First of all, I would like to state that neither the Commissioners’ Court nor I, as district judge, have not and cannot increase the sales tax rate. Only voters residing outside the Midland County city limits have this authority. For anyone, especially elected officials who know better, to suggest otherwise is misleading at best. In the worst case, it lies entirely. I want to dispel some of the myths surrounding our recent vote on the County Assistance District.
Myth 1. The County Commissioners raised sales tax. This is wrong. At the Commissioners’ Court retreat last summer, we briefly discussed how a district aid district can benefit the residents of Midland County. At the request of some of our commissioners, I agreed to raise the issue for discussion at a later date. We started this discussion a few weeks ago. After several questions from the community and the media, it has become clear that politics is confusing an issue that boils down to a simple question that any conservative will appreciate. Do we want the politicians to decide what the voters need or do we want the voters to decide what they need? Together with two Commissioners, I would like the voters to decide.
Most county governments rely entirely on property taxes to fund the services they provide. In the early 1990s, however, the Commissioners Court decided to take part in collecting sales tax revenues of half a cent per dollar. That single move allowed Midland County to enjoy the absolute lowest property tax rate in the entire state of Texas.
Myth 2nd Commissioner Scott Ramsey openly stated while reading a prepared statement in court that people are moving to the county to save on sales tax. This is wrong. People enjoy living in the county because of the quiet, sure. But they also enjoy not paying city property taxes while enjoying extremely low district taxes.
Regardless of whether you live in the city or in the district, you pay the district’s property taxes. With the broad base of potential taxpayers, this rate should and is as low as possible to meet the county’s needs and all services. Without the foresight of previous courts, your property tax would be more than twice what it is today. Take a look at your next tax return and double your tax portion to see the reality of what could have been.
Myth 3. We are already doing anything the district aid district would support. This is wrong. Since becoming district judges, residents have expressed concern about three key services that are inappropriately provided to Midland County’s businesses and residents. These three issues are public safety, roads and reliable water infrastructure. The question arises as to whether we are ready to deal with a major fire at the terminal east of Midland. I’m not sure we want to find out.
Imagine a fully staffed fire station that includes paramedics in the populated areas of the county as well as a possible sheriff’s substation with on-site animal control. The waiting times currently experienced could be drastically reduced. These problems could potentially occur in areas of the county that are and are experiencing growth. These are examples of the benefits of creating a district aid district.
Water or lack of water is a problem for the people of the county. When you have good water, you also enjoy good property values and easier resale. If you are not fortunate enough to have an adequate or adequate water supply, your property value will defiantly reflect that reality. Unfortunately, the access to water and the infrastructure do not match the permitted uses of a district aid district. However, as Commissioner Randy Prude pointed out, the dollars currently used for road maintenance in the county would be borne by the county aid district. This would free up general funds for water infrastructure improvements. But this approach should also be decided by the voters.
The conservative principle that drives this discussion is that we should let those who live and work outside the city limits determine their priorities. Yet it seems that at least one of our commissioners would rather not give voters a say at all.
Look, there is an estimated $ 100 million in petroleum leaving the Permian Basin every day. Let this number sink in. This precious resource is spreading throughout our state, in our country and around the world. If approved by voters, that cent and a half will essentially be shared across the planet, not just here on site. Personally, I like this idea compared to the fact that being lucky enough to own property means having to pay for that privilege.
Midland is a world class city / county with a world class population that deserves world class roads, law enforcement, legal systems, libraries and many other things made available to you by those who live with you. With these $ 100 million worth of resources leaving the Permian Basin every day, come needs that most other communities do not face. Midland County has launched an ambitious road project serving the oil industry and service companies that make it thrive. The community has grown at an unprecedented rate, and even with the recent events of COVID-19 and low oil prices, growth remains at an all-time high.
I see our task as the Commission court in collecting as much information as possible, being as transparent as possible and giving the voters as much say in decisions as possible.
What I suggested to the Commissioners’ Court is that we set up a committee of residents and businesses who live or work outside the city limits. This committee would assess the needs and make recommendations to the commission court as to whether a vote should be held to put the action on the ballot.
After all, as most of you know, I rarely break up words. Let me be clear, the law does not let the Commission Court decide whether to increase the sales tax rate. Voters living outside the city limits will decide that. It is a lie for any commissioner to propose otherwise.
As a conservative, I want voters to choose what they want. Not true? I want you to let us know if you need more fire protection, better roads, access to water infrastructure, improvements in public safety and the prison, or any other priority. Not true? If so, email your commissioner a simple message: ‘Let the voters decide.’