County proposes $2 million budget

Donley County Commissioners will seek a slight increase in property taxes to support their proposed $2 million budget for fiscal year 2012, according to documents on file in the County Clerk’s office.
The budget, which grows about 3.7 percent this year, requires a total tax rate of $0.573253 per $100 valuation, which is up from $0.557117 last year. The proposed rate would impose taxes of $286.63 on a $50,000 home compared to $277.56 under the current tax rate.

Information from the Donley Appraisal District reveals that the average taxable value of a residence homestead in Donley County last year was $31,055 compared to $32,105 this year.

The budget includes raises for county employees of about three percent and forecasts spending more than five percent higher health insurance premiums for employees.

Notable savings in the proposed budget include $10,546.82 less for the local Department of Public Safety office. The county previously paid the salary for a part time clerical position there, but the state is now paying that salary as a fulltime position. The county will still provide $1,320 for telephone and Internet services in that office.

One unusual expense in the proposed budget is a line item of $30,000 that is being set aside for the trial of accused child killer Robert Babcock.

The county expects to collect about $808,551.89 from ad valorem taxes, which is up from $744,159.33 in last year’s budget.

Donley County Commissioners will hold hearings on the tax rate at 9 a.m. on September 6 and September 9.

A budget hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on September 12, and both the tax rate and the budget will be voted on by commissioners that day. The proposed county budget is available for public inspection at www.co.donley.tx.us.