After some across-the-aisle cooperation in recent years, Tarrant County commissioners are no longer unanimously trying to cut the property tax rate.
The proposed new tax rate is 18.62 cents per $100 valuation. That means the tax bill for the average home in Tarrant County 鈥� with a taxable value of about $277,000 鈥� is expected to be about $516 a year. That鈥檚 a few dollars lower than the year prior.
Commissioners did not approve the final tax rate at Wednesday鈥檚 commissioners court meeting, but they voted to advance it in a 3-2 vote along party lines. Republican County Judge Tim O鈥橦are, who has made tax savings one of his main priorities, celebrated the proposed tax rate in a press release.
鈥淔or the third year in a row, Tarrant County taxpayers were protected and prioritized,鈥� O鈥橦are said. 鈥淏y passing tax rates below for multiple years and still providing exemplary services, Tarrant County is an example that governments can do more with less. Responsible conservative governance always works.鈥�
Commissioners will give final approval to the tax rate at their next meeting, according to the press release.
Democratic County Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr. warned services will suffer under the new tax rate and budget.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to stop hiding behind the word 鈥榗ut鈥� and acknowledge the truth, that this, my friends, is harm, plain and simple,鈥� he said.
The proposed budget is leaner than last year's and cuts nearly 70 county positions, including several in Miles鈥� office. The budget limits how many employees county commissioners can have.
With fewer staff members, Miles鈥� office won鈥檛 be able to keep up the level of services his constituents expect, he told 四虎影院 after the meeting. Tarrant County鈥檚 recent redistricting process made it harder, too, he said.
"The geography is larger now. I've got southeast Fort Worth all the way to Grand Prairie,鈥� he said.
Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons also stands to lose staff members, she said. She voted to cut the property tax rate last year but had a warning.
鈥淲e are approaching very dangerous levels of revenue, given the vital functions this county government must support in our community,鈥� she said last September.
Resident Joe Palmer praised the proposed tax rate during public comment at Wednesday鈥檚 meeting. He said lower taxes help people survive today鈥檚 high housing costs.
鈥淲hat contributes to that is government 鈥� I'm gonna say parasites. Parasitic government,鈥� he said.
County property taxes make up a relatively small part of a homeowner鈥檚 bill. Most goes .
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