Maverick County Commissioners Court to Reduce Taxes in 2014-2015

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Commissioners Court held a special meeting on Monday, August 25, 2014, at Commissioners Courtroom in Eagle Pass, Texas, to address several issues including the proposed tax rate for 2014-2015.

Maverick County Tax Assessor-Collector Isamari Sanchez Villarreal presented Commissioners Court the proposed ad valorem tax rate for Maverick County for the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget.

“We are presenting to you the notice of the 2014 proposed Tax Rate. For fiscal year 2014-2015, the proposed effective tax rate is $ 0.532059 per $100 valuation and the Roll Back tax rate is $ 0.554632 per $100. The 2013-2014 tax rate was $ 0.5580 per $100 valuation,” said Villarreal.

Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo noted that the proposed tax rate for 2014-2015 is a decrease from the actual 2013-2014 tax rate. Villarreal confirmed Judge Saucedo’s statement.

Commissioners Court established the Tax Rate Public Hearings for September 11, 2014 and September 18, 2014, both at 5:00 P.M. at the Maverick County Courthouse. Commissioners Court unanimously approved these public hearing dates.

Judge Saucedo stated he believed in full transparency and welcomed the county taxpayers to participate in the scheduled public hearings to comment either in favor or against the proposed tax rate decrease for Maverick County during the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Commissioners Court also held the first Budget Workshop for the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget. “From the numbers that we were given here today and what we have looked over, we shall be ok, so far preliminary numbers show we will be cutting into our deficit reduction but not enough where it will affect Maverick County operations. We anticipate that with the tax base that we shall be getting at this juncture and without the $1.4 million contribution from the landfill, our deficit reduction shall be reduced from $900,000 to $600,000 which is still great news. Despite the fact that we are not going to have the $1.4 million dollar contribution from the landfill, the County will still do well,” said Judge Saucedo.

Judge Saucedo commended Commissioners Court and Administration for cutting spending and reducing the proposed 2014-2015 budget. Judge Saucedo noted that the proposed 2014-2015 Budget is a balanced budget and does not contain a deficit.

“This Budget does include the possibility of a 2% raise for all employees except elected public officials. I wish it could be more but the responsibility that Maverick County and the Sherriff’s Department have taken on we have a lot larger staff and every percentage point represents $100,000 in tax base money,” said Judge Saucedo.

Commissioner Roberto Ruiz stated that elected public officials are not getting a pay raise for the third consecutive year. Commissioner Jerry Morales concurred and stated: “I am OK with that. What was being considered for elected officials I would prefer that those funds be used for our employees,” said Morales.

Commissioners Court and Administration will continue working on the proposed 2014-2015 Budget. The Budget Workshop will be held on Thursday, September 11th, at 5 P.M.

The proposed Maverick County 2014-2015 fiscal year budget is estimated between $13,700,00 and $14,000,000.

Commissioners Court closed down the public budget workshop and returned back to the special meeting agenda and proceeded to hear a presentation of the July 2014 Maverick County Treasurers Office Report.
Maverick County Treasurer Rito J. Valdez, III, presented his July 2014 monthly report.

Both Maverick County and the Eagle Pass Independent School District are proposing to reduce ad valorem property taxes for 2014-2015 fiscal year while the City of Eagle Pass is proposing a five cents per $100 valuation tax increase and the Maverick County Hospital District is proposing between a one cent to four cents per $100 valuation tax increase.