Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Courier Report "County sees higher property values, but plans no tax rate cut" (Commissioners car allowance goes from $17k to $21; plus raises)
A recent Conroe Courier article is a good example of Montgomery County government not being unable to do with one less dollar in their budgets. With new housing construction the county is getting $10 million more in revenues, but they still will not give us a tax cut.
Worst yet, our property values continue to rise even without tax increases due to increase evaluations, and more and more homeowners are getting more and more pissed.
Property taxes are not related to ones income and seniors really get screwed when they retire. In addition, their is no longer talk of property tax caps in Austin, so eventually we will all be taxed out of our homes if nothing is done.
The Lone Star times blog and KSEV's Dan Patrick have challenged Montgomery County's elected leaders as of late on their allowances and fat raises they continue to give themselves. Did you know that County Judge Sadler and the Commissioners Court got a $4000 raise in their car allowance this year to $21,000. No wonder we never see them in old cars.
In fact, Judge Sadler only rejected the raise in his car allowance when he was challenged by KSEVs Patrick. No word yet if other members of commissioners court have rejected their raise in car allowances. I'm sure the local car dealers will be objection to Sadler.
In a stark contrast the Tax Assessor Collector of Harris County, Paul Bettencourt, only gets $400 a month car allowance compared to nearly $1,700 for Montgomery County commissioners court and other Montgomery County elected officials.
No wonder why we are not getting a tax cut in Conroe and surrounding cities. Montgomery County government cannot deal with one less dollar in their coffers, even though their getting an extra $10 million elected officials still have to have their new cars and higher salaries.
I will be looking very hard at Sadler and others next election.
Worst yet, our property values continue to rise even without tax increases due to increase evaluations, and more and more homeowners are getting more and more pissed.
Property taxes are not related to ones income and seniors really get screwed when they retire. In addition, their is no longer talk of property tax caps in Austin, so eventually we will all be taxed out of our homes if nothing is done.
The Lone Star times blog and KSEV's Dan Patrick have challenged Montgomery County's elected leaders as of late on their allowances and fat raises they continue to give themselves. Did you know that County Judge Sadler and the Commissioners Court got a $4000 raise in their car allowance this year to $21,000. No wonder we never see them in old cars.
In fact, Judge Sadler only rejected the raise in his car allowance when he was challenged by KSEVs Patrick. No word yet if other members of commissioners court have rejected their raise in car allowances. I'm sure the local car dealers will be objection to Sadler.
In a stark contrast the Tax Assessor Collector of Harris County, Paul Bettencourt, only gets $400 a month car allowance compared to nearly $1,700 for Montgomery County commissioners court and other Montgomery County elected officials.
No wonder why we are not getting a tax cut in Conroe and surrounding cities. Montgomery County government cannot deal with one less dollar in their coffers, even though their getting an extra $10 million elected officials still have to have their new cars and higher salaries.
I will be looking very hard at Sadler and others next election.
