Hearing on tax hike draws no members of public

No citizens attended the first public hearing Thursday on a proposed tax increase of eighth-tenths of a cent per $100 valuation, which officials say is necessary to counter a decline in state funding.

After a 15-minute recess to allow time for members of the public to show up, Alamo Colleges board Chairman James Rindfuss adjourned the meeting at Killen Center.

“We haven’t had any citizens, that I can recall, that have come to these hearings in many years, but it’s not that they won’t,” he said in an interview after the meeting. “We’ve always make available the opportunity for the citizens to be heard on matters when it pertains to a tax increase … I think the public recognizes this is a very conscientious board that does not try to increase taxes.”

District 1 trustee Joe Alderete arrived late, and District 2 trustee Denver McClendon and District 8 trustee Gary Beitzel were absent.

At the Aug. 21 regular board meeting, the trustees voted 7-0 with no discussion to propose a tax increase that would add $10.85 to the average home valued at $144,161.

The combined tax rate of $0.149150 per $100 of property value is less than eighth-tenths of a cent increase from the current combined tax rate of $0.141623.

At the July 11 board budget retreat, Diane Snyder, vice chancellor for finance and administration, told trustees that a tax increase was necessary to counter state funding declines from 22 percent to 12 percent over the next 10 years.

The combined tax rate of $0.149150 per $100 valuation includes a maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.104400 and the debt levy tax rate of $0.044750.

The maintenance and operations tax rate of $0.104400 would result in estimated operating tax revenues of $103.1 million.

Two public notices and two public hearings are required before the final approval of the tax rate because the combined tax rate is above the combined effective tax rate of $0.142231.

The next public hearing is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan.

For more information, call board liaison Sandra Mora at 210-485-0030.