Second public hearing deemed success Budget, tax rate adoption Sept. 8

The commissioners of Van Zandt County held a second public hearing on the 2015-‘16 proposed tax rate Sept. 1.

The proposed tax rate is $0.485847 per $100 valuation which is the same as last year’s tax rate.

The effective tax rate is $0.47173823 per $100 valuation.

The rollback rate is $.48586097 per $100 valuation.

Judge Don Kirkpatrick felt that the hearing “went well and is satisfied with the balanced budget and proposed tax rate.”

Two county residents, Ronnie Jones and Bill Blackmon, addressed the council about their respective concerns.

Ronnie Jones, an ever-present figure at the commissioner’s court, brought concerns over capital murder funds and also addressed trepidation about funding throughout the budget.

Blackmon asked commissioners to address the road conditions throughout the county, specifically in Precinct 3.

 Blackmon also asked commissioners about the status of the Van Zandt County jail and wanted to know what was being done to remedy the jail problems. 

Judge Kirkpatrick said that he felt that the jail problems could be remedied by “not raising taxes.”

Along with the Jones and Blackmon, 10 attendees were also in the gallery who made comments and asked questions.

“I thought that we had very civil and informative discussion about the possibilities of what could be accomplished this year, I was pleased with the way the hearing went,” said Kirkpatrick.

A realistic budget is what the commissioners focused on, Kirkpatrick said, as they worked on the budget with the proposed tax rate. 

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