The Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (MTGCD) board of directors unanimously approved a proposed tax rate of .006463 per $100 valuation for its member counties during the regular meeting Thursday, Aug. 10.
This proposed value is a ‘no new revenue rate’ to demonstrate fiscal responsibility to MTGCD’s member counties, Erath, Comanche, Bosque and Coryell.
MTGCD General Manager Patrick Wagner reported that initial reports by appraisal districts had the decimal mistakenly placed two digits to the left for a much higher rate. The listing has been fixed after MTGCD had to field phone calls with complaints.
Wagner presented board members with several options in the second draft of the 2024 budget, basing each off of 97.5% collection of taxes.
Wagner reported option number one ($938,433.95) was just to cover district operating costs. Option two ($938,433.95) adds in fees expected to be rolled over from 2023 for current projects. Option three ($1,038,433.95) adds in costs for The Ditch water discover center currently being constructed next to the Stephenville office.
Wagner presented these options before recommending the no new revenue rates, citing the district may eventually need to raise it in years to come if the staff or scope increase, but it doesn’t need to right now.
“I believe you don’t do tax rate increases for things you may need down the road,” Wagner said.
Board members appreciated the manager’s approach to presenting the budget and concern for the taxpayers’ costs.
In discussion of The Ditch, it was also suggested the district examine constructing a fence around the outdoor nature center for extra separation from the fairly busy Wolfe Nursery Road and the added security of a defined entrance so people can’t just walk into it from any direction.
Education/Public Relations Coordinator Stephanie Keith reported that the Ditch construction was progressing with “planting at the worst time in the universe.” Crews were expected to be working on the hardscape by the end of the month. There were also plans to install lighting and equip the windmill with a pump soon.
Debbie Montgomery reported 33 exempt wells registered in the past month with 30 new and three replacements.
Field Tech Johnny Wells reported he took reports from metering wells in Coryell and Hamilton (which adjoins it). Fifteen were down in Coryell and three were up while the four voluntary wells in Hamilton were all down.
Wells also said he performed eight water quality tests with one in Comanche testing positive for bacteria and high in salinity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Another in Coryell was high in salinity and TDS.
Board members also approved new tech to help with cataloguing and imaging as well as amending district rules to reflect updates to stat guidelines.