HOME  FREE CLASSIFIEDS   OBITUARIES   EVENTS   ANNOUNCEMENTS   OPINIONS  WEATHER  

OUTDOORS    TEXAS    LOUISIANA    NATIONAL    Toledo Bend Lake Information

Hungry for Breakfast?  Mary Kay’s Country Diner is now serving Breakfast 7 days a week 6 - 9am.  Your breakfast is cooked to order and the endless cup of coffee is only 50¢ . Saturday - Thursday 11am - 2pm and Friday 11am - 9pm. Friday night we have All You Can Eat fried Catfish and 8oz Ribeye specials. Our home cooked meal on the steam table is open Sunday - Friday 11am - 2pm and menu items are always available. Come see us at 806 Hwy 96N in San Augustine.

ARCHIVE

CONTACT

ADVERTISE

SUBMIT NEWS/PHOTOS

EVENT & CLASSIFIED

SUBMISSION FORM

Political Ad Policy

Hot News Tip?

Call Phil Yocom's

Cell Phone at 936/275-6206

Commissioners Hear Plea for Low Taxes

The Sabine County Commissioners heard a plea from a local business owner to hold the line on taxes next year.

Bill Erickson, owner of Fox’s Lodge, told the Commissioners during the last public hearing on the matter that they should be looking at ways to trim the budget and cut costs rather than raising taxes.

“This tax thing is out of control all over the country,” Erickson told the Commissioners.

Wanting to know what the Commissioners were doing to hold down taxes, he inquired if the county had considered closing the courthouse one day a week or any other ways to hold the line on taxes.

He said that his business is valued at more than he can sell it for.

“It’s taking money out of our pockets,” said Erickson.

“It’s very low already,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Keith Clark referring to the county’s tax rate of $0.39142 per $100 valuation.

“Individuals have to cut things too, not only the county but everybody has to cut back,” said County Judge Charles Watson.

“We’re probably going to have a little increase, probably a 2.5% increase in salary,” said Watson.

There was discussion about raising the tax rate by $0.01, which would increase taxes by 3.235%, but no formal action was taken.

The 2010 budget highlights include an increase of $694,820 over the 2009 budget.  Most of the increase was seen in the Road and Bridge budget which increased by $634,000 over last year. 

The remaining $61,000 will be spent on raises for county employees and a new $9,000 vehicle allowance for Sheriff Tom Maddox, which is the same amount currently given to Commissioners.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Jimmy McDaniel stated that no property taxes go to the Road and Bridge budget, which is funded by receipts from the U.S. Forest Service.

He also noted that the annual funding will run out in 2011 and that the Commissioners would “Look at that in the next couple of years.”

The 2010 budget and tax rate are scheduled to be adopted in a special meeting of the Commissioners at 8:30AM on September 21 in the Commissioners Courtroom on the second floor of the Sabine County Courthouse.