“We should do everything we can to stop it."
Candidates agree on TTC
3/1/06
By Kurt Johnson
Taylor Daily Press
Copyright 2006
The six candidates running for Pct. 4 county commissioner in Williamson County addressed several issues at a forum in Coupland Monday, and the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) was high on the list of concerns.
The forum was sponsored by the Coupland Civic Association and moderated by Buzz Garry.
To varying degrees the five Republicans and one Democrat in the race spoke against having the TTC go through the Coupland area, and some took a hard-line stand to cancel the plan.
“It's a boondoggle, and I'm absolutely against it,” said Republican Louis Repa of Granger. “If it's built, it will cut local transportation arteries for fire protection and for kids getting to school.”
Albert Filla, a Republican from the Wuthrich Hill area east of Taylor, said he would urge Williamson County to partner with other counties in killing the TTC locally.
“We should do everything we can to stop it,” Filla said.
Ron Morrison, a Republican from Round Rock, said the issue of the TTC might end up being moot.
“If I were a betting man, I would bet it won't happen at all,” Morrison said. “We're going to need more roads in our future to meet transportation needs, but we won't need the TTC.”
According to Bobby Seiferman, a Republican from Round Rock, the TTC doesn't need to come through Williamson County.
“There's opinion in Milam County that the TTC would be good for that area, especially Cameron, and if that's the case, and Milam County wants it, it should go to the east of us,” Seiferman said. “If they plan to put it through here, I'm against it.”
Gary Coe, a Republican from Round Rock, cited his agriculture background in stating that he wouldn't want the TTC “to go over good farmland.” Coe said the TTC isn't just a Williamson County issue and the plan should be viewed in the context of general transportation needs.
“We need to work so it won't be detrimental to our communities,” Coe said.
The lone Democrat in the race, Brig Mireles from Round Rock, said he's opposed to the use of eminent domain for such a project.
“I don't know who will benefit from this huge corridor,” Mireles said.
Another question addressed by the candidates involved what they would do to stymie property tax increases.
Seiferman cited the recent $48 million bond issue passed by commissioners using certificates of obligation instead of taking the issue to citizens for a vote.
“If we involve the public in such decision-making, then use the increasing tax base to fund needed projects, we could actually lower the property tax rate,” Seiferman said. “In fact, because of the added development the county's growth will bring to the tax base, I'd say we could decrease the property tax rate by 10 percent by the end of my first term as commissioner.”
Coe said the key to containing property tax increases is long-range planning.
“Right now, they're doing it year-to-year, and planning needs to be done at least five years out,” Coe said. “Non-emergency bonds should be voted on by citizens and not issues as certificates of obligation so we can keep our priorities straight.”
According to Morrison, economic development initiatives can grow the local economy and the tax base, making it unnecessary to raise the tax rate.
“Some things we must have, like the new jail we had to build and the road bond program, which voters approved,” Morrison said, “but other things are discretionary, and those especially are areas where we need to listen to citizens.”
Repa said a “good-old-boy system” has caused unneeded spending, and he cited cost overruns in restoring the county courthouse as a key example.
“There's no common sense in county government now,” Repa said, “and that's what we need to fix.”
Filla said living within the county's means would keep the tax rate down along with cutting waste.
“Don't spend what you don't have, and tighten up on the good-old-boy hiring practices,” Filla said. “The county could save a half-million dollars a year in salaries by tightening down.”
According to Filla, industry that's already in the county should be supported instead of giving incentives or tax abatements to external businesses.
Copyright © 2006 Taylor Daily Press www.taylordailypress.net
3/1/06
By Kurt Johnson
Taylor Daily Press
Copyright 2006
The six candidates running for Pct. 4 county commissioner in Williamson County addressed several issues at a forum in Coupland Monday, and the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC) was high on the list of concerns.
The forum was sponsored by the Coupland Civic Association and moderated by Buzz Garry.
To varying degrees the five Republicans and one Democrat in the race spoke against having the TTC go through the Coupland area, and some took a hard-line stand to cancel the plan.
“It's a boondoggle, and I'm absolutely against it,” said Republican Louis Repa of Granger. “If it's built, it will cut local transportation arteries for fire protection and for kids getting to school.”
Albert Filla, a Republican from the Wuthrich Hill area east of Taylor, said he would urge Williamson County to partner with other counties in killing the TTC locally.
“We should do everything we can to stop it,” Filla said.
Ron Morrison, a Republican from Round Rock, said the issue of the TTC might end up being moot.
“If I were a betting man, I would bet it won't happen at all,” Morrison said. “We're going to need more roads in our future to meet transportation needs, but we won't need the TTC.”
According to Bobby Seiferman, a Republican from Round Rock, the TTC doesn't need to come through Williamson County.
“There's opinion in Milam County that the TTC would be good for that area, especially Cameron, and if that's the case, and Milam County wants it, it should go to the east of us,” Seiferman said. “If they plan to put it through here, I'm against it.”
Gary Coe, a Republican from Round Rock, cited his agriculture background in stating that he wouldn't want the TTC “to go over good farmland.” Coe said the TTC isn't just a Williamson County issue and the plan should be viewed in the context of general transportation needs.
“We need to work so it won't be detrimental to our communities,” Coe said.
The lone Democrat in the race, Brig Mireles from Round Rock, said he's opposed to the use of eminent domain for such a project.
“I don't know who will benefit from this huge corridor,” Mireles said.
Another question addressed by the candidates involved what they would do to stymie property tax increases.
Seiferman cited the recent $48 million bond issue passed by commissioners using certificates of obligation instead of taking the issue to citizens for a vote.
“If we involve the public in such decision-making, then use the increasing tax base to fund needed projects, we could actually lower the property tax rate,” Seiferman said. “In fact, because of the added development the county's growth will bring to the tax base, I'd say we could decrease the property tax rate by 10 percent by the end of my first term as commissioner.”
Coe said the key to containing property tax increases is long-range planning.
“Right now, they're doing it year-to-year, and planning needs to be done at least five years out,” Coe said. “Non-emergency bonds should be voted on by citizens and not issues as certificates of obligation so we can keep our priorities straight.”
According to Morrison, economic development initiatives can grow the local economy and the tax base, making it unnecessary to raise the tax rate.
“Some things we must have, like the new jail we had to build and the road bond program, which voters approved,” Morrison said, “but other things are discretionary, and those especially are areas where we need to listen to citizens.”
Repa said a “good-old-boy system” has caused unneeded spending, and he cited cost overruns in restoring the county courthouse as a key example.
“There's no common sense in county government now,” Repa said, “and that's what we need to fix.”
Filla said living within the county's means would keep the tax rate down along with cutting waste.
“Don't spend what you don't have, and tighten up on the good-old-boy hiring practices,” Filla said. “The county could save a half-million dollars a year in salaries by tightening down.”
According to Filla, industry that's already in the county should be supported instead of giving incentives or tax abatements to external businesses.
Copyright © 2006 Taylor Daily Press
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, March 01, 2006
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