Gillespie County commissioners OK’d a $32.8-million budget and a lower tax rate of 0.3577 cents per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2022 during their meeting Monday.

The previous rate was set at 40.44 cents per $100 valuation, and the new rate marks a decrease of 4.67 cents, or 11.55%.

The proposed budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $1,217,938, or 6.13%, and of that amount, $849,598 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax rolls this year.

After addressing changes brought up during the hearing Tuesday and the last budget meeting, commissioners set the budget and tax rates in motion they had worked on for months.

The proposed budget commissioners approved included its maintenance and operations fund — consisting of the general fund as well as the road and bridge fund. It also includes the debt fund, as well as specially dedicated funds required by state statutes.

For the 2022 fiscal year, the total projected revenues — including special funds — would come to $32,863,225, Gillespie County Judge Mark Stroeher said.

The approved property tax rate proposed 34.17 cents per $100 valuation for maintenance and operations, and 1.6 cents per $100 valuation for interest and sinking (debt rate) for the tax year.

Public hearings

During the public hearings on Tuesday, the court clarified concerns and answered the questions of the locals in attendance.

Jett Burns, from Precinct 3, asked about some of the specific changes that led to an increase in the general budget.

“Around 30 or 35 separate funds go into the general fund,” Stroeher said. “And as you’re aware, we’ve had some inflation in the past few months. The cost of equipment, especially road materials, has gone up.”

Stroeher said the addition of four positions to the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office as well as a maintenance position at the airport added to the budget.

With the specificity of the language surrounding the budget, and especially the tax rate, Stroeher and the commissioners explained how it’s going to affect the tax rate that individuals are going to pay.

“The tax rate for this last year was based on the average taxable residential homestead in the county, versus what the proposed tax rate would be, for the average taxable residential homestead in Gillespie County for this next year,” Stroeher said.

“As a general rule, any property that’s under about $400,000 in value will see a decrease in the amount that they were paying over the last year. Anything over about $400,000 will have some kind of an increase.”

Stroeher said the proposed tax rate represents about a 5% increase over the no new revenue rate because of the valuations from the appraisal district. However, this increase does not mean an increase in tax rates for everyone.

“It’s very confusing, and it’s the way we have to advertise it,” Stroeher said. “We’re advertising an increase but for many people is going to be an actual decrease.”

Budget additions

Following the public hearing, commissioners, discussed adding some additions — including an addition to the budget for bridge renovation.

“I budgeted the full amount to prepare the Dietrich Road bridge last year, and I haven’t gotten anything done. I budgeted $300,000 for the bridge completion this year, but I haven’t been able to spend any money from last year,” Olfers said.

“I need to add, if possible, $150,000 to it for a total of $450,000 for that complete bridge replacement.”

Commissioners also addressed a few inconsistencies within the budget for the elections department. In addition, they fixed a mistake in the funds for temporary workers in the Election’s Office.

Once these additions are addressed, the total county budget will be available on the county’s website at www.gillespiecounty.org.

Commissioners also:

• Approved the auditor’s operating budget exceeding more than 5% of the prior year’s operating budget;

• Ratified the increase in revenue from property taxes reflected in the fiscal year 2022 budget;

• Approved the Gillespie Central Appraisal District fiscal year 2022 appraisal and collections budgets.

• The detailed 89 pages of the proposed budget can be accessed on the county’s website at www.gillespiecounty.org.