The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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July 27, 2010

Crunching Numbers

County gets first look at 2011 budget

By Christi Laney Item Correspondent

HUNTSVILLE — After completing the budget request process, the Walker County Commissioners Court began the task of crunching the numbers and calculating the costs for the upcoming budget year during a special session on Monday morning.

According to a budget summary prepared and presented by county auditor Patricia Allen, the total net budget for fiscal year 2010-11 is $25,158,715.

While the appraisal district office has yet to present the effective tax rate necessary to cover the upcoming budget, Allen said the closest estimates provided so far put the future rate at around the same range as the current rate of $0.577 per $100 valuation.

“It could increase, it could decrease,” Allen said. “Indications are it is generally in the same range of where we are right now. The new revenues that are included in this budget are the revenues on the new property to the tax roll. Everything else is based on the effective tax rate.”

One factor that could raise the tax rate, however, is the recent drop in sales tax revenues within the county.

Yet even with the decrease in revenues, Allen said she believes the effective rate should remain close to or at the same rate for fiscal year 2009-10.

“When you calculate your effective tax rate, one of the things you are looking at is your property tax rate and your sales tax rate – they both play into it,” she said. “The one thing that may make it a little different this year is with sales tax decreasing, then that has the effect of raising your effective rate.

“But when all is said and done, the appraisal districts’ best estimate is that it is generally in the same range.”

In other action on Monday, the court:

• Approved minutes for July 19, 2010.

• Denied a grievance filed by Matt Pegoda.

• Approved sale of trust property.

• Approved bill paying.

• Approved claims/invoices submitted for payment.

• Approved renewal of Bid #C2360-9-008/Debris Management for the period August 1, 210 through July 31, 2010 at the same terms, conditions, and prices as the original bid.

• Approved Department of Information Resources Contract #DIR-SDD-1010 for Software License, Information Technology Products and Services with ACS Enterprise Solutions, Inc. for County Clerk’s office for the period June 9, 2010 through June 8, 2010.

• Approved additional and items for Bid #C2360-10-009 – Food for the Jail to Labatt Food Service LLC.

• Approved the T.A.M.U. Homeowner’s Maintenance Course.

• Approved the release of Maintenance Bond for Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Development Company on East Fork Estates.

• Approved Walker County participation as a stakeholder in the H-GAC Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant.

• Approved training for Planning & Development staff

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