September 3, 2019 Edition
The Paper Of Record for Fannin County Texas
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appraised values are decided on by current market values.) •Not one nickel in this budget covers anything to do with the courthouse being over budget. It might eventually, but not right now. Citizens Speak: • Dale McQueen – Referring to Commissioner Lackey’s handout, Dale stated, “At the proposed tax rate, the county will receive $1.6 million more than last year.” (Commissioner Lackey’s handout told the people that the county will only receive $942,379 more than last year). • “There is no courthouse overages in the budget but, $400,000 of the $1.6 million will go to pay the bond from citizen’s taxes.” • The county’s proposed tax rate is above the rollback rate which gives them an extra $560,000 in the proposed budget. Citizens could have a petition to roll it back to the rollback rate. • “Having sat through many of the budget meetings, I am disappointed that everyone in this
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The courtroom was so packed that citizens had to stand in the lobby to attend the Fannin County Budget Hearing on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. Citizens were concerned about the proposed tax rate for the next budget year, which exceeds the rollback rate for the first time in several years. Judge Moore started the meeting by informing everyone that the proposed tax rate of 0.589 is the same tax rate as the previous year. He said that he did not feel they could lower it. For the past several years the county has been taking money out of the Reserve Fund to balance the budget. Last year they took about $2 million and this year they will have to take about $1.2 million. Judge Moore pointed out: • The Appraisal District went up on their charge to the county for their service about $60,000. • All employees (excluding elected officials) will receive a 50 cent raise. • Health insurance will cost an
extra $50,000 this coming year. • $96,000 is for new accounting software. • A state mandate calls for a $27,000 increase to be paid to County Court at Law Judge. • $84,000 for Fire Departments throughout the county. • A Department of Labor audit at the Sheriff’s Office calls for more dispatchers at a cost of $67,000. • $85,000 is put aside for Sheriff’s Department’s autos. • Judge’s Bench Software. Commissioner Lackey’s Comments: • Labor costs and benefits are about $8 million. • About $2 million to house prisoners. • $2 million for the Sheriff’s Department. • Half a million for ambulance service. • Appraised values received in the mail earlier this year were based on the proposed tax rate of 0.589. (Writer of this article called the Fannin County Appraisal Office and was told that
County to ask themselves; how did we get here? What is happening here did not happen when our current judge was elected. It has been in the process a long time; • Your proposed tax rate is the spending more than you take in same as it has been for the last 3 & taking tax breaks when you years, but you have really gone couldn’t afford it. How did we up on taxes this year. If you go get here? We have got to learn higher than the effective tax rate, from our mistakes. How do we get out of here?” Newt chalyou raised everyone’s taxes. • Appraisal District has noth- lenged the court with his next ing to do with taxes. All they do comments, “How do we do more is set value. The county has gone with less? We can’t just say that above the effective tax rate im- we are doing all we can. We have got to say, what can we do to mensely at this point. • “Right now you are paying cut costs and get things done for 8% of this budget for courthouse less? The leadership here is chalbonds. So, to say it is not cost- lenged with these questions, and ing us anything is ridiculous. they need our support to accomYou have made no effort to cut plish this. The boat may be sinkback the $1.2 million the budget ing and we need to come together is over. What will happen is the and start doing things to keep it citizens petition for the rollback from sinking.” Newt closed with more reflection from his father rate?” • Newt Cunningham stated, who told him, ”You don’t know prices +TT&L, W.A.C. - Some units may be slightly higher everything and down to payment recognize “We are not in a good*All situation.” this and to ask for help is very Newt2015 reflected on conversations KIA FORTE 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING 2006 FORD F-150 SD to getting out of the 2006 FORD F-150 he had with his F-150 father when he important 2014 FORD 2008 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER 2014and FORD ESCAPE and (BLK)his 2008 CHEVY situations youEQUINOX are going to find 2006 FORD EXPEDITION was 16 in trouble, DODGE DART 2008 CHEVY COBALT EDDIE yourself in.” father2013 would ask, “Newt, what 2012 FORD FUSION 2007 SUBARU FORESTER 2006 DODGE GRAND have 2012 you done that got you here CHEVY EQUINOX 2007 PONTIAC G6 CARVAN boy?”2011 Newt explained FORD TAURUS that he 2007 PONTIAC 2006 DODGE DURANGO FORD 2007 KIA SPECTRA Continued would2011 retrace hisEXPEDITION steps which led 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER DODGE RAMin trouble. 2007 HYUNDAI SANTAFE 2006 CHRYSLER P.T. to the2011 reason he was 2010 DODGE CALIBER 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE CRUISER TOURING See Hearing on page 5 Newt2010 said,CHEVY “I would ask Fannin TRAVERSE 2007 HYUNDAI ENTOURAGE
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