Flood cleanup, looming budget vote top Kerr County commissioners meeting on Tuesday

KERR COUNTY, Texas – Ongoing cleanup from deadly July 4 flooding and a looming vote to adopt a proposed budget were topics of conversation during a short Kerr County commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

Despite initial calls for public input as the meeting began, no one made a public comment.

During the commissioners’ comments, Precinct 4 Commissioner Don Harris discussed the debris cleanup efforts following the flooding.

“We couldn’t have imagined better coordination with our state partners in all of this,” Harris said. “I mean, it’s unbelievable.”

However, even with the state’s help, Kerr County still has to pay for many of the bills, according to the commissioners.

“It’s a chess match to get to where we are right now,” Harris added. “And it has huge impacts on the budget. I mean, without putting this burden from the flood on the back of our taxpayers, it’s because a lot of work that’s been done out (sic) the EOC.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly informed the public that he was meeting with the Chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) on Wednesday.

Kelly said following the meeting, the department could leave Kerr County.

Commissioners sought public input a second time, though no one stepped forward.

As no new plans were discussed or put up for approval, this leaves the current proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year in place. Commissioners will consider the vote during a meeting next week.

While Kerr County commissioners unanimously voted two weeks ago to move forward with a property tax rate of 57.11 cents per $100, the highest rate possible without voter approval, this has since changed.

During the last commissioners’ meeting, a motion was approved by all except Judge Rob Kelly to adopt a property tax rate of 40.24 cents per $100. This is equivalent to the no-new-revenue tax rate.

This rate is what will be voted on Monday, Sept. 8, according to online documents.

If approved, commissioners would only be able to lower the tax rate from there, not raise it.

“I genuinely am scared to death with that tax rate, and to reduce it any more than that is almost hair-on-fire time,” Kelly said. “I don’t think it’s sustainable long-term, and I say that merely as a caveat to the public. Don’t be surprised if we can’t pay the bills.”

Harris, who supported the motion, disagreed.

“I agree with a lot of what you said, but also, this is a tough time for folks, and July 4 changed a lot of things,” Harris said. “Think the no-new revenue rate is definitely the route to go.”

More recent Kerr County coverage on KSAT:

• Kerr County moves forward with creating a flood warning system along the Guadalupe River
• Kerrville to tentatively use maximum property tax rate as budget process moves forward
• Texas bill would limit future property tax increases to fund disaster recovery for cities, counties