Medina County ESD 4 approved a Fiscal Year 2017-2018 budget and tax rate at a meeting on Monday, Sept. 11.
Board Chair Beth Leonosio, Treasurer Juan Cuellar, Secretary Juan Davalos, and Commissioner Pat Bourcier attended the meeting. Vice-Chair Ed Dougherty was absent.
A tax rate of $.0523 per $100 of valuation was set for FY 17-18, which is an increase from the FY 16-17 rate of $.0502 per $100.
Also approved was a FY 17-18 budget of $375,219, an increase from the previous fiscal year’s budget of $340,740.
The primary reason for the increase is the contract with ambulance service provider AMR. ESD 4’s new service agreement with AMR is for $291,312, an increase of $11,312 from the FY 16-17 cost of $280,000.
Office expenses, professional fees, and tax collection fees charged by the Medina County Appraisal District also rose, contributing to the increased budget.
Additionally, Christy Merendon has served as the ESD 4 Coordinator part-time as an independent contractor. The Board approved a contract formalizing Merendon’s position with a salary of $7,800.
The proposed FY 17-18 budget is online at www.medinacountyesd4.org, with the final approved budget set to be posted within a few days.
A Public Notice of the approved tax rate and budget will also appear in The Devine News.
The next ESD 4 meeting was set for Monday, Oct. 2 at 6:15 pm.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer