Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 132, No. 34, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Page: 4 of 16
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PAGE 4
ELGIN COURIER - ELGIN, TEXAS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022
HISTORY
From Page 1
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COUNCIL
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FIRE
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE
(name of taxing unit)
(preceding tax year)
2021
2022
0.589977
0.544664
182,500
204,087
11.82 increase
1,076
3.25 increase
1,111
4,093,259
5,101,797
24.63 increase
The meeting will be available live for viewing on YouTube:
ELGIN COURIER
(telephone number)
(email address)
(internet website address)
Change
7.68 decrease
This proposed budget will raise more total
property taxes than last year's budget
by $762,053 (16.8%), and of that amount
$568,651 is tax revenue to be raised from
new property added to the tax roll this year.
$0.544664 per $100
$0.492225 per $100
$0.544664 per $100
The City of Elgin City Council will hold two Public Hearings
on the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Proposed Budget in the City
Council Chambers, 404 North Main Street, Elgin, Texas, on
September 6,2022, and September 11,2022, at 6:30 p.m.
Total tax rate
(per $100 of value)
Average homestead
taxable value
Tax on average
homestead
Total tax levy on all
properties
PROPOSED TAX RATE:
NO-NEW REVENUE TAX RATE:
VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE:
The Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget is on file with the City
Secretary at City Hall and is available for inspection upon
request or online at https://www.elgintx.com/176/Tax-
Rates-Budget-Info
FOR the proposal:
AGAINST the proposal:
PRESENT and not voting:
ABSENT:
In the Booker T. Wash-
ington Elementary School
cafeteria, several booths
offered information about
the various parts of Elgin’s
history and culture, such
as the Hogeye Festival, the
Mary Christian Burleson
Foundation and the New
Sweden Heritage Center.
Outside in the court-
yard was a birthday party
for Elgin, complete with
fun games and activities,
Southside sausage and
birthday cake for every-
one in attendance.
Last weekend’s Birthday
Bash isn’t the final event
on the calendar that will
celebrate or incorporate
Elgin’s Sesquicentennial
year. Celebrate Hogeye,
Dia De Los Muertos,
Arbor Day and Veteran’s
Day throughout October
and November, and see
a time capsule be dedi-
cated at Time To Shine
on December 3 before the
Hot Cocoa Stroll and the
Lighted Parade. The his-
toric year will end with a
New Year’s Eve party on
December 31 with fire-
works at the VFW Hall.
Learn more about Elgin’s
Sesquicentennial events
and activities at www.
etxl50.com.
The public is invited to attend the meeting and/or express
opinions in writing to the City Council, 404 North Main
Street, Elgin, Texas.
Fire operations were
paused on Thursday as
thunderstorms moved
into the area, and thanks
to the rain, containment
increased to 85%.
By Saturday evening,
the Bastrop County Of-
fice of Emergency Man-
agement announced that
the fire was completely
contained.
The cause of the fire
is still under investiga-
tion as of this weekend.
No lost structures or in-
juries, either among the
public or first responders,
have been reported.
During the meeting
of the Bastrop County
Commissioners Court on
Monday morning, Bas-
trop County Office of
Emergency Management
coordinator James Alt-
gelt provided an update
on the fire.
As many as 150 fire-
fighters were working
on the fire at one time,
Altgelt said, with seven
fixed-wing aircraft and
five to six helicopters.
Fire agencies that re-
sponded to the Pine Pond
City of Elgin, Texas
Notice of Public Hearing
Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3OGBV.
loV0Nr3AqM1jJTzA
origins and history from
before its founding to the
present day.
The Birthday Bash was
held at Booker T. Wash-
ington Elementary School,
which plays a unique part
in Elgin’s history. Be-
fore school integration in
the 1960s, the Booker T.
Washington school was
the center for education
for Black Elginites, and
now the facility serves as
one of Elgin’s three ele-
mentary schools. George
McShan, a 1965 graduate
of Booker T. Washing-
ton High School, gave a
history of the school and
spoke about notable stu-
dents who came out of the
school and achieved great
things in their athletic and
professional pursuits.
After his speech, his
cousin and Elgin Mayor
Theresa McShan looked
to the future of Elgin and
discussed its more recent
educational milestones,
such as the Austin Com-
munity College campus
and the new schools that
Elgin ISD plans to build in
the coming years.
To close out the cere-
mony, McShan announced
the start of the day’s fes-
tivities and invited every-
one to take part.
512-285-3333
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The proposed tax rate is greater than the no-new-revenue tax rate.This means that CITY OF ELGIN
(name of taxing unit)
For assistance with tax calculations, please contact the tax assessor for CITY OF ELGIN at
(name of taxing unit)
(512)581-7161 or taxoffice@co.bastrop.tx.us, or visit https://www.bastroptac.com
TOP: Amanda Satterfield and Liston Crim, dressed
as Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morris Elgin, give an overview
of Elgin’s history, starting as a stop on a rerouted rail-
road that Elgin worked on as a commissioner for the
Houston & Texas Central Railroad. BOTTOM: YaLe-
cia Love, Cheryl Reese and Taneia Cruz (front) take
pictures as Jeremiah Love, Adrien Cruz, Elijah Love,
Julien Cruz and Darien Cruz (back) pose in front of
the Elgin Sesquicentennial parade float.
Photos by Julianne Hodges
YOUR TAXES OWED UNDER ANY OF THE TAX RATES MENTIONED ABOVE CAN BE
CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS:
Property tax amount = (tax rate) x (taxable value of your property) / 100
(List names of all members of the governing body below, showing bow each voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase or, if one or more were absent, indicating absences.)
VisitTexas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can
easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax
rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property.
The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is
calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.
The following table compares the taxes imposed on the average residence homestead by
CITY OF ELGIN last year to the taxes proposed to be imposed on the average residence
(name of taxing unit)
homestead by CITY OF ELGIN this year.
(name of taxing unit)
The no-new-revenue rate is the tax rate for the 2022 tax year that will raise the same amount
(current tax year)
of property tax revenue for CITY OF ELGIN from the same properties in both the 2021 tax
1°- o-
We’ve been appropriately
liberal with the expendi-
tures and appropriately
conservative with the rev-
enues, and we still come
out with a very positive
outlook for next year.”
See the full proposed
2022-23 budget and the
presentation made to the
Elgin City Council regard-
ing the budget online at
www.elgintexas.gov/156/
City-Manager. View the
entire August 16 meeting
of the Elgin City Coun-
cil on the City of Elgin -
Texas YouTube channel;
the presentation of the
budget begins at 10:30.
and their willingness to
step up and help.
The council will hold
public hearings on the
budget and tax rate at the
September 6 and Septem-
ber 27 meetings and will
adopt both on September
27.
“Our budget this year is
a very strong one,” Mattis
said. “I’ve been there, and
I know the other coun-
cil members have been
there, where now the
council’s at the point of
trying to figure out what
part hurts the least to cut,
and this year, fortunately,
we’re not facing that.
ditional revenue,” Mattis
said. “This is an opportu-
nity for us to do our part
within the system that
we have to work under to
provide a break to prop-
erty taxpayers here in
town.”
Due to staff members
leaving or falling ill, this
year’s budget was put to-
gether by city secretary
Jennifer Stubs, human
resources director Pam
Sanders, utility billing
manager Dodie Navejas
and Marty Coursey, in-
terim finance director.
Mattis expressed his ap-
preciation for their work
that at the same time
when there’s no in-
creases in water and
sewer rates, and rec-
ommending a cut to the
property tax rate, that’s
a pretty significant ac-
complishment for us,”
Mattis said.
The proposed budget
as presented is based on
a property tax rate of
54.4664 cents per $100
of property value. This
is about four and-a-half
cents below the previ-
ous year’s tax rate, and
about four cents lower
than the rate that Elgin
could adopt without
triggering an election.
“We’re at a moment
in time where our reve-
nues are strong in other
areas, and we continue
to anticipate growth
that will generate ad-
history. Sydna Davis Ar-
buckle began writing
“Milestones: Elgin, Texas
History” at the beginning
of 2022, and friends and
colleagues stepped in
to help finish the work
when Arbuckle experi-
enced health problems in
the middle of the year.
The books were avail-
able for sale at the Found-
er’s Day Birthday Bash
and can be purchased
from the ETX150 online
store and participating
retailers. Proceeds from
the book will be used to
contribute to the Sesqui-
centennial legacy project,
the expansion of Veteran’s
Memorial Park.
During the ceremony,
Debbie Cartwright, the
co-chair of the Elgin Ses-
quicentennial Commit-
tee, read an excerpt from
“Milestones.” The excerpt
she read painted a picture
of Elgin’s early days and
offered predictions of the
city’s future.
Mackenzie Elder, a
student at Elgin High
School who graduated
this spring, was named
the winner of the Sesqui-
centennial essay contest
earlier this year. She read
her award-winning essay,
which describes Elgin’s
However, Robert Morris
Elgin recognized that the
land was at risk of flood-
ing and not ideal for build-
ing a railroad. In 1869, he
was proven right when
a massive flood washed
through the area around
the Colorado River.
The railroad route was
changed to pass through
the location of present-day
Elgin, and when the time
came to found a town in
1872, it was named after
the railroad commissioner
instrumental in the town’s
ultimate location.
One piece of the Found-
er’s Day celebration was
to recognize “timeless
stars,” the Elgintes who
have been around the
longest. Bastrop County
Precinct 4 Commissioner
Donna Snowden recog-
nized 31 Elgin residents
in their 90s, several of
whom were in atten-
dance on Saturday.
A major project for the
Sesquicentennial celebra-
tion was a new history
book sharing a selection
of events and stories
from throughout Elgin’s
includes a cost-of-living
adjustment of five per-
cent to the base salary
of all full-time employ-
The proposed bud- ees and an upgraded
get includes full-year health benefits plan
funding of all existing that will cost about 15%
positions, as well as 18 more.
new positions through- The budget is bal-
out city departments, anced so that all operat-
increased pay and ben- ing costs are supported
efits for all employees, by incoming revenue,
and continued equip- None of the city’s fund
ment and vehicle up- balance is used to cover
grades. Continuing any deficits in the bud-
projects include capital get-
improvements, funded For the first time in
by the certificates of the city’s history, the
obligation, and ongo- revenue from sales tax
ing street upgrades is projected to exceed
throughout the older property tax revenue,
part of town. This budget does not re-
Like other companies quire a water or sewer
and agencies, the city rate increase and the
is facing challenges in property tax rate will
hiring and retaining be lowered.
employees. This budget “When you can do all
Fire included Heart of county also provided as-
the Pines Volunteer Fire sistance, such as Bastrop
Department, Bastrop County Animal Services
County Emergency Ser- taking care of small an-
vices District #2, Bas- imals. The newly-formed
trop Fire Department, Community Emergency
Smithville Volunteer Fire Response Team also
Department, Texas A&M helped with drone mis-
Forest Service, U.S. For- sions and setting up the
est Service, Texas Parks command post.
& Wildlife Department, Initially, the county
Bastrop County Emer- planned to place dis-
gency Services District placed people in hotels,
#1, McDade Volunteer but as the wind contin-
Fire Department and ued to shift and the num-
Elgin Fire Department. ber of evacuated homes
An interagency “hot- increased, the City of
shot” crew that works Smithville set up their
with hand tools to stop shelter for use if needed,
fires was also at the Altgelt said. However, all
Pine Pond Fire. In many residents were allowed
places of this fire, the to- to safely return home
pography didn’t allow for before midnight, and the
the use of a bulldozer. shelter was not needed.
“It took all types of fire- Many businesses and
fighting, from air routes community organiza-
to dozers to hand crews, tions, such as Wha-
to fight this fire,” Altgelt taburger, Chick-Fil-A,
said. HEB and the Texas Fire-
Acadian Ambulance walkers brought food
and the Bastrop County and water for the first
First Responders were responders.
present to offer first aid, Although the fire is
Law enforcement pro- completely contained,
vided traffic control, and Altgelt said on Monday
the Bastrop County Sher- morning that the fire is
iff’s Office helped facili- not completely out and
tate evacuations. that firefighters will
Other staff members continue to monitor it as
and departments in the needed.
is proposing to increase property taxes for the 2022 tax year.
(current tax year)
A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WILL BE HELD ON 09/06/2022 06:30 PM,
(date and time)
09/27/2022 6:30 PM at City Council Chambers, 404 North Main St, Elgin, TX.
(meeting place)
The proposed tax rate is not greater than the voter-approval tax rate. As a result, CITY OF ELGIN
(name of taxing unit)
is not required to hold an election at which voters may accept or reject the proposed tax
rate. However, you may express your support for or opposition to the proposed tax rate
by contacting the members of the City of Elgin of CITY OF ELGIN at their offices or by
(name of office responsible for administering the election) (name of taxing unit)
attending the public hearing mentioned above.
year and the 2022 tax year.
(current tax year)
The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate that CITY OF ELGIN may adopt without
(name of taxing unit)
holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.
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Hodges, Julianne. Elgin Courier (Elgin, Tex.), Vol. 132, No. 34, Ed. 1 Wednesday, August 24, 2022, newspaper, August 24, 2022; Elgin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1555806/m1/4/: accessed June 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Elgin Public Library.