Burleson County proposes 0.46000 tax rate for publication, approves broad slate of routine motions

Burleson County Judge Keith Schroeder opened the Aug. 12 Commissioners Court meeting in Caldwell and, following department reports, the Court conducted a FY2025 budget workshop and voted to propose a property tax rate of 0.46000 for publication.

The tax-rate motion, moved by Commissioner David Hildebrand and seconded by Commissioner Bobby Urbanosky, was recorded with Commissioners Dwayne Faust, Vincent Svec, David Hildebrand and Bobby Urbanosky voting Aye. The minutes do not record the County Judge’s vote on that motion.

Why it matters: proposing a tax rate for publication is the formal step that allows the county to publish its budget notices and continue through the statutorily prescribed public-notice and hearing process before a final tax rate is adopted.

Earlier in the meeting, the Court heard department reports. Jailer Sam Davee said the county jail held 64 inmates and reported the facility passed a Jail Commissioner inspection; Lt. Garza and Sgt. Stohler noted staffing vacancies, including one patrol position, two dispatch positions and one jailer position. Raileen Murray reported a Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) amount of $23,315 and said dump-permit sticker holders will receive black HEB recycling bags.

The Court approved a wide set of routine agenda items by affirmative votes, most without debate. Key approvals included:
- Adoption of the July 2024 minutes (consent agenda);
- Approval of an Order of Election for the November general election;
- Retaining TxDMV optional fees for calendar year 2025;
- A right-of-way permit for Frontier’s 'Fiber to the Home' projects (ROW Permit 5320334) and letters of support for ISPs applying under the BOOT II broadband grant program;
- Resolutions to apply for FY25 Texas Senate Bill 22 (SB‑22) rural law enforcement salary-assistance grants for the sheriff’s and constable’s offices;
- Reappointment of Judge Schroeder to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG) Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning Oct. 1, 2024;
- Personnel items including deputation and the later health-related resignation of Gladys Vides;
- Approval to set the price of annual dump stickers at $40;
- Approval of county records-indexing services under a TXMAS contract for the County Clerk’s office;
- Approval of a Special Road Use Indemnity Agreement and Permit (#2024-01-002) for Wildfire Energy covering multiple listed sites;
- Ratification of a proposal with National Fire & Safety for jail smoke and fire-alarm upgrades (amount listed in the minutes as $214.130; treated here as $214,130 pending verification from attachments);
- Approval to apply for a FY25 County Feral Hog Abatement Grant (estimated $5,000–$20,000, no match);
- Appointment of Raileen Murray to the Post Oak RC&D Board.

Most motions were moved and seconded by named commissioners and recorded in the minutes as passing unanimously. The Court also authorized payment of bills and adjourned at the conclusion of the agenda.

What happens next: The proposed tax rate must be published as required under state law, and the county will hold required budget and tax-rate hearings before adopting a final rate. The Auditor’s Office is finishing the 2023 audit and awaiting a standard bond rating; a district-court hearing on the Auditor’s budget is scheduled for the following Monday at 9:00 a.m., per the minutes.

Details and clarifications drawn from the minutes: the jail population was listed as 64; the TIDC amount appears as $23,315 in the minutes; the jail alarm upgrade line-item appears in the minutes as $214.130 (see attachments for the supporting invoice and to confirm formatting). Dump stickers were set at $40 for the year.