Judge: Tax hike, big budget cuts

Milam County Judge Dave Barkemeyer is asking department heads, and for that matter, taxpayers, to “face reality.”

In the light of losing tax values from Luminant’s Sandow Power Plant—triggering a potential estimated loss of $1.7-million in county tax revenues— Barkemeyer said he will propose a 5-cent tax increase in the 2019 budget.

The current rate is 70 cents, so the increase would put the new rate at 75 cents.

Barkemeyer said he is also seeking budget cuts totaling at least $750,000 from county department heads.

‘REALITY’—Luminant closed its Sand-ow Power Plant Units 4 and 5 in January. That means 2019 is the first year loss of the facility will impact the county budget.

Barkemeyer said this summer’s budget preparations will be different for county department heads.

“In past years I have asked each (department head) to come prepared to discuss their department’s needs and requests, including their thoughts on pay increases,” he said.

“This year...I have asked each to come prepared to discuss where in their department each can best cut expenditures, to not come asking for increases, but to come prepared to face reality with the rest of us,” he added.

Barkemeyer said he will be requesting each commissioner be allocated $125,000 less than last year—a total of $500,000 less—that the sheriff’s department receive $100,000 less and all other county departments be reduced by a total minimum of $150,000.

That’s a total of $750,000 in cuts.

TAX HIKE—Barkemeyer said he is asking Milam County taxpayers “to also be prepared to face the reality with us, as well.”

He said the 5-cent tax hike would result in $600,000 additional revenue for the new budget.

“We can also expect about $150,000 in additional revenue from other sources,” Barkemeyer said.

He said the tax hike and cuts, together, would cover about $1.5-million of the lost revenue.

“We will strive to hold all other expenditures at zero increase and cover all other shortfalls from our reserve funds,” Barkemeyer said “These proposals give us a start in the budget planning process and we will get it done together.”

“I believe this proposal is fair to the taxpayers as well as to the department heads and county employees considering the situation we are currently in,” he said.

‘OPTIMISTIC’—The judge, while acknowledging the measures are “harsh and punishing to our progress as a county,” said he remains optimistic about Milam’s future.

“I believe we are on the eve of better times and that these measures are only temporary,” Barkemeyer said. “The economic development efforts underway for some time now are going to pay off.”

It has been known since an April meeting at the Alcoa Lake Training Center that a new business is believed to be headed for Milam County. That business is, as yet, undisclosed.

“I’m confidant curtailed services will be restored soon, and tax rates will come back down, and Milam County will be on the way to recovery,” Barkemeyer said.