Brown County Commissioners Court recently approved the 2016/2017 budget and tax rate during Monday’s meeting of the court.

The $19,433,400 FY 2016/2017 budget includes funding of operating supplies, additional personnel, equipment, salaries, and increased debt service, according to officials.  County Judge Ray West explained during the special called meeting and public hearing regarding the budget and tax rate on September 21 that the budget includes a 3% raise for all county employees and elected officials, with the exception of County Court at Law Judge.  This position has legal limits to the amount of the salary as compared to that of the District Judge.  This year, the County Court at Law Judge will receive a raise of $383.80.

The court also approved a new tax rate of $0.6093/$100 valuation during regular meetings of the court.   This is an increase of $0.03 per $100 valuation from last year’s property tax rate.

Brown County’s proposed FY 2016/2017 budget will raise more taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $1,012,151, which is a 4.64% increase from the previous year.  The property tax to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $227,929.51, according to Brown County officials.

The Total Property tax rate of $0.6093 per $100 valuation breaks down as follows:

General tax rate:  $0.4643 per $100 valuation
Debt tax rate:  $0.0641
Road and Flood tax rate:  $0.0809

In other matters on Monday’s agenda:

*Commissioners approved a final plat of a 1.263-acre subdivision, Oak Hill Circle West.

*Commissioners approved the installation of a private line by Zephyr Water Supply Corporation across County Road 305 in Precinct 3.  The installation requires a cut across the dirt road and will be performed to county specifications.

*Commissioner Wayne Shaw, Precinct 3, received approval to declare an Eager Beaver Lowboy Trailer and a 2014 Ford F150 pickup as surplus.  According to Shaw, the Ford truck has “developed some problems” and he felt it was best to sell the vehicle.

*County Clerk Sharon Ferguson received approval to hire Tammy Anderson to replace Patricia Valdez who resigned at the end of August.  Anderson’s hiring is effective as of today, September 26th.  She will be paid the starting clerk salary of $22,000.

*Commissioner Gary Worley, Precinct 1, received approval for installation of cattle guards on Corrigan Street.  According to Worley a citizen who grazes cattle in the area had requested to put in these cattle guards which will be located at Corrigan and Franke and the West end of Corrigan before the street enters the city limits of Brownwood.