Tarrant County plans another tax cut, but one commissioner is concerned about what looms
Tarrant County commissioners on Thursday approved a recommended budget that includes a tax cut for the second consecutive year, but one court member warned of challenges ahead.
“In the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, one of the responsibilities of government is to promote the general welfare,” Commissioner Roy Brooks said, speaking before the vote. “That means to make sure as much as possible that everybody’s OK.”
Brooks said he is concerned about the county’s ability to do so if it keeps lowering taxes. This is his last year on the Commissioners Court after he decided not to seek reelection after 20 years.
“There are charges to keep taxation at a minimum that is consistent with promoting the general welfare. We’ve done a good job with that,” Brooks said. “But I can see the handwriting on the wall, and we’re going to hit that wall, and we’re going to have challenges in the future.”
Minutes later, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the recommended budget of $846.4 million, $50.2 million less than a year ago. A public hearing and final vote on the budget and tax rate is scheduled for Sept. 17.
The average tax bill will be $518.60, down from $554.30 a year ago. In June, the commissioners increased the homestead exemption from 10% to 20%. The proposed tax rate is 18.57 cents per $100 of value. Last year it was 19.45.
Single-family and new construction values fell as the real estate market cools. The city of Fort Worth has proposed increasing the tax rate, citing a slow down in the growth of property values.
Asked about Brooks’ warning, Helen Giese, director of budget and risk management, said: “It is the commissioners’ job and duty to give emotional speeches. It’s my duty to work with the numbers. I think he was clear in what he was saying, that as we reduce our tax rate, it will be more and more and more difficult to balance the budget.”
