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Southeast Texas in brief - September 21, 2006

September 21, 2006
Southeast Texas in brief - September 21, 2006. Check it out:
(Beaumont Enterprise, The (Texas) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Sep. 21--Public hearing on tax rate planned tonight

Jefferson County residents who want to blow off steam after work today can do so by telling elected officials what they think of the county's proposed tax rate.

A public hearing on Jefferson County's proposed rate of 40 cents per $100 valuation will begin at 6 p.m. today in the commissioners courtroom on the fourth floor of the courthouse, 1149 Pearl St. in downtown Beaumont.

This is the third public hearing on the rate, but the only one in the evening.

The rate is 2.5 cents lower than the existing county tax rate, but 2.2 cents higher than what the county would need to generate the same amount of property tax revenue as last year.

Property taxes help support the county budget, which next year will include raises of 5 percent for all county employees and larger raises for most elected officials.

A separate public hearing on the budget will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the same location. Commissioners Court will vote on the tax rate and budget at the Monday meeting.

County gets money for use of Ford Park

Ford Park's use as a base camp for Hurricane Rita relief and a shelter for Hurricane Katrina evacuees last year brought in federal dollars Wednesday.

Jefferson County received almost $1.1 million Wednesday from the General Services Administration, County Auditor Patrick Swain said. The payment included $679,370 for Rita and $381,755.75 for Katrina.

The county still hopes to get more money through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a damaged sign and parking lot and hurricane-related expenses at the park, Swain said.

Wednesday's payment will help offset cash needs at the county-owned park in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, Swain said.

Park officials already have asked for $474,500 to cover park operations for the first three months of the fiscal year, Swain said. The county is budgeting almost $1.8 million to subsidize the park next fiscal year.

PA police arrest man in lounge burglary

Port Arthur police have arrested a man in connection with a burglary at about 1:15 a.m. in the 5800 block of West Port Arthur Road, according to a news release from the department.

The man was found inside a building after police arrived in response to a burglar alarm at The Place lounge, according to police. It did not appear anything had been taken before officers arrived.

The police department's criminal investigation division is following up on the case.

Copyright (c) 2006, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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