Grimes County’s total taxable value has grown to nearly two and a half billion dollars, but the county’s chief appraiser told county commissioners, next year’s effective tax rate is still going up.
Overall, Mark Boehnke reported to the court that both property and home values have increased, but for heavy industrial, like NOV Grant Prideco and the like, and mineral values all went down. But because we picked-up new improvements, that’s what’s making your effective tax rate rise.
Now the new rate is only a penny and a quarter more than last year’s rate, but Boehnke explained the court must hold two public hearings if it sets a rate above that.
And although the county can add nearly another five and a half cents before reaching the rollback rate, Boehnke cautioned that if the court sets a rate above the rollback rate, then voters may petition for an election on that increase.
The court now has until the first of next month to publish its proposed rate next year. Boehnke warned of some potentially frightening action in Austin during the current special session, but clarified later that the session ended a day earlier than expected, without considering any so-called property tax reforms.