01.13.10
A few quick news items
Via BOR Perry puts extremism ahead of Texas, Rick Perry is putting a very narrow and extreme partisan Republican primary agenda ahead of the best interests of 4.8 million Texas schoolchildren.
John Bradley finally obeys the AG’s ruling, Texas Forensic Science Commission releases details about allegations of critical lapses at crime labs. Grits and the FWST have more.
Williamson County loses $1 billion in “taxable value”, via the Wilcosun.com:
Williamson County appraiser Alvin Lankford told county commissioners Tuesday because of a decline in overall new housing and commercial construction the county could possibly lose 3 percent, or $1 billion, worth of taxable value for the 2010-11 fiscal year budget. “Right now these are approximate numbers and they could change,” Mr. Lankford said. “Anything could happen.”
RRL has more on the start of budget prep in Williamson County.
“The biggest thing I think we are going to see [with property values] is in the commercial,” she said. “If their value goes down, residential picks it up. But usually that’s our windfall each year – new commercial property that comes on the rolls. I don’t know that we’re going to see that this year.”
“Residential picks it up”, translates to residential property tax rates will rise. Commercial real estate (CRE) is in the toilet. There are two buildings as you pass La Frontera heading South on SH 45 that have been finished for well over a year and still have no tenants.
Hardcastle on White, Perry can’t beat Bill White.
Hardcastle said while he supports both Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison, he said he is leaning toward Hutchison for a variety of reasons.
“I think Kay can beat Bill White, and I don’t think Rick can beat Bill White,” Hardcastle said. “I think the (Trans Texas) Corridor will kill him against Bill White. I don’t want to see a Democrat governor when we have a Republican majority.”
Shami not a Quaker, What IS Farouk Shami’s Religion ?