CLICK HERE to return to the Archives Index

Front Page Headlines

Tax Rate Increase Protested at Commissioners' Public Hearing

By JERRY MORGAN, Reporter

COMANCHE - Many times required public hearings are held and no members of the public show up to state their feelings regarding proposed property tax rates, budgets or other important public matters. This was not the case, however, at the latest Commissioners Court meeting.

The Commissioners Court met in regular session on Monday, September 8, with Judge James Arthur conducting the meeting and Commissioners Garry Steele, Kenneth Feist and Bobby Schuman participating. Commissioner Jimmy Dale Johnson was absent.

Other county officials present included County Clerk Ruby Lesley, County Auditor Joey Boswell, Sheriff Jeff Lambert, County Attorney Craig Willingham, County Constable Mark McDonald, County Treasurer Billy Ruth Rust and Emergency Services Coordinator Ray Helberg and his assistant, Trish Grimshaw.

Commissioner-elect Sherman Sides and Commissioner candidates David Rogers and Corky Underwood were also present in the larger than normal audience.

The first item of new business was the first public hearing on the proposed county property tax rate for 2009.

Lance Teten, a resident in the far eastern portion of the county, was the first who asked for the opportunity to address the commissioners. Teten claimed to be speaking for both himself and his neighbors.
Teten stated that he lived on a fixed income and did not understand how the Commissioners expected him to make up the differences in the county's budget. He noted that his property had received a $50,000 increase in appraised value in the current year, and that the property's appraised value had grown over 30% since 2003.

"That has significantly increased the property taxes," Teten stated, and then added, "How do we make up the difference?"

Teten stated that he applauded the one Commissioner (Jimmy Dale Johnson) who had earlier voted against the proposed tax increase, and noted that the Commissioners had voted to raise their salaries and travel expenses, but that he didn't get an increase. He suggested that instead of increasing the property tax rate, that it should be decreased to offset the valuation increases.

Teten further suggested that property taxes needed to be frozen for residents over 65 years in age, noting that several counties have done that. "We will work toward a petition to do that, if taxes are not held in line," he added.

Teten commented that the Commissioners did not need extra tax revenues since FEMA had funded all the needed road work. He stated his opinion that the roads were not very good in quality and that a unitary road maintenance for the county (a combination of the four separate road maintenance precincts) was the answer for both better roads and lower costs.

"Gentlemen, the change starts here!" Teten emphasized, adding that he thought now was the time to get the change started.

"It seems as though... that you give money to everybody that asks for it,” Teten said. “We as taxpayers are now asking for that money (to be given) back to us for a change."

Teten cited several examples of cutbacks he had been forced to make in his own life and farm operations in order to survive on a fixed income while many costs are escalating.

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Middle Trinity GCD Adopts Budget, Sets Tax Rate

By LAURA KESTNER, Editor

The Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District board of directors adopted the 2009 budget and set the 2008-09 tax rate in a brief meeting, Thursday, September 4, immediately following the regularly scheduled meeting. There was a permit hearing, in which seven well operating permits were approved, just prior to the regular meeting.

Although Director Jerry Hinshaw was absent, directors Ed Dittfurth, George Bingham, Rodney Stephens (chairman), Jerry Fronterhouse and Fred Parker were present, for all three meetings, as were Joe Cooper, MTGCD general manager; Sharon Mainord, administrative assistant; and Wes Burris, field tech.

The 2009 budget was reviewed during the regular meeting, and various adjustments discussed and made, before it was adopted in the special meeting. Cooper noted “with people wanting to join the district, it makes the future a little hazy” and budgets a bit more complicated.

The tax rate was set at 1.5 cents, with Cooper noting that this rate was “holding the line at what we’ve done every year” but there would be increased revenue, “because valuations have gone up.”

In other business, directors:

• Approved minutes from previous meeting.

• Approved payment of the bills.

• Examined a review of the income/expense comparison. “This is the expenditures -- budget versus actual,” Cooper said, “...and it shows we’ve expended slightly over half of our annual budget. We spent $203,864.73, we’re three-quarters of the year through, and we’ve spent a little over half the budget so we’re not in danger of going over budget at this time.”

• Heard an office report in which Mainord announced that there were 16,507 entries now in the well data base program, with approximately 100 left to enter. She reported that there were also 22 wells registered for the most recent month.

• Heard a field tech report in which Wes Burris reported that he’d plugged one well for the month, and run three water-quality tests. Burris also discussed the well monitoring process currently in progress.

Joe Cooper discussed several items during his manager’s report, including giving the directors an update on Coryell County’s efforts to join the Middle Trinity GCD, including a meeting that he, Director Dittfurth and Chairman Stephens attended recently in Coryell County.

“We met with Senator Kip Averitt and his staff,” Cooper said, “and the county judge, the commissioner’s court, and the board of the Tablerock GCD, with regards to how they could most cost-effectively, and expeditiously, align themselves with the Middle Trinity GCD.” Cooper then discussed things that were discussed and still need to be addressed, including the fact that Coryell County already has a groundwater conservation district (Tablerock GCD) and discussed the options for dissolving such an entity.

He also spoke of the importance of public hearings in the process. “If they just legislate their county in with us, it supercedes the people’s right to get involved with public hearings in those counties and make sure they’re involved in the process,” Cooper said. “You kind of take it out of their hands.”

Cooper also discussed possible elections needed to confirm their taxing authority, so they could “pay their way.” Cooper said he believed the MTGCD concerns were “well-received and understood.” He also spoke of how important it was to make sure that the legislation will be written in such a way “that our district will be protected” and how cooperative and helpful Senator Averitt was.

“I thought it was a good meeting,” Cooper said. “I came away feeling better -- I’m not as fearful about the legislative session next year, and doing things that people don’t want to happen.”

For full article, subscribe to the DeLeon Free Press. E-mail edition is only $20/year.

Keeping it in the Family
Gay Davis Wins Week 1 Contest

The number of players and the number of correct predictions both grew in the second week of the Free Press' 2008 football contest, the so-called Week 1 of the Texas schoolboy football season.

After earning a failing grade last week, the average entry this week was 71% correct, good for a "C-" mark.

There were six entries that tied with only two misses each. Gay Davis' guess on the tie-breaker score was 28, the lowest among the top six and the closest to the actual total in DeLeon's 26-0 win over Milano. She join's her husband, Freddie, last week’s winner, on the 2008 list of $50 winners.

Others who missed only two games included Don Carruth, Brad Sanders, Rachel Riggs, Ruby Park and Donald Nowlin.

The game most often missed was Denton Guyer's win over Stephenville, where 96% believed the Yellowjackets would prevail. Others most often missed included LaVega over Brownwood, Goldthwaite over Hamilton, DeLeon over Milano and Albany over Ranger.

Jerry made a mistake on the Tolar game, and therefore everyone got that one right, regardless of what was entered.

Everyone also correctly predicted Cisco over Whitesboro and Tarleton's win over Northeastern State. Eastland's win over Comanche was only missed by one, and almost everyone correctly picked Gustine's win over Morgan.

Picking should get a little easier as the season progresses, and the price to enter the contest is still $0.00.

There is even provision for our email subscribers to enter, so do a little research, make your picks and take the time to fill in the names of the correct sponsor. We will continue the contest as long as the DeLeon Bearcats keep playing ball. You may be our next winner!

All content of this site, unless otherwise noted, is Copyright©2006-2008 Morgan Publishing Co.

All Rights Reserved. Any duplication, in any form, without the written consent of the copyright holder is prohibited.