County OKs tax hike

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

In an effort to keep up with increasing costs and to maintain a livable wage for the county’s workforce, Caldwell County was forced to increase taxes for the coming fiscal year.

In a unanimous vote on Monday morning, the Caldwell County Commissioners opted to increase the total tax rate from $0.6837 per $100 of valua

tion to $0.6910 per $100. The increase, according to County Auditor James “Sonny” Rougeou, will translate to an increase of about $7.30 on a home valued at $100,000.

For several weeks, the Commissioners have been grappling with a tight budget, attempting to balance the needs of the county with the ongoing financial struggles of the taxpayers. This budget marks an increase in tax revenue of $835,759 over last year’s budget, Rougeou said.

The Court approved the budget with little discussion or fanfare on Monday, as the budgets have been discussed at great length through the course of the last several meetings.

Of note, the 2008-2009 budget contains line items for more than $627,000 in Federal and state grants for various projects, particularly with regard to public safety, law enforcement and legal or judicial activity. Further, the jail expansion project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of the fiscal year, adding The Court awarded bids for the Caldwell County Unit Road System on flexible base, aggregate, asphalt materials, fuel, oil and lubricants.

They appointed a committee to review applications for the position of Environmental Control Operator.

The county paid bills in the amount of 77,297.51, which includes $8,941.74 in indigent legal defense costs and $14,855.16 in indigent health care.

The Caldwell County Commissioners Court meets on the second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9 a.m. in Room 100 of the Caldwell County Courthouse. Their next regular meeting is scheduled on Oct. 14, 2008.