At its regular meeting on August 10, the Commissioners Court of Blanco County voted to approve the Proposed Budget for fiscal year 2010-2011. The budget is designed to raise more total property tax revenue than last year’s budget by $26,901 or 0.8%. It is expected that tax revenue to be raised from new property that will be added to the tax roll will raise $44,077.

The total of all revenues to the County should be approximately $7,394,053. Some means of raising monies for the County will include Auto Registration ($300,000), Traffic Fines ($100,000), and Auto Registration Add-On Fees ($100,000). Total Road and Bridge revenues will top $779,067.

Other income will be derived from such sources as Rural Addressing (CAPCO) in the amount of $50,000 and a Homeland Security grant in the amount of $340,761. Property taxes are expected to bring in $2,950,000. Other taxes include but are not limited to such things as mixed beverage taxes ($6,000), revenues from the County Clerk’s office ($100,000), The Sheriff’s office ($6,000), Justices of the Peace ($72,000), interest earnings ($175,000), and the County Sales Tax ($250,000).

The proposed effective tax rate for 2010-2011 will be .34190 on each $100 of evaluation.

It is interesting to note that in the year 2000, an effective tax rate of 0.4775 generated only $1,819,035 whereas in 2010 an effective tax rate of only 0.3419 is expected to generate $3,545,000.

A public hearing will be held prior to approval of the final budget.

Commissioners voted to increase the hourly pay for election judges and election clerks to bring it in line with the State pay scale.

Election judges and alternative judges for County election precincts were approved as follows for two-year terms:

Pct. 102 Presiding Judge; Sherry Hawkins, Alternate Judge; Debbie Stenulson

Pct. 201 Presiding Judge; Christine Schulze, Alternate Judge; Carol Schlachter

Pct. 202 Presiding Judge; Al Louis Lindig

Pct. 302 Presiding Judge; Joycelynn Carter, Alternate Judge; Paige Whittaker

Pct. 303 Presiding Judge; Donna Gott

Pct. 304 Presiding Judge; Pat Fry, Alternate Judge; Wayne Youngblood

Pct. 401 Presiding Judge; Bill Noonan, Alternate Judge; Elaine Soliz

Pct. 402 Presiding Judge; Penny Conn, Alternate Judge; Maggie Goodman

Early Ballot Board: Judy Yentzen and Susan Hamm

Central Count: Connie Granberg and Susan Hamm

Commissioners approved advertising for bids for paving oil projects and for aggregate for paving projects in Precinct 4.

Commissioners acknowledged receipt of TxDOT Bridge inspections of non State and Federal bridges for 2009-2010.

An update on building projects indicated that while preparing the foundation for the new Jail Complex some unexpected rock was encountered. Sheet rock and stone are being installed at the new County Annex.

A motion was approved to amendment the Proposed Budget in order to fund up to $2,000 out of Community Service fees for certain programs. The two major cities in the County may also be asked to contribute.