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Jefferson County sets Sept. 17 tax-rate hearing, approves pipeline permit and local contracts
Summary
At its Aug. 13 meeting the Jefferson County Commissioner's Court approved multiple purchasing actions including a $229,390 Erie Street design contract, set a public hearing on a proposed 0.357 tax rate for Sept. 17 and unanimously approved a pipeline permit for Golden Triangle Storage LLC.
Jefferson County's Commissioner's Court on Aug. 13 approved a package of purchasing and auditor items, scheduled a public hearing on a proposed tax rate and unanimously approved a pipeline permit for a private storage firm.
The court voted to propose a property tax rate of 0.357 for tax year 2024 and scheduled a public hearing on the proposed rate for Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioner's Courtroom. The presiding official said the county will publish required notices and a "no new revenue" calculation ahead of the hearing and noted that although the published notice must state tax increases, the county is in fact proposing a lower rate while collecting additional revenue from new property on the tax rolls and changes in appraised values. "The state law still requires us to say in our notices that we're raising tax, but we're actually lowering the tax rate," the presiding official said.
Why it matters: The proposed rate and hearing set the next formal step in finalizing Jefferson County's budget and tax levy for fiscal 2024–25; changes in new construction and appraisals mean the county expects additional revenue even if the rate is reduced.
Among purchasing and contract actions the court approved: specifications for invitations for bid for the Jefferson County Correctional Facility (ARPA-funded); a term-contract specification for "bridal oil" for Jefferson County mosquito control; execution of a professional services agreement for the Erie Street extension design in the amount of $229,390; and authorization to auction surplus property through Horns Auction Company (auction scheduled for Sept. 7 at 9 a.m.). One member of the court praised the engineering department for its work on the Erie Street project.
The county auditor's slate also included a budget transfer to the sheriff's department for replacement of two wrecked vehicles in the amount of $97,000, and approval of an electronic disbursement of $1,800,000 to the state comptroller for the second half of an intergovernmental transfer for indigent health-care county funds. A revised Exhibit A for an ARPA subrecipient agreement previously approved by the court was presented with no change in funding. The court approved regular county bills (checks 519,971 through 520,217).
On a separate agenda item the court approved Permit O8-PD-24, a pipeline permit between Jefferson County and Golden Triangle Storage LLC to run a 4-inch pipeline and a 2-inch fiber-optic cable encased in steel across Hildebrandt Road in Precinct 2. The motion to approve the permit was moved and seconded and the presiding official declared the ayes carried unanimously.
Before adjourning, a member of the court reminded residents about school safety as students return to classes: "Please drive friendly. We have kids out there," the speaker said. The court adjourned after completing its regular agenda.
Next steps: The court will publish the required notices and hold the Sept. 17 public hearing on the proposed tax rate; items approved at this meeting (contracts, auction, permit) move forward according to their procurement and permitting processes.
