The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
Throughout 2019, local governments dependent upon the property tax carefully followed the progress of Senate Bill 2, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature and signed by the governor last June. Property taxes are the primary funding source for Texas counties, and S.B. 2 reduces this funding potential. “Maximizing additional revenue sources will be essential,” […]
Public Finance: Exploring County Options Mission accomplished…at least the seemingly toughest leg of the mission. On May 14, 2011, Smith County voters passed the issuance of $35 million in tax bonds for the Smith County Jail and criminal justice facilities expansion/remodeling project with a vote of 3,644 for and 2,136 against. Four previous bond […]
Economic Climate Adds Urgency to Collection Efforts County government has been described in a variety of ways: v An arm of the state… v The government closest to the people… v An instrument of public service… When it comes to the Governmental Collectors Association of Texas (GCAT), county government is defined in one word: […]
The following is an excerpt of the latest property tax report. To view the text in full, go to www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/annual09/. Focus on Local Taxes Statewide Texas local units of government rely heavily on property tax to fund their operations. Nearly 4,000 separate taxing jurisdictions impose a property tax; these include counties, school districts, cities and […]
Legal document…approved expenditures…statement of revenue…expenses and fund balances While these somewhat clinical descriptions of the county budget are certainly valid, the budget document embodies much more to commissioners courts and the constituents they serve. The facts and figures in the Texas county budget often epitomize a way of life…or at least an intended way of […]
