Bastrop, Texas Events, News & Stories

Bastrop, Tx–At a meeting Monday Bastrop County commissioners signaled they will not seek to bring in more property taxes for the 2009-10 budget year than they collected for the current fiscal year which ends Sept. 30.

This year’s tax rate was just a fraction less than 62 cents per $100 of property value. Given the new year’s estimated property tax roll, a rate of 63.23 cents per $100 value would yield the same revenue for the coming year to support county operations and services, said County Auditor Lisa Smith. To set a new tax rate higher than this so-called “effective tax rate” would require publication of notices and scheduling public hearings, she said.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Lee Dildy said the current economic climate is “not a time to raise taxes.” None of his colleagues disagreed, but Pct. 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett noted that commissioners have yet to see any hint of what the coming year’s budget needs may look like.

Bastrop, Tx.–A Bastrop County jail inmate who disappeared Monday from a road work crew remained at large this afternoon but now is suspected of having stolen a vehicle and may be headed toward the Pasadena area.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating Ross Brandon Brekhus, 24, who went missing from a work detail near the intersection of FM 535 and Jeddo Road in the Rosanky area. He was in jail on an auto theft charge. A search of the area, aided by an Austin Police Department helicopter and a state prison dog team, failed to locate the inmate.

But officials believe Brekhus may have been spotted about 11:30 p.m. Monday making off with a white Chevrolet extended cab pickup with Texas plates 01N XG3. He is described at five feet six inches tall, weighing 148 pounds with short blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information about the man’s location is asked to call the sheriff’s department at (512) 303-1080.