Court proposes tax rate; Sets public hearing for Aug. 26
Lavaca County tax assessor-collector, Deborah Sevcik, presented the 2024 appraisal roll and tax rate calculations at Monday’s, Aug. 12, Commissioners’ Court meeting.
Sevcik told the court the total appraised value is up nearly 4.6% over last year’s values.
Following the court accepting the county and farm-to-market road certified values for 2024, Sevcik presented the calculated no-new-revenue tax rate (NNR) and the voter-approval tax rate (VA).
Sevcik said based on her calculations, including the General and Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) fund, the calculated NNR tax rate for 2024 is .4846 cents per $100 valuation, which is calculated to be .3906 cents for the General fund and .0940 cents for the FMR.
Regarding the VA tax rate, Sevcik reported she calculated the 2024 VA tax rate at .5276 cents per $100 valuation, which includes both the county (.4277 cents) and the FMR (.0999 cents).
The voter-approval tax rate is the highest rate that can be adopted without holding an election.
Following approval of Sevcik’s report, the court voted, through a 5-0 show of hands vote, to propose keeping last year’s rate of .5132 cents per $100 valuation.
Due to the court proposing a rate that will not exceed the voter approval rate, the court set its one required public hearing for Monday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. prior to the regular commissioner’s court meeting.
At this time the court is expected to consider adopting the 2024-25 Fiscal Year proposed budget and consider adopting the proposed tax rates as well as hear County Judge Keith Mudd’s “State of the County” address.
Veterans Service Officer:
In front of a room full of veterans, the court approved Jo Ann Reeves as the new Veterans Service Officer for Lavaca County.
Steven Greenwell, chairman of the search committee, who also included Jerry Tanner and James Fenner, told the court they received several very qualified applications and they settled on Reeves.
“I must say that one (Reeves) rose above them all in terms of qualifications,” Greenwell said.
A more detailed article on Reeves selection appears elsewhere in today’s paper.
Meeting Date Change:
Due to both the commissioners’ and district courtrooms needed for Monday, Sept. 9, the court voted to move its regular scheduled meeting for that date to Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m.
Miscellaneous:
The court awarded a bid of $2,125 from Macklin Johnson regarding a Lavaca County farm grazing lease.
The grazing land is approximately 60 acres of land known as the “Lavaca County Farm” and does not include approximately three acres fenced off on the land which is currently used by the county for storage of county materials.
The court approved the Formula Grant Statement of Grant Award in the amount of $22,285.
County auditor, Shana Opela said the grant is used for payment of court appointed attorneys, who are not part of the Public Defenders office.
The court approved the purchase of a 2024 F-150 4x4 Super Crew truck for the Office of Emergency Management. The truck will be purchased from Mac Haik Ford of Georgetown for a price of $50,437.
In other action taken by the court:
• Approved certificates of exemption from subdivision requirements for Mark Shimek, and Patricia and John Bemrose.
• Approved the 2025 Texas Department of Motor Vehicles imposition of optional fees.
• Approved the Hallettsville 4A Manufacturing Development Corporation granting advertisement and marketing funds to High Hill Distillery.
• Tabled a plan for collecting the Records Management and Preservation fee for filing documents in the county clerk’s office.
• Okayed the 2025 Sheriff and Constable fees.
• Tabled contracting Volkert, Inc. for engineering services for Pct. 3 to include CR 348.
• Approved sales order agreements between ES&S Election and the Lavaca County election department.
• Okayed an increase in the Pauper’s Cremation Fund.
County Judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with commissioners Edward Pustka, Wayne Faircloth, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian attending.