Montgomery County commissioners vote on proposed tax rate, set date for public hearing on FY 2021-22 budget

Montgomery County commissioners proposed a no-new-revenue tax rate for the 2021-22 fiscal year on the final day of county budget workshops July 29.

A public hearing will be held Aug. 20 to formally adopt the FY 2021-22 budget and to finalize the tax rate.

In a special session on July 29, Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae presented the no-new-revenue rate of $0.4083 per $100 assessment, which is a calculated rate that determines the tax rate needed to bring in the same revenue as the previous year based on assessed property in the county. The fiscal year 2020-21 no-new-revenue tax rate was $0.4319 per $100 assessment, and its finalized property tax rate was $0.4312 per $100 assessment.

On July 27, the first day of workshops, McRae presented the county’s values for 2021. Montgomery County saw an increase of 6,925 taxable parcels, or a 2.14% increase. The county’s average assessed value also increased, from $258,690 to $264,230, a change of 3.56%.

“As expected, our 2021 values are up from last year,” McRae said.

Commissioners did not hold discussion on any of the proposed rates, but Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack commented before County Judge Mark Keough made a motion to approve, stressing that the court’s work in lowering tax rates for the past decade was good for the taxpayers.

“I don’t take it lightly, I know where this money comes from,” Noack said. “But [county employees] need to be taken care of, they need to be able to support their families, and first and foremost, they are taxpayers of Montgomery County.

During the three days of budget workshops, commissioners heard from county departments on their requests for the upcoming fiscal year in terms of personnel and equipment. The commissioners also discussed a potential raise for county employees—their first in three years.