More taxes

Commissioners approved Ector County's 2008-'09 budget and tax rate Monday.

The final budget number is $41 million, pared down from departments' initial requests totaling $48 million. Next fiscal year's property tax rate will be 35.8 cents per $100 valuation, a 4.6-cent drop from the current rate.

Since property values have increased, taxpayers will still see larger bills in 2009. The 35.8-cent rate is expected to generate more than $2.8 million in additional revenue over last year.

Commissioner Greg Simmons was the only no vote on next fiscal year's budget and tax rate.

During commissioners' first vote on the tax rate, Simmons said he would like to see something closer to 34 cents to give taxpayers more of a break.

He said the 34-cent proposal would bring in about 3 percent more revenue for the county.

Commissioners could have gone back to the 33.4-cent effective rate, or the property tax rate that would raise the same revenue in 2008-'09 that was raised this year.

Commissioner Barbara Graff said that wouldn't be in the county's best interest.

"Because it wouldn't have covered what all was in the budget," she said after Monday's vote. "And it wouldn't have given us any of the mandated reserves."

Graff's opponent in this year's election, Dale Childers, said he understands that the county couldn't go back to the effective rate, but he thinks commissioners went too far in approving departmental requests. He said he would have advocated something lower than 35.8 cents and wouldn't have approved a commissioner pay raise. 

"The court, with the exception of Greg Simmons, just didn't keep the taxpayers' interest in the forefront," Childers said. "From listening to most of the requests in budget hearings, (department heads) were requesting a lot. We need to keep government as small as possible."

County Judge Susan Redford has said commissioners had to pass a 35.8-cent rate if they want to cover all of next year's expenses and keep an adequate reserve in the bank in case of emergency. 

The state mandates that the county has to have enough money saved to cover three months of operating costs, and it would be impossible to pay for everything and keep the reserve if commissioners decreased next year's property tax rate below the proposed rate, she said. 

Commissioners also approved:

>> A resolution supporting legislative action to create programs and provide funding for the enhancement of public transportation, including relocation of freight rail lines.

>> The county judge's appointment of United Way Executive Director Dwayne Bennett as the donations coordinator for the Emergency Operations Plan.

>> Reappointing commissioner Freddie Gardner as Ector County's representative on the board of managers for the 9-1-1 Emergency Communication District. It's a two-year term.  

>> Reappointing Jimmy Ellis as the Volunteer Fire Department advisory board representative on the board of directors for the 9-1-1 Emergency Communication District. It's a two-year term.

>> The donation of three 2005 sedans from the City of Odessa to the sheriff's office.  

>> The holiday calendar for the Ector County Library.

>> A 12 percent pay increase for courthouse security personnel.

>> A bid for installing carpet in the Tax Assessor Office.  

>> A contract between Ector County and the Texas Department of State Health Services for issuance of certifications of vital records from the state database.  

>> A proposed, modified contract with H&K Armored Service Inc.

>> A $16,951 grant from the Texas State Library Loan Star Grant program for new books.  

>> Authorizing additional compensation time for cemetery employees to allow for Saturday funerals.

>> Action on oil well locations.  

>> Amendment No. 2 to a contract between Ector County and the Office of the Rural Community Affairs.

>> The accounts payable fund requirements report and county financial statements and reports.

>> The following line-item transfers: $200 from department furniture and equipment to office supplies; $166 from ground maintenance to departmental furniture and equipment; and $2,585 from building materials to departmental equipment.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?

>> Courthouse security deputies, who answer to Sheriff Mark Donaldson, got a 12 percent raise, which puts them in line with other deputies in the sheriff's office.

>> Commissioner approved comp time through September so burials can continue on Saturdays. Commissioners are going to take up at their next meeting whether or not to go ahead and pay for all comp time accrued so far, about $3,100 or 230 hours of comp time.