Montgomery County sets goal of avoiding tax increases for upcoming budget

The Montgomery County Commissioners Court set an early goal to avoid raising taxes for the upcoming fiscal year 2021-22 budget during an April 27 meeting.

Montgomery County Budget Officer Amanda Carter said she aims to put together a budget that takes the court’s desires and departmental needs into account.

“We are working for a low budget. ... If you have requests, we want those justifications so we can reflect those and see if it is something we want to work on or add in the future,” Carter said. “I think we are all on the same page and we want to keep the tax rate as low as we possibly can, but at the same time we know there are some real needs out there.”

Precinct 4 Commissioner James Metts said he is confident in the county’s ability to put together a budget that will work.

“I think we put a good budget together last year, and I think we will do the same thing this year,” Metts said. “We need to see what our needs are and where it stands.”

Among the increased expenses for the county in the upcoming year are an operations deputy in the county judge’s office, costing around $84,000; increased salary and benefits for County Court at Law judges, costing around $40,000; a driver’s license center with two employees, costing $145,000; and several increased salary and benefits for promoted positions within the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.