From The News-Courier staff—
BENJAMIN—The Benjamin City Council has approved proposed a higher tax rate of .63623 cents per $100 property valuation during its Aug. 24 special meeting and will hold a public meeting on the proposal at 5:45 p.m., Sept. 10 at the Knox County Courthouse.
The rate is higher than the no-new-revenue rate of .58663 but lower than the voter-approval needed tax rate of .63625.
Citizens may express their support or opposition to the proposed new rate by contacting any council member or attending the public meeting.
The council appointed Jason Doran to fill a vacant seat and then appointed him Mayor Pro Tem in an earlier August meeting.
In other business, the council approved a resolution authorizing the submission of the city’s 2020 Texas Community Development Block Grant Planning/Capacity/Building fund application to the Texas Department of Agriculture and designating Mayor Janet Reed and Doran as authorized representatives.
In addition, the council adopted an ordinance designating The Knox County News-Courier as the official newspaper and approved a contract with the Knox County Appraisal District to collect taxes.
No action was taken on increasing bulk water rates.
Director of Public/Water Works Ronnie White provided a report, and Donnie Ryder and Shannon Ewing addressed the council with some of their concerns during public comments.
