No change in county tax rate for third year

This is the time of year when local government is required to set a tax rate and budget for the following year.

There are specific guidelines that must be adhered to for adopting a tax rate and putting a budget in place in order that the public has full access to both.

For example, the cities of the county are going through that process as is the county government.

However, each has a different tax rate and each has a different budget as each has different responsibilities.

Milam County provides many day to day services that many of us come to take for granted.

For example, the justice system in the county is paid for, almost entirely, by county tax dollars.

The district attorney, the county clerk, the district clerk, the sheriff, the jail, constables and all the others who make up the system are funded with county taxes.

Our entire and all-important record system and all of the election process is managed by our county clerk and funded with county taxes.

Our Milam County Health Department, our precincts and all the rest are funded by our tax dollars.

And the list goes on and on. In fact our budget is over 20 million dollars annually.

The good news is that Milam County will not increase the tax rate. The tax rate is 73 cents per $100 valuation of property.

This is the third year in a row that the county has not increased the tax rate.

Property values have continued to rise in Milam County and thus the amount of taxes one pays may increase, but the tax rate will remain the same.

On Thursday, the Milam County Commissioners Court will convene at 8:30 a.m. to assign, propose the 2020 M&O (maintenance and operation) and I&NS (interest and sinking) tax rates for the county.

The M&O rate is the portion of the .73 cents that is used to maintain and operate the county.

The proposed amount for that purpose is 67.40 cents.

The I&NS rate is the interest the county pays on its debts.

The proposed amount for that rate is 5.60 cents.

Combined these amounts total 73 cents.

The proposed budget is available for viewing at the Milam County Clerk’s office during normal business hours and it will be posted on the county web page.

On Sept. 14, the Milam County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. at the Milam County Courthouse to hear from any interested citizen regarding the proposed tax rate.

Thereafter, on Sept. 28, the court will convene at 10 a.m. to consider approving the proposed tax rate and budget for 2021.

We invite any interested citizen to come see all of the good things the county is doing with your tax dollars and all of the progress this county is making.