Judge: County tax rate to remain at same level for 2020
This is the time of year when local government is required to set a tax rate and budget for the following year. There are specific guidelines that must be adhered to for adopting a tax rate and putting a budget in place in order that the public has full access to both. For example, the cities of the county are going through that process as is the county.
However, each has a different tax rate and each has a different budget as each has different responsibilities.
The county provides many, many day-to-day services that many of us come to take for granted. For example, the justice system in the county is paid for, almost, entirely by county tax dollars. The District Attorney, the County Clerk, the District Clerk, the Sheriff, the jail, constables and all the others who make up the system are funded with county taxes. Our entire and all-important record system and all of the election process is managed by our County Clerk and funded with county taxes. Our Health Department, our precincts and all the rest are funded by our tax dollars. And it goes on and on. In fact our budget is over $20 million annually!
The good news is that Milam County will not increase the tax rate. The tax rate is .73 per $100 valuation of property. This is the third year in a row that the county has not increased the tax rate. Property values have continued to rise in Milam County and thus the amount of taxes one pays may increase, but the tax rate will remain the same.
This Thursday, the Milam County Commissioners Court will convene at 8:30 a.m. to assign, propose the 2020 M&O and I&NS tax rates for the county. The M&O rate is the portion of the .73 that is used to maintain and operate the county. The proposed amount for that purpose is 0.6740. The I&NS rate is the interest the county pays on its debts. The proposed amount for that rate is 0.0560. Combined these amounts total .73. The proposed budget is available for viewing at the County Clerk’s office during normal business hours and it will be posted on the Milam County web page.
On Sept. 14, 2020, the Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. at the Milam County Courthouse to hear from any interested citizen regarding the proposed tax rate. Thereafter, on Sept. 28, 2020, the Court will convene at 10 a.m. to consider approving the proposed tax rate and budget for 2021.
We invite any interested citizen to come see all of the good things the county is doing with your tax dollars and all of the progress this county is making!