Commissioners propose to keep tax rate steady

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Britne Reeves Staff Writer

Van Zandt County Commissioners voted last week to hold the county’s tax rate steady at $0.485847. County Judge Don Kirkpatrick said that there was no proposal to raise taxes.

The county will hold two public tax rate hearings in the Commissioners Courtroom in the Van Zandt County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, and at 6 p.m. Sept. 1.

Kirkpatrick also informed the court that no proposals were made to increase elected officials salaries.  The only change, however, would be a $3,000 supplement added to the pay of District Clerk Karen Wilson. Wilson will stand as chairperson of seizure funds.

Opposition in the courtroom did play a role however as a 3-2 vote split the commissioners over the sponsorship of the Texas Department of Agriculture 2016-’17 Community Development Block Program application on behalf of the Fruitvale Water Supply Corp.  The FWSC said the sponsorship of the grant would include upgrades for the water system and or treatment improvements.

Commissioner Brandon Brown and Kirkpatrick voted to approve the sponsorship of the CDBG application.

Commissioners Virgil Melton Jr., Bobby Chaney and Tim West voted to reject the sponsorship on grounds that another water supply corporation would come forward to also ask for sponsorship.

“We don’t know if there is someone else wanting to come forward for the same thing, Melton said. “We want to give them time and due diligence to step forward and request the same thing as the FWS.”

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