Burnet County tax rate goes down as property values go up
The Burnet County Commissioners Court set a public hearing for Aug. 22 regarding the county’s proposed 2023 tax rate and 2023-24 fiscal year budget. Commissioners Jim Luther (left), Damon Beierle, Joe Don Dockery, and Billy Wall unanimously accepted the proposed rate of $0.3541 per $100 property evaluation, a 5.97 percent decrease from last year’s rate. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Burnet County’s tax rate will decrease by about 6 percent, while the estimated value of Burnet County property has increased 21 percent to a total of $21.8 billion. Last year’s evaluation was $17.6 billion, according to the Burnet Central Appraisal District.
The county’s proposed 2023 tax rate is $0.3541 per $100 valuation, a 5.97 percent decrease from the 2022 tax rate of $0.3766 per $100 valuation. The total property tax levied in the county has jumped to $36.1 million from $28.6 million in 2022, a 26.29 percent increase in taxes to be collected.
The Commissioners Court is holding a public hearing on the new proposed tax rate and budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year during its next regular meeting, which is 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.
“The new money that we do have this year is largely going to the Sheriff’s Office and a few new staff in overwhelmed departments,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Don Dockery told DailyTrib.com.
The county’s cost of doing business is increasing along with the rising revenues, and might well outpace increased income, Dockery said.
The 2023-24 fiscal year budget, to be released on Aug. 15, will reveal a breakdown of new expenses. The Commissioners Court has been holding budget workshops for the past several weeks to decide how the county will spend its funds in the coming year.
Residents can ask questions and voice concerns on the proposed tax rate and incoming budget during the Aug. 22 public hearing.