(Courtesy photo: County Judge Wade McKinney.)

Note: This interview was recorded in the County Judge’s courtroom on Wednesday, August 19.

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The Lead

It is budget time for Commissioners Court and the county is looking at a possible 1.5-cent reduction in the tax rate. County Judge Wade McKinney discusses some of the factors impacting the proposed budget, including two areas where COVID’s impact is costing taxpayers about $600,000.

Speaking of COVID, McKinney runs down the numbers and the current status of the pandemic in the county.

Key Points

* Tax rate could be reduced 1.5 cents per $100 valuation. (1:48)

* How the rising cost of doing business impacts the county budget. (4:00)

* Keeping prisoners who are ready to be transferred to TDCJ because of COVID has cost the county over $100,000. (6:57)

* The increase in health care for county employees and insurance on county properties. (10:55)

* County loses about $500,000 in interest revenue because of interest rates being cut because of COVID. (14:27)

* Henderson County property value increases. (18:24)

* McKinney explains why the county needs the money brought in through property taxes. (20:35)

* Review of county’s current COVID numbers. (23:05)

* COVID data dumps. (24:35)

* The data on COVID hospitalizations in Henderson County’s Trauma Service Area (TSA). (26:35)

* What numbers we are looking at as students go back to school. (30:45)

* No burn ban for now, but the issue will be on the agenda next week. (35:23)

Quote

“We are trying to keep government taxation at the county level reasonable.” -- County Judge Wade McKinney

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