Caldwell County Commissioners discussed the proposed tax rate, the burn ban and restrictions on the discharge of firearms at their Aug. 27, 2024 regular meeting.

(Pictured l-r: Pct. 1 Commissioner B.J. Westmoreland, Pct. 2 Commissioner Rusty Horne, County Judge Hoppy Haden, Pct. 3 Commissioner Ed Theriot, Pct. 4 Commissioner Dyral Thomas) 

Upcoming meetings 

Tuesday, September 10 

Tuesday, September 24 

Commissioners accept No New Revenue tax rate 

Caldwell County Commissioners voted to accept a proposed total tax rate of 43.91 cents per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The county judge made it clear during the meeting that the tax rate would not be adopted until the Sept. 10 regular meeting at the earliest.  

The no-new-revenue tax rate enables the public to evaluate the relationship between taxes for the prior year and the current year, based on a tax rate that would produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed in both years.  

The proposed tax rate represents a decrease of 3.1 cents per $100 valuation. If approved, the county expects to raise more money from property taxes than it did the year before by approximately $1.5 million, with $887,337 coming from new property added to the tax roll this year.  

In related action, commissioners voted to table items on the 2024-2025 budget as well as on elected officials’ salaries. Those items will be reopened at the Sept. 10 meeting. 

Burn Ban to remain on 

Commissioners voted to extend the burn ban by another two weeks.  

The ban has been in effect since Aug. 18, when the county judge enacted it amid increased fire activity occurring amid hot, dry weather and deteriorating conditions.  

Caldwell County’s Office of Emergency Management recommended extending the ban because wildfire activity had continued to increase since the ban had been enacted and vegetation has continued to dry out. 

Firearms restrictions in subdivisions tightened 

Commissioners approved an order that tightens firearms restrictions in subdivisions located within unincorporated areas of the county.  

The discharge of firearms in platted subdivisions on lots that are 10 acres or smaller is now prohibited — the maximum allowed by state law. Willfully discharging a firearm under these parameters is a Class C misdemeanor. If the person has been previously convicted of the offense, it is a Class B misdemeanor.  

Exceptions to the order include: 

Read the full order here. 

Other Action 

Commissioners also: 

NOTE: This is a summary of highlights of action that took place during the Aug. 27 Commissioners Court Meeting. To read full meeting minutes and watch video of the meetings, click here.