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Nueces County holds budget workshop outlining proposed 2013–14 tax rate and hearing schedule
Summary
Nueces County commissioners reviewed estimated 2012–13 revenues and 2013–14 forecasts, discussed a proposed general fund tax rate scenario and scheduled public tax hearings for Aug. 19 and Aug. 26 before adopting the budget and tax rate on Sept. 4.
Presiding official (Speaker 1) opened a budget workshop at 8:30 a.m., saying the court would consider the proposed 2013–14 Nueces County budget and asked staff to lead the review. "Today, we are meeting to hold a budget workshop on the budget for the 2013 2014 for Nueces County," Speaker 1 said at the start of the meeting.
Presenter (Speaker 2) walked commissioners through the meeting tabs and calendar, noting the court must place the proposed tax rate on Wednesday's agenda and that public hearings on any proposed tax increase are planned for Aug. 19 and Aug. 26. He emphasized those hearings are informational: "That's not adopting the tax rate. All that's doing is is saying this is what we're proposing to do," Speaker 2 said.
Dale (Speaker 3) presented the county's revenue and expense estimates. He reported estimated total revenue and transfers of $74,700,000 for the current year and an estimated beginning fund balance for 2013–14 of about $21,300,000. Dale described conservative estimating practice: actuals typically come in a bit better than conservative estimates.
On property values, Speaker 2 said assessed values increased roughly 10.17% year over year, with land, home-site improvements and personal property accounting for the bulk of the growth and about $301,000,000 in new growth value. The presenters explained that taxable-value calculations deduct exemptions, the over‑65 freeze and TIF values before calculating the effective tax rate.
Dale outlined tax-rate scenarios, providing an estimated total tax rate near 0.34475 and a debt rate of about 0.05444 to meet debt-service requirements. He said the office will adjust final figures when corrected appraisal-district data (notably TIF values for "Pottery Island") are received: "This will change slightly," Dale said.
Speakers also noted that certain values—railroad rolling stock—are provided by the Texas Comptroller and are included in county calculations. No formal votes or motions were taken during the workshop; staff said the court will reconvene for public hearings and plan to adopt the budget and tax rate on Sept. 4 if schedule and figures remain as discussed.
