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Featured Listener Comments Section: Contents List |
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Listener: Mikel Ward
Category: General
Date: 18 Feb 2010
Time: 13:55:55 -0700
Remote Name: 66.140.104.223
Lubbock County Tax Clarification
Patti Jones, candidate for re-election for County Commissioner Precinct 4, sent
out a postcard about Lubbock County's tax rate being the 223rd lowest among
Texas counties. What she fails to tell you is that we have a half cent sales tax
that generates $16.7 million of the $49.7 million total tax revenue for 2010.
This amounts to 1/3 of the total with 2/3 or $32.5 million supplied from
property taxes.
There are only 122 other Texas counties who have a sales tax to help lower
property taxes. Of those she noted by name, only 3 have the 1/2 cent offset. To
get an accurate comparison, you must compare total tax revenues, not just one
part as she has done.
Until 2005, the sales tax brought in more revenue each year than property
taxes. Since then, the sales tax revenue has increased a modest $2.5 million
while ad valorem taxes have gone from $14 million to a whopping $32.5 million.
Even with debt service & related jail expenses, much of this increase is
unwarranted, particularly substantial pay increases for elected officials,
including Commissioners.
Since 2001 when Patti was elected, she has voted to increase the property tax
rate by 72% (not including appraisal creep) from 19.1 cents to 32.9 cents which
is a 14 cent hike. Most voters realize how much more County taxes they are
paying & won't be fooled by this partial picture to make our tax burden look
better. Even if you do not live in Precinct 4 in northwest Lubbock, these facts
are important. Pass it on to those who can vote in this race. I'm supporting
John Leonard who has an excellent record on the City Council & can bring some
fiscal sanity back to County government.
Mikel Ward
Spartan Lubbock
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