state has decided to fund schools. He said that unless the state starts to allow greater revenue used from sales tax, we are dependent on property taxes to run the county. He said that unless you move out of state you will find the same problem in other counties in Texas. He went on to say that another way of funding is through income tax and that he is afraid if the income tax is raised the property taxes will also stay high. He said he knows that the property owners bear the burden and said he is also a property owner. Ms. Popescu said she has concerns for those that are struggling. Next to speak was Wheeler Ridge resident Adelle Hedleston. She said she is also concerned about the tax increase pricing some hard working people out of the county. Vol. o2q pg. -at_ She said we are growing and that is not necessarily a good thing. Commissioner Aldrich added that the growth dynamic has exceeded everyone's projections. He said the real issue is underemployment. Judge Peters asked if there was anyone else wishing to speak. He mentioned that an email from Marie Wolfe will be added to the record. With no others wishing to speak the meeting was adjourned. Vol. a�9 pg. sa __ The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Public Hearing held September 3, 2019, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the 15th day of October, 2019, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. Duane Peters County Judge "Wi— Sammy Catalena Commissioner, Precinct 2 VOWN;201 /RIWFM PI Attest: are cQueen County Clerk Steve Aldrich Commissioner, Precinct 1 �.. Commissioner, Precinct E01. ,�Q4 Pg.5�- Pg —L of I 1 001 0"T OMT1 COMMISSIONER'S COURT DAY OF i 1 - AM/pM Name (PLEASE PRINT) .Kr15�eerl /rte Organization (PLEASE PRINT) A / / i vol..�`p9. 5 `l Candy Gallego From: Marie Wolf Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2019 5:13 PM To: Candy Gallego; Duane Peters; Steve HW. Aldrich; Samuel J. Catalena; Irma 'Cauley, Nancy F. Berry Cc: Bill Oliver Subject: 2020 Proposed Budget Howdy Commissioners Court, I've tried to rearrange my schedule to be at the public hearing scheduled for 8/27 and 9/3, but was unable to accomplish that. However, I would appreciate your placing this email into the minutes/record. Here would have been my presentation. If you have any questions, please call me on my cell and thanks for your time and consideration. Marie Wolfe Request Changes to the Proposed 2020 Budget Marie E. Wolfe 4576 Sandpiper Cove College Station, TX 77845 Thank You: I would like to thank the Judge and Commissioners for continuing to support Read by 3rd. I've seen this program change people's lives, so we're grateful for County's support. Statement: Vol. o�� Pg.J J r In 2019 the tax rate was kept the same as the year before. However, because the appraised values of homes increased, so did the taxes and money for the budget. Again in 2020 it appears the appraised value has increased. So with the appraised value increase and the County's proposed tax rate increase of 7.44%, it makes the tax burden even greater on the homeowners. I'm over 65, so my taxes are frozen. Maybe most of yours are too so this might not impact you personally, but there are many citizens that it will impact. It's my understanding that Collin and Montgomery Counties have kept their tax. rates at the "effective rate" or "no new revenue tax rate". So I wonder why can't Brazos County. Suggested places to focus for reductions: It appears that Health Insurance continues to skyrocket (1024%) and that the approaches taken so far are not doing the job at keeping costs down. Maybe the County's approach to Health insurance needs to be re-evaluated. Vol. a9Q Pg. 5� Another place that continues to grow each year is the total number of County employees: In 2020 you are looking to add 21 employees; in 2019 Budget the county added 21 employees; in 2018 31 employees; in 2017 20 employees; 2016 24 employees and 2015 9 employees. That's a 15.1% growth in employees (945 vs 821) while the population growth is just 3.3% (223,572 vs. 216,450) in the last 5 years. Based on my business experience, Managers are challenged each year to do more with fewer employees. I'd like the County to try that approach. I'm wondering what new job responsibilities each has that warrant the additional resources. County Judge: 5 Pre -Trial Bond Supervision: 1 Information Technology: 1 District Attorney: 2 District Clerk: 2 District Clerk Archival Fund: 2 County Clerk Management Fund: 1 Jail: 1 Jail — Medical Division: 2 Constable Pct. #2: 1 Expo: 1 3 Vol. a4 Pg. S7 Brazos Center: 3 Records Management: 1 Wellness Clinic: 1 Requests for Transparency Capital Improvements Committee: It has all kinds of County employees on the committee (Auditor, Budget Officer, Engineer, Purchasing Agent, two Commissioners, etc.), but the public doesn't have any way of seeing the requests and having input or seeing the final report. Example: Road & Bridge has $6.9 million — what road(s) does that get us? City is working on updating Greens Prairie and the County has a small section in the middle which I've heard we don't have money to improve. Is it in the budget or not? Why doesn't the County give that portion of the road to the City of College Station? The College Station Independent School District is looking to buy land at the south end of Arrington Road — is the improvements to 4 Vol. aG Pg, the rest of Arrington Road in the budget to accommodate a new school there? I'd also like to understand what's the plan for Harpers Ferry Road within the Nantucket neighborhood, but have no way of knowing without the Road & Bridge 5 -year plan being made public. Challenge: The challenge is for the County Employees and elected officials to come up with ways to get the tax rate back to the 2019 tax rate since the appraised values have increased or better yet back to the It tax rate". Thank you for your time and consideration 5