Union Valley to consider emergency services district

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Feb 16, 2009 (Greenville Herald-Banner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- UVAL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- With of a tax refund on the way, or a rebill for those who have not paid taxes for 2008, Union Valley residents can focus on whether or not to support a tax-supported Emergency Services District in Hunt County.

It was discussed in the regular meeting Feb. 12, of full council and mayor, with about 10 in attendance.

It was quiet compared to the lively meetings on the tax rate and bills over the last three months, according to mayor Chris Elliott and attendees.

The Union Valley council voted unanimously in special meeting Jan. 29 to lower the tax rate from .25 to .115.

"After lengthy discussion, the citizens of Union Valley, the attorney, and the Council all came to an agreement of .115 tax rate for the 2008-2009 tax year," reads the Jan. 29 minutes, approved Thursday.

It was in November that the city's $500 and $600 property tax bills began to hit home. Property owners had been expecting maybe $150 or $200, noted on citizen at the Feb. 12 meeting. The city was noticing "extra money," said Elliott in a recent interview.

When Union Valley area citizens voted in November 2007 to incorporate, the thinking, guided by the Texas Municipal League, was that the tax could be capped, mayor Chris Elliott said in a recent interview. That was wrong. Also, he and the two councilmembers elected in May 2008, were under pressure to establish a budget and tax rate within a few months to meet the legally required August deadline.

To correct the problem, the council set the Union Valley city budget at $18,883.56, which is more than covered by the new rate, and allows for delinquent taxes. Revenue is expected to be $20,926.18, according to the worksheet used as the basis for the new tax rate.

The .115 will also apply to the tax bill to be issued in 2009.

Citizens can now ponder whether or not to support a possible 10 cent tax for an Emergency Services District (EDS) which will be discussed by the Hunt County commissioners Monday in a 9 a.m. workshop.

Proposing the district are Jim Davenport, vice president of the Hunt County Firefighters Association, and Jimmy Woodard of the Office of Rural Community Affairs. They have submitted a petition to the Hunt County voter registrar to put the entity creation on the May ballot. The district would fund the area volunteer fire departments.

In the meantime, cities and the county are being asked now to "opt in" to be part of the district or "opt out" and not be part of the district, should it be formed.

Union Valley's council voted to "opt in".

If the council "opted out" as has Caddo Mills, according to the council, it would not pay into the district, nor receive money from the district, should it be voted in May.

"We as a council won't speak for each individual citizen in Union Valley," said Elliott. "I personally wouldn't want a 10 cent tax on a property tax," he added.

Councilmember Council noted that the fire departments that need the money most will get it first, and that may not be Union Valley. "It does not mean our tax money is going to Union Valley," he said.

"They are trying to have a balance, instead of one fire department running on bald tires and the other in silks," he said.

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