Residents against county tax increase
San Jacinto News- Times - September 2009

COLDSPRING – About 20 people attended the fi rst of two public hearings last Friday on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the San Jacinto County tax roll in the preceding tax year by 4.6 percent. Explaining a little about the county’s proposed budget for 2010, San Jacinto County Judge Fritz Faulkner said, “We had to fund six new employees at the sheriff’s department. The State Jail Commission told us to build a 144 bed jail and we are starting to fi ll it up with inmates from Polk and Harris counties. We are renting the cells for $45 per day and we have 50 to 70 of our own inmates. We haven’t collected all that yet. We had to add one employee at the tax offi ce and we took out one position at the offi ce of the Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace and reduced the parttime help at the Department of Public Safety offi ce and the Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace and reduced the amount allowed for part-time help in the county treasurer’ offi ce.” Faulkner went on the say that a 3 percent salary increases for all employees were done a little different this year. “Instead of giving a 3 percent salary increase to each employee we tallied the total amount and divided it by the number of employees and came up with a $1,000 raise for each. That way those on the lower end of the pay scale receive $1,000 instead of a lesser amount and those on the upper end of the pay scale also receives $1,000 instead of a higher amount,” Faulkner said. Faulkner said the county is fortunate to have a healthy fund balance. “Because of our fund balance we are able to pay FEMA over $600,000 as our last 25 percent of $4.5 million it cost the county for brush pick up following Hurricane Ike. FEMA will reimburse the county for that $600,000,” Faulkner said. During the public hearing, one county resident asked those attending the meeting if anyone was in favor of the proposed tax increase. No one indicated they were. “There are very few people in the private sector getting salary increases and a lot are getting laid off. I’m not begrudging an increase, it just doesn’t go down well at this time. The county needs to tighten its budget,” said Mike Shelton. Carolyn Herisko said she was in favor of the sheriff’s department getting raises, but not anyone else. Bill Stevens said he has been trying to increase his business in Coldspring and “it’s been very diffi cult.” “Take a new look at the county budget and if it can be cut do it,” he said. Another resident said she is perturbed because she is not getting a raise and has been trying to keep everything down. “My taxes are up signifi cantly and I haven’t seen a big change in services from the county. You need to account for all our money and if you don’t, I have a big mouth on me and an election is coming up.” Another resident said, “The economy is bad, jobs are being lost, retirements are being disseminated and now is not the time to raise taxes for the county.” David Hibbler told the court, “I get nothing from the county and you want to raise my taxes. I don’t understand that. The county is not taking care of my road. Whoever is in charge of doing Pelican Road should resign. Glory Drews told the court that she is retired and raising a grandchild. “I’m against raising taxes until we know where the money is going. We need to return the government to the people,” Drews said. “I’m retired and on Social Security. I can’t afford an increase. I encourage you to vote against this,” said Mr. Everitt. “Social Security if not going up this year or next and Medicare is going up. Who does the appraisal district ultimately report to?, asked Mr. Monroe. Explaining, Judge Faulkner said five people comprise the board of directors who see over the San Jacinto County Appraisal District. “The Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District appoints three of the five board members; Shepherd Independent School District appoints one member and the county appoints one member. Currently serving on the board are Susan Bailes, David Henry, Johnny Smith, President Fielding Browder and me (Faulkner),” Faulkner said. The appraisal district increased property values for 2009. The average taxable value of a residence homestead in the county last year was $67,360. This year the average taxable value of a residence homestead is $72,615. If commissioners’ court adopts the proposed county tax rate of $0.6264 per $100 of taxable value to fund the 2010 county budget, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $454.86, compared to $423.49 imposed last year by the county on the average home. One resident suggested that the court in the future schedule their public hearings in the evenings when the working public would have a better chance of attending without taking off from work.