Judge predicts lower tax rate

Mirror Photo COUNTY JUDGE DEAN FOWLER speaks at a recent meeting of the Gilmer Kiwanis Club.

Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler said that property appraisals in the county are apparently up 10 percent overall.

Fowler was speaking to a recent meeting of the Gilmer Kiwanis Club.

“Some taxpayers in some school districts are hit harder,” he said. He said that some are 8 to 10 percent higher, and the Gladewater ISD is up more than that.

Fowler said he has “barely begun working” on the budget for fiscal year 2008-2009.

However, he feels the county tax rate may drop by 2 to 4 cents. It currently is $.4499 per $100 assessed valuation. Fowler said that this is the sixth budget he has worked on since becoming judge.

“I’ve never proposed anything above the effective tax rate,” he said. The effective rate is the rate that would generate the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year.

He said he expects to propose a tax rate near or below the effective rate.

Fowler said that petroleum prices are hitting the county budget hard.

“Road and Bridge (department) and the Sheriff’s Office use a lot of fuel,” he said. In addition to gasoline and diesel fuel, road oil is more costs.

Fowler also said that he is soliciting applications from interested residents of Pct. 1 for the Justice of the Peace Office there. Pct. 1 is roughly south of Hwy. 154 East and east of U.S. 271.

Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Tim Cariker resigned, effective May 31.

Fowler said that “it’s a money-making office,” generating about $90,000 a year in fines and fees for the county coffers.

“We cannot leave the office vacant,” he said.

Fowler said that a petition is circulating to have the Unit Road System put on the November ballot. If it is put to a vote and the Unit Road System is defeated, control of work on county roads would be returned to the four commissioners. “As county judge, I will put into practice whatever the voters vote for,” Fowler said.

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