Along with the General Election in November which will decide local, county, state and federal offices, Brown County voters will cast their vote to determine if local seniors (65 and over) will get an exemption which would cap on the value of their homestead property (create a tax freeze).  Monday, commissioners approved adding this matter to the ballot during their regular meeting of the court.

Senior citizens currently have a freeze at age 65 on their homestead values for their school taxes.  If passed, this vote will also freeze the homestead amount for county taxes.

A petition with signatures of at least 5% of the registered voters in Brown County was required to get the exemption on the ballot.  1156 signatures were needed and according to Elections Administrator Suzy Young, there were plenty of signatures verified.

“1156 signatures were needed, and we stopped verifying at 1200,” said Young.  “There were several more pages of signatures on the petition, so they had more than enough.”

In other matters on the agenda Monday of Brown County Commissioners Court:

*No action was taken regarding implementing a burn ban.  No ban is in effect at this time.

*Commissioners approved Elections Administrator Suzy Young’s appointment of election and alternate judges for the term of two years.  The term begins September 1, 2014 and runs through August 31, 2016.

*Precinct 4 Commissioner Larry Traweek received approval of hiring T’Anna McClure as the Commissioners’ Court Administrative Assistant effective August 1, 2014.

*Commissioners granted approval to install a private line on County Road 225, which will be a Verizon phone line installed along the right of way with no cuts or bores under the roadway, according to county specifications.

*Commissioners approved District Judge Stephen Ellis’ request to hire Sheena Cantwell as Assistant District Court Coordinator, who replaces Cheryl Jones who was recently appointed Brown County District Clerk.  Cantwell formerly worked in the District Clerk’s Office.