Donley County’s budget will shrink slightly in fiscal year 2011, but a slightly higher tax rate will still be required to support it, according to documents on file in the County Clerk’s office.
The $1.9 million proposed budget is about $39,000 less than the budget that was approved for 2010, but the ad valorem value of property in the county has also declined by more than $2 million.
Information from the Donley Appraisal District reveals that the average taxable value of a residence homestead in Donley County last year was $32,821 compared to $31,055 this year.
Commissioners are proposing a total county tax rate of $0.557117 per $100 of taxable value, which is up from $0.527489 last year. The proposed rate would impose taxes of $173.01 on the average home compared to $173.13 last year.
The proposed budget forecasts that the county will receive $7,500 in taxes on automobile sales, which is up from the $5,000 that was budgeted last year.
The proposed budget expects lower revenues from the criminal cases in the county court, down $12,000; as well as less money from civil cases in county court, down $5,000.
The budget does not include any raises for county employees but does forecast spending about seven percent higher health insurance premiums for employees.
Savings in the proposed budget include $1,000 less for general office supplies, $15,000 less for insurance and bonds, $4,000 less for “miscellaneous,” and $1,799 less for services from the Donley Appraisal District.
The budget does include $5,000 for redrawing precinct lines in the redistricting that will follow the 2010 US Census, and commissioners have increased the line item for contingencies.
The county expects to collect about $725,810.03 from ad valorem taxes, which is up from $689,983.88 in last year’s budget.
Donley County Commissioners will hold hearings on the tax rate at 9 a.m. on September 7 and September 10.
A budget hearing will be held at 9 a.m. on September 13, and both the tax rate and the budget will be voted on by commissioners that day.
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