While it isn’t approved yet, commissioners discussed it as an option earlier this week
KERR COUNTY, Texas — As rebuilding and clean up remain top of mind for those in the Hill Country, now they’re facing a new worry.
Kerr County commissioners could be considering a property tax hike to pay for disaster recovery.
While it isn’t approved yet, commissioners discussed it as an option earlier this week.
This is budget season for counties and city’s across Texas, but as Kerr County commissioners finalize their budget, they’re having to deal with disaster recovery.
How much property taxes could increase is still up in the air, but there is a formula they can follow.
In Texas, county leaders can increase property taxes up to 3.5% above a no-new-revenue rate without a vote, but now because there’s a disaster declaration, county leaders can go up to 8% without a vote.
County Judge Rob Kelly says it doesn’t mean the tax rate is going up that much. FEMA does reimburse emergency response costs, but the judge said it’s a slow process, and the last time Kerr County had a big FEMA project it took two to three years to be reimbursed.
The damages to county roads, at this time is estimated at $8.5 million, but that number is fluid.
Kerr County commissioners have not approved the property tax hike yet.