The Board of Directors of Brownwood Municipal Development District met Tuesday, August 18 and received an update on the most recent unemployment and sales tax numbers for Brown County.

According to BMDD Executive Director Ray Tipton, unemployment in Brown County reached a high of 10% during the worst of the Covid pandemic.

“Our unemployment numbers are improving.  The unemployment rate in Brown County in June was 7 ½ percent.  For April and May, we’ve been hovering around the 10 percent mark.  Pre-COVID, Brown County’s unemployment rate was 3 ½ percent,” Tipton said.

He went on to say the number of people eligible for unemployment benefits is a lot larger pool than it used to be.

“This happened to several businesses in town.  If you were furloughed for just a week, you are going to get counted in those numbers.  Self-employed people and independent contractors traditionally haven’t been able to apply for unemployment but, with COVID rules for unemployment, they can now,” Tipton said.

Tipton also reported on sales tax paid in August for sales made in June.  The City of Brownwood showed an increase in sales tax rebates of 10.79 percent.

“We’ve been up for the third month in a row, basically during the pandemic.  I’ve tried to do some detailed analysis of why we’re up, it was a little surprising at first,” Tipton said.

He said most rural cities of comparable size to Brownwood showed an increase in local spending while most larger cities showed a decrease in local spending, meaning lower sales tax rebates.

“When you think about that, think about everyone in Brownwood that decides to go on a shopping trip to Dallas or Austin or even Abilene, people just aren’t doing that.  It’s almost like everyone has been forced to shop at home and I think we’re really seeing the benefit of that from an economic standpoint,” Tipton said.

In other business from the BMDD meeting:

The Board approved a bid in the amount of $167,000 from A.A.R. Incorporated of Liberty Hill for asbestos abatement for BMDD property at 2605 Morris Shepherd Drive.  City Council must now give final approval of the bid.

The Board approved the BMDD Budget for the next fiscal year in the amount of $1,900,970.

The Board approved a Building Improvement Incentive Program Grant for Steve’s Market and Deli for an amount not to exceed $5,248.

No action was taken on possible expansion at a manufacturing plant in Brownwood and no action on possible amendment to an economic development agreement between the BMDD and a local business.