County officials said Tuesday that some of the budget cuts proposed by citizens at the second of two public hearings on a proposed 7 percent tax increase would hurt — not help — residents.Predictably, the Sheriff replied, “Our goal is to create a revenue stream with other counties paying us to house their inmates.” Regular readers know how well that's worked out for other Texas counties. Meanwhile, some of the Sheriff's justifications for a full jail were utter rubbish.
People lined up to speak their minds about the county’s proposed tax increase at two public hearings recently. Virtually all were against the tax increase, some saying higher taxes would mean selling their homes or continuing to put off medical treatment.
County officials are proposing to adopt a tax rate of 67.78 cents per $100 taxable assessed valuation for fiscal year 2013-14. That is 2 cents more than the Walker County Appraisal District’s calculated effective rate of 65.78.
The tax increase would help the county cover operating expenses for the new jail and give non-elected or appointed county employees a 3 percent raise in pay.
Citizens told commissioners they done their own line item review of the 2013-14 fiscal year budget and Monday night suggested trimming the county’s budget by eliminating employee raises and additional jailer positions for the new Walker County Jail facility, which is set to open in 2014.
A couple of citizens asked the commissioners during the hearing why they approved the construction of the new jail when the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is shutting down prisons around the state.
McRae said that the closing of TDCJ prisons was putting more of a burden on county jail facilities.
“The way the law currently is, if TDCJ continues to close prisons, the county jails are going to see more inmates,” McRae said. “When the inmates are sentenced, they have to stay at the county jails longer while TDCJ searches for a place to house them. The Texas Sheriff’s Association has a big concern about this.
People lined up to speak their minds about the county’s proposed tax increase at two public hearings recently. Virtually all were against the tax increase, some saying higher taxes would mean selling their homes or continuing to put off medical treatment.
County officials are proposing to adopt a tax rate of 67.78 cents per $100 taxable assessed valuation for fiscal year 2013-14. That is 2 cents more than the Walker County Appraisal District’s calculated effective rate of 65.78.
The tax increase would help the county cover operating expenses for the new jail and give non-elected or appointed county employees a 3 percent raise in pay.
Citizens told commissioners they done their own line item review of the 2013-14 fiscal year budget and Monday night suggested trimming the county’s budget by eliminating employee raises and additional jailer positions for the new Walker County Jail facility, which is set to open in 2014 - See more at: http://itemonline.com/local/x865763946/Sheriff-speaks-about-new-jail#sthash.llG8Jxdj.dpuf
People lined up to speak their minds about the county’s proposed tax increase at two public hearings recently. Virtually all were against the tax increase, some saying higher taxes would mean selling their homes or continuing to put off medical treatment.
County officials are proposing to adopt a tax rate of 67.78 cents per $100 taxable assessed valuation for fiscal year 2013-14. That is 2 cents more than the Walker County Appraisal District’s calculated effective rate of 65.78.
The tax increase would help the county cover operating expenses for the new jail and give non-elected or appointed county employees a 3 percent raise in pay.
Citizens told commissioners they done their own line item review of the 2013-14 fiscal year budget and Monday night suggested trimming the county’s budget by eliminating employee raises and additional jailer positions for the new Walker County Jail facility, which is set to open in 2014 - See more at: http://itemonline.com/local/x865763946/Sheriff-speaks-about-new-jail#sthash.llG8Jxdj.dpuf
4 comments:
I'm glad to see you caught this Scott. The Walker County Sherriff was out of line blaming private prison closures for the large county jail expansion. The Walker County Jail funding was approved way before it was announced that private prisons would be targeted for closure this last session.
Sheriff McRae should have better researched this issue seeing the primary group that targeted the closure was correctional employees who make up the majority of his constituency base and seek to downsize the state's underfunded prison system. The Sheriff should better research the issues of his own constituency base next time.
Hey Girts, has you heard what has happened in Harris Co. pertaining to the Bat van law suit. Chip Lewis is having to pay up!
Can citizens call for a tax rollbacl election?
“Ford had a car, but it was front-wheel drive and would not hold up well driving on rural roads. The Tahoe is better suited for the areas we drive in and more durable.”
Not true. Ford also offers an all wheel drive police sedan. http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/models/#/sedan/chassisspecs/
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