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.
Places to save money in the local criminal justice system:
Stop fielding small armies of law enforcement in response to cock fights.
Stop arresting people and taking them to jail, in those cases where a citation can be issued.
Stop setting bail at levels which assure that non-violent offenders will spend months in jail awaiting trial.
Replace law enforcement persons doing clerical work in the jail, with civilians. (This may in fact be the policy now.)
Start a large garden operated by jail inmates, for growing a substantial portion of the jail’s vegetable budget. Sell any surplus to the public.
As positions come open on County road maintenance crews, fill those positions with short-timer jail trustees. Give them credit against their terms for time worked, in lieu of salary. (This may also be the policy now.)
Expand work-release programs to the max.
In other areas: Reduce the salaries of Commissioners. Turn off County vehicles at every possible chance, rather than leaving them running so the cabs will be cool when the driver comes back from where-ever it was he or she went. Learn to live without air-conditioned pick-up truck cabs.
Turn off the lights when you are the last person to leave a room.