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Waller County opens, quickly closes public hearing on proposed tax rate after single resident comments
Summary
Waller County Commissioner's Court opened a statutorily required public hearing on a proposed property tax rate at 9:07 a.m. Sept. 17 and closed it two minutes later after one resident urged alternatives to raising property taxes.
Waller County Commissioner's Court opened a public hearing on its proposed property tax rate at 9:07 a.m. Wednesday at the court's meeting place, 425 FM 1488 in Hempstead, and concluded the hearing at 9:09 a.m. after one resident spoke.
Shanna Birkelbeck, who said she is running for county commissioner, told the court she opposed raising property taxes. "Raising it $370 is a lot for a lot of us," Birkelbeck said, adding that she has had to "save a thousand dollars a month on land that I own" to cover costs. She also said she favors alternative revenue sources, telling the court, "I'm actually gonna be a little bit more in favor of the county tax. I'm already paying it anyway. I buy my gas at Costco, so I'm already paying that tax." Birkelbeck called reliance on property tax "immoral."
The presiding officer said the court is required "by statute" to hold a separate public hearing on the proposed tax rate and announced that the court will vote on the proposed tax rate at 9 a.m. on Sept. 17 at the meeting location. The court also noted that a separate public hearing on the proposed budget will be held later in the meeting as agenda item 47, where members of the public will have another opportunity to comment on the budget itself.
Before the hearing, the court approved the day's agenda by motion and second; the presiding officer said the agenda was approved after members were asked to raise their hands in favor. After opening the tax-rate hearing and hearing Birkelbeck's remarks, a motion and second were made to adjourn the public hearing; the presiding officer said members raised their hands in favor and the hearing was closed.
No vote on the proposed tax rate was recorded during the public hearing. The hearing served as a procedural, statutorily required opportunity for public comment; the court has scheduled a vote on the tax rate at the time and place the presiding officer announced.
The court opened the meeting with an invocation and pledges led by Commissioner Amster and Commissioner Betjendorf before moving to the tax-rate hearing.
