Fireballs Honored with Proclamation, Resolution

City Taxes Stay the Same for Crockett Residents

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – It is tax time for governmental entities and while this brings a frown to the faces of taxpayers as taxes inevitably go up, residents in the city of Crockett can breathe a sigh of relief as the city council voted Monday Aug. 5 to keep the same tax rate in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 as in FY 2019. 

“As we move forward with the budget as it was presented in the budget workshop, there is no tax rate increase, no water rate increase and no sewer rate increase. There is an SSO (sanitary sewer operations) fee increase from $1.06 to $3.80, but there are no rate increases or tax increase,” City Administrator John Angerstein informed the Crockett City Council.

“We have our certified values from the appraisal district which has allowed us to complete our projected revenues for FY 2020,” he said.

The numbers showed the city of Crockett had 2019 certified taxable values of $268,479,800 with an average homeowner property value of $53,682.

By keeping the same tax rate in FY 2020 as in FY 2019 (0.596791 per $100 of property valuation), the average annual tax for a property owner in the city of Crockett would be $320.37. It would also provide $136,090 more revenue than in FY 2019.

Because of an increase in property appraisals, the effective tax rate came in at 0.547376 per $100 of property valuation. Using the effective tax rate, the city would receive the same revenue it received in FY 2109 while home owners would pay an average annual tax of $293.84.

Using the rollback rate of 0.582006 per $100 of property valuation would result in property owners paying an average of $312.43. It would also provide an additional $90,247 in revenue to the city.

Following a brief discussion, the council unanimously approved the FY 2020 proposed tax rate of 0.596791 per $100 of property valuation, the same as the FY 2019 tax rate.

A public hearing on the proposed FY 2020 Ad Valorem tax rate and FY 2020 budget will be held on Aug. 12 with a second hearing on the tax rate scheduled for Aug. 19. The tax rate is scheduled for adoption on Aug. 26.

Prior to the tax discussion, Crockett Mayor Dr. Ianthia Fisher requested Richard Omelina, the coach of the Crockett Fireballs Texas Teen Age Softball 12U State Champions, to join her at the front of the city council chambers as she read a proclamation declaring Aug. 5, 2019 as “Crockett Fireballs Team Day.”

“I hereby commend the members of the Fireballs softball team for their hard work, team effort and excellent performance which achieved a state championship with an undefeated season record of 20-0,” the mayor said.

Also on hand for the proclamation was State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) who presented each of the team members with a resolution from the State of Texas.

The resolution stated in part, “Be it resolved the Crockett Fireballs should be congratulated on winning the 2019 Texas Teen Age Softball Association 12U State Championship and the team be extended sincere best wishes for continued success.”    

In other matters brought before the council:

• Minutes from the July 1 regular meeting of the city council were approved.
• Police Chief Clayton Smith reported the police department received 419 calls for service during the month of July which resulted in 34 arrests. There were 453 traffic citations issued and 89 police reports filed.
• Crockett Fire Chief Jason Frizzell reported the fire department responded to 30 calls within the city limits and 12 calls in the county. Frizzell also reported there were no structure fires during the month of July.
• Public Works Director Jerrod Vickers provided the council with the public works report for the month of July.
• A public hearing was held concerning a 120-day extension for a special use permit previously issued on Aug. 20, 2018 for the intended use of placing a mobile home on Burleson Street was held. Once the hearing concluded, the matter was approved.
• The council approved a resolution in support of TX DOT’s Safe Routes to School program.
• The council also approved authorizing the city administrator to issue requests for proposals on swimming pool design and engineering.   

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].