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County OKs $32.9M budget


Expenses increase by $2.7M

Kimberly Rubio

Assistant editor

Uvalde County Commissioners have approved a balanced budget of $32,991,225, which rings in $2.7 million higher than the current budget, and scheduled public hearings for the proposed tax rate of 75.08 cents.

The proposed tax rate is 1.49 cents higher than last year’s 73.59 cent rate, and 5.32 cents more than the effective rate of 69.76.

The effective rate is the amount needed to generate the same amount of tax revenue as generated during the previous tax year.

The general proposed tax rate is 52.57 cents per $100 valuation; interest and sinking, 9.01; road/bridge, 13.50. The rollback rate is 77.32 and the effective tax rate is 69.76.

The preceding year’s tax rate is 73.59. The effective rate 69.76; and rollback tax rate 77.32.

Public hearings on the tax rate are set for Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. and Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. The tax rate is scheduled for adoption on Sept. 23.

Property tax revenue for the coming fiscal year is projected to total $9,778,195. For the current budget, the county expected to bring in $9,160,194, and so far income has totaled $8,718,282. This fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

General fund revenue and expenses are expected to balance at $18,410,993. For the current budget, expenses were budgeted at $15,424,584.

Income and expense totals for the road and bridge fund are $3,627,741, an increase from $3,366,932 in the current budget.

Grand total salary fund is $1,225,439, with an additional $124,872 going toward retirement and $93,746 for federal taxes. Of the salary number, $100,355 is to be allocated to county judge; $25,255, for county commissioners for precincts one, two, three and four; $82,596, county attorney; $75,405, county clerk, sheriff, treasurer, tax assessor and district clerk; $95,951, auditor; $53,107, justices of the peace for precinct 1, two, three, four, and six; $36,754, for constables in precincts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.

County auditor staff salaries include $41,685 for one employee and $31,867 for two employees. The court reporter salary is set at $99,418.

State employees, including the district judge and district attorney, receive the bulk of their salary from the state. The county’s supplemental portion is $6,849 for the district attorney and $10,449 for the district judge.

Comments

One person signed up to speak Monday, when commissioners met to approve the budget.

Jared Capt noted three major taxing entities – Uvalde County, the city of Uvalde and Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District – receive 94 percent property taxes paid by city residents and have increased rates well beyond area cities.

“I understand y’all’s position. You want to provide active service to citizens, but at what point is it too much?” Capt asked.

Commissioner Ronald Garza said he was also not a fan of raising taxes, but it was necessary to replace outdated road department equipment.

“… We have to pay taxes, as well as you. It is hard to be on this side because we have so many things we have to worry about,” said Commissioner Mariano Pargas.

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