Breckenridge Texan

Commissioners approve county budget, tax rate for 2018
August 29
13:24 2017

Following a public hearing on Monday, Stephens County commissioners voted to adopt the 2018 County Budget of $5,366,389, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. They also voted to approve the 2018 property tax rate.

According to Stephens County Treasurer Sharon Trigg, the county’s budget has been reduced by $1,667,490 over a three-year period. The reductions were necessary because of dropping property tax revenues due to the slowdown in the local economy and declining oil prices.

The approved budget will raise $13,001 more revenue from property taxes than last year and $44,484 from new property added to the tax roll this year, according the Stephens County Budget documents.

Commissioners also cut the property tax rate from $.8000 per $100 value last year to $.7516 per $100 value.

Property values were higher this year because of slightly higher oil prices. The total certified taxable value for the county is $570,631,580.

After the budget and tax hearings, the commissioners held their regular semi-monthly meeting. Cameron L. Gulley, certified public accountant, presented the court with the independent auditor’s report of the county’s financial statements for the year ending Dec. 31, 2016.

He said the county’s financial statements are in good shape and no major problems were identified.

 “You pretty much have positioned yourself to have weathered the storm is basically the bottom line,” Gulley said. “So, when you look at the numbers, the numbers are going to look pretty healthy only because y’all were in front of curve in cutting the costs before the real drop in revenues hit.”

 

Story by Tony Pilkington

Cutline: Cameron L. Gulley, CPA, (middle) speaks to County Commissioners Will Warren (left) and D. C. “Button” Sikes at Monday’s meeting. Gulley presented the audit of the annual financial report for 2016. (Photo by Tony Pilkington, The Breckenridge Texan)

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