Commissioners to lower tax rate

While property values continue to rise, meaning local residents will pay more taxes, the Coryell County Commissioners Court is proposing to lower the rate to help ease the burden on taxpayers.

The proposed tax rate for the 2023 fiscal year is 39.994 cents per $100 valuation.

“That would cut 8.316 cents from the current tax rate,” said Coryell County Judge Roger Miller. “This would in fact cover all expenses proposed in the budget” while also leaving the county with a strong, healthy reserve fund, he said.

Because of property values, there will be an anticipated 5.7% increase in the county’s general fund compared with the previous year.

The reserve fund balance also contains more than $1 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds which the federal government has allotted to help local governments facing extra expenses from disaster recovery efforts.

“I believe this would be the largest tax rate cut in the history of Coryell County,” Miller said.

“At the end of the day, it’s a great tax rate we’re proposing,” said Commissioner Scott Weddle.

Of the proposed tax rate, 37.624 cents would cover maintenance and operations, which are the day-to-day expenses for the county - including salaries. A total of 2.37 cents is set aside for the interest and sinking fund, which covers longer term debts for the county - usually rated to facilities.

The commissioners court also voted to continue collecting an additional $10 fee from its residents to help cover maintenance costs incurred by the county road and bridge department.

More detailed information on the county budget and proposed tax rate can be found online on Coryell County’s website, www.coryellcounty.org under the subhead “Notice of 2022 Tax Rate.”