Locally elected officials have questions about the state’s new cap on raising property tax revenue without holding a public vote. Brazos County judge Duane Peters says the new cap will apply to the budget the year after next. But he expects it will be discussed this summer as commissioners discuss next year’s county budget. Peters says state lawmakers lowering the cap will also mean spending money from the county’s reserves. Peters says the Texas Association of Counties will be contacted about holding elections should commissioners ask voters to go over the new cap. One of those questions is whether an election could be held this November to go over the new cap starting in fiscal year 2021.
The county judge will be among those in Austin later this week when the Texas Transportation Commission considers Brazos County’s proposed regional mobility authority. That’s after the lieutenant governor blocked legislation to provide funding for the RMA by raising vehicle registration fees by ten dollars.
And a proposal to create a fourth district court in Brazos County, something Peters opposed, never made it out of House committee.
Click below for comments from Duane Peters, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Listen to “Brazos County judge discusses two decisions made by state lawmakers” on Spreaker.