Travis County Commssioners Court
September 16, 2003
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Item 7
Number 7 is to -- should we take them in the order as they're listed on the agenda. 17 to approve county tack rate for f.y. '04 and set date and time for public hearing on proposed tax rate. Now, our discussion indicated we may not have to do this.
>> that's correct.
>> save some money.
>> we have two different items in your backup. First item is what was submitted a week ago which was the tax rate advertisement was xxx for the rate and blairpg as to who voted how. During markup you actually voted and concluded on what the tax rate should be for '04. As a part of that process, a realization occurred that because you vote tofd a tax rate below the effective tax rate through consultation with the county attorney's office, there's a consultation that there's no legal requirement to submit a newspaper advertisement summarizing the rate and the individual votes that were made and there's no legal requirement to place a second ad in the newspaper announcing that you held a public hearing. For many years those ads were a part of the budget process, either because they were legally required or because the court decided they wanted to have those in the paper each they're they're not legally required. They're about $2,900 each in th Austin american statesman . You could save money but not putting them in the paper. I'm proposing after consultation with the county judge that you not put them in the newspaper. That was first announced back in February, the budget manual, and folks have had that date -- there has been no cost to the announcement of that date. You may wish to have a public hearing. You need not, however, have such a public hearing but it is on your calendar, and so that -- that before you then is how you wish to proceed.
>> I would second the judge's motion, then, to save money.
>> that's what it sounds like to me. The story was pretty accurate in terms of what the rate is. On the public hearing, though, we have been -- that has been noted for quite some time.
>> that's correct.
>> do think we probably should go ahead and have that. We don't have a huge turnout anyway.
>> you have a choice before you. You may wish or not to have it displayed and publicized or tctv and/or the website if you wish. There's no real incremental cost to that.
>> my motion is forego the ad and keep the public hearing.
>> yes. Second.
>> second? Anymore discussion? Yes, sir?
>> well, and I'm not in favor of spending $5,800, but if there's any reason to have anything like this, you know, in the newspaper, it's because it reads, which is something that you don't see very often, Travis County will hold a public hearing on our proposal to decrease the total tax revenue. I mean that -- I mean if that got us anything, obviously it probably doesn't, we foe that by how many people show up when we have these meeting, but I did think that that was, I mean to me, even if I'm reading that, it's something that I do like to bring to everybody's attention, we're going to put it on the website s. There any way that we can italicize.
>> I'm sure the website masters would have a joyful time highlighting that word it.
>> 's big, because it says something that the rest of them aren't going to get to say, but, you know, that is my opinion.
>> do you have a color you would like to choose for that word, flashing?
>> yeah, grown, underlined.
>> we'll consult with the web designers.
>> anymore discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> in terms of the first part of that, we did that as part of our voting session last week? You formally voted to set a proposed... You're scheduled to set the final rate on September 30th as part of setting the budget.
>> that's what I was really...
>> which is below the current effective...
>> yes, it is below. Under. Decrease. Under the effective tax rate.
>> abajo.
>> but what we just voted on, judge, is the electing not to put it in the...
>> that's correct. Did you not do anything regarding the rate.
>> right.
>> you decided not to put an ad, actually two ad, that will save you $5,800.
>> no ads, keep the public hearing.
>> okay.
>> got it.
>> that public hearing is 9-24 at 6:00?
>> correct. Anything further on 7?
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 16, 2003 7:52 AM