At the August 26, 2010 meeting of the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to set the District’s Ad Valorem Tax Rate at 2.31 cents per $100 valuation, down slightly from the 2.46 cents assessed during the previous two years. In addition, the Board voted to keep all administrative fees the same as the previous year.

As an example, the owner of a home appraised at $200,000 will pay the District $3 less in taxes in the coming year than was paid last year.

From the time the Groundwater District was approved by Blanco County voters in 2001, the District has never increased its tax rate, but instead has lowered it several times.

• 2001 - 2005, 3.00 cents.

• 2006, 2.90 cents

• 2007, 2.63 cents

• 2008, 2.48 cents

• 2009 - 2010, 2.46 cents

• 2011, 2.31 cents

The Blanco County tax base has increased each year as a result of new construction and, in some cases, updated appraisals on existing properties by the Blanco County Tax Appraisal District. This has allowed the District to reduce the tax rate from time to time and still receive enough income to meet annual budget needs. As in previous years, the Directors and General Manager have been diligent in preparing a well planned budget that allows the District to carry on important District activities and programs.

General Manager Ron Fieseler said, “The Directors and Staff of the District are gratified to once again lower the tax rate and still be able to meet our obligations under the Texas Water Code while also providing the services expected from a groundwater district by local groundwater users.”

If you have questions regarding Groundwater District taxes, fees, Board Meetings, groundwater, aquifers, or water wells, contact Ron Fieseler, General Manager at (830) 868-9196.