It’s tax-rate-setting time for Rockdale area entities and three of the four who have property taxing authority over local residents have indicated there won’t be any tax rate increases on the way in 2020
The fourth is waiting for guidance from a state agency.
CITY— Rockdale City Council members met in a “remote” budget session Monday and heard City Manager Barbara Holly report the budget is based on a slight drop in the current 91.18 rate.
Holly said the council is currently proposing a 90.07-cent rate to provide some taxpayer relief.
“The city’s tax rate has been at 91.18 cents since 2017,” she said.
Monday’s session was scheduled to be the first of four to discuss the budget issues but the council wrapped up those issues that evening and the remaining council sessions have been canceled.
COUNTY—County Judge Steve Young has promised for several weeks that the county tax rate will remain at the current 73 cents.
And that’s even if the county doesn’t get federal Economic Development Administration grant to renovate the former Cameron hospital.
Commissioners have finalized a building exchange, swapping several structures in downtown Cameron for the former Little River-Cameron hospital. Several county offices will move into the former building.
Young said while the county is working hard to get the grant “there will be no change in the tax rate” in any event.
HOSPITAL DISTRICT— Last year was the first time in almost two decades Rockdale residents paid a hospital district tax with funds going to support the HealthPoint-CHI St. Joseph’s Clinic on the campus of the former Richards Memorial Hospital.
Rockdale Hospital District President Karolyn Puccio told The Reporter she does not foresee any change in the district’s 6.5-cent tax rate.
She said the hospital district board will meet Monday to set the rate, adding: “I believe the rate will stay the same.”
The RHD had originally said a 16.9-cent rate would be necessary to support the clinic, but decided to set a lower rate using reserve funds.
In November, voters will go to the polls to decide whether to expand the hospital district boundaries to those of the Rockdale Independent School District. If successful that would lessen the tax burden on city residents.
RISD—The school district is awaiting word from the Texas Education Agency on tax rate preparation, and won’t speculate until that’s received, according to Genella Korenek, Chief Financial Officer.
Current school tax rate is $1.318350.
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