Why are not taxpayers receiving these tax savings?
We are not seeing these savings as County Commissioner's have not yet acted to adopt these savings.
We understand that Bexar county is a large entity with over 5000 employees and serves over 2 million residents. We all pay a full measure of property taxes to Bexar county even if we do not receive a full measure of services such as law enforcement provided in the unincorporated areas, county EMS, fire, roads and other services. Most of us pay additional taxes within a municipality for those services but do not get a break on county taxes.
The goal of this survey is to provide direction and encouragement to our Commissioner's, each of who represents us when they meet as a body to decide county matters.
This proposal was first submitted in 2010 and update in 2020. At a keystroke, 2.57 million is saved from positions vacated by retirements, resignations or reassignments from the sheriff to positions at the precinct 3 constables' office. No layoffs are needed, some positions may be from the county's early retirement program used in part to save money from COVID 19 losses. Please click here to hear the initial interviews of those in support and responses to the proposal: https://www.ksat.com/news/defenders/2020/07/23/constables-budget-proposal-would-shift-100-positions-from-bexar-county-sheriffs-office-to-his-agency/
These facts remain unchallenged by opponents to this measure.
- Bexar county is in a fiscal crisis due to COVID-19 and its effect on out local economy. In Bexar county a 90-120 million dollar deficit, the State of Texas over 4.6 billion dollar deficit. The same crisis effects the taxpayers of Bexar county, many of whom are unemployed, underemployed, restricted from employment by government or live on fixed incomes.
- The cost savings have not be disputed;
- Full proposal documents were provided to county leaders and budget personnel .
- Government leadership does not get the privilege of dealing with one thing at a time. The effects of COVID-19, funding issues and essential services must be handled at the same time. Common sense always applies.
- The constable in precinct 3 has identical authority to preserve the peace, conduct patrols, investigations and perform civil process. None of these activities are "core" duties allocated to one office or the other. Commissioners' Court decides who is funded for these services. No provision of the Texas constitution or statutes prohibit these transfers of positions.
- The resources transferred are proportional to the positions the sheriff has to expend in precinct 3, but may not actually be applied. Precinct 3 residents pay about 50 cents of every property tax dollar collected by Bexar county; other precincts pay 15-18 cents of each property tax dollar collected (there are four precincts).
- Over ten years the savings could top 45 million dollars just in savings within precinct 3.
- Taxpayers are entitled to the best services at the lowest cost. Taxpayers are the reason county government exists and we pay all those costs.
The only reason we are not receiving these benefits is Commissioner's Court has not yet acted to adopt these savings.
Please participate in this survey, pass it on to your friends emails, your social media and the results will be provided to the Commissioners to provide your encouragement and direction to county government.
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