Consistent. Principled. Action.

Concerned citizens,

Your Collin County Commissioners Court recently approved a proposed budget that includes a tax decrease for 2010. That's right, a tax DECREASE. This is good news for Collin County taxpayers. Over the last two years, the county property tax bill for the average taxpayer in the county has dropped a total of $27.36.

This year, not only does the average tax bill drop again, but the proposed tax rate is even lower than the effective tax rate. The effective rate is the tax rate that would need to be adopted in order to guarantee the same amount of county tax revenue as the year before. This means that the proposed tax rate for 2010 is a tax decrease both for the county as a whole AND for the individual taxpayer. As more citizens make Collin County their home, and we hold the line on spending, the tax burden for each citizen decreases.

The effective tax rate for 2010 is $.24941. The proposed tax rate is $.2425, almost three quarters of a cent below the effective tax rate. The average taxpayer will pay $3.32 less this year than last year, and this follows a decrease of $24.04 last year.

In the midst of the economic turmoil that our citizens are experiencing daily, this is the least that our county government can do to help our citizens through this difficult period.

No services are cut in the proposed budget and, once again, Collin County just received the highest possible credit ratings, AAA and Aaa.

This tax policy will pay future dividends for Collin County. Renowned economist Dr. Art Laffer, one of the key architects of the Reagan Economic Program, recently authored a series for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, "Thinking Economically." In "States Right - To Mess It Up, What Makes a State Competitive," he writes, "...state and local fiscal policies are far and away the most important factors determining changes in the competitiveness and, hence, relative economic growth rates among the states....Overtaxed states per se restrain growth, while states that raise taxes - even if they currently aren't overtaxed - inhibit growth." In Collin County, we believe that he is correct.

I invite you to view the demonstrated successes of our county and our cities that are gaining recognition in numerous national publications, all found at http://www.collincountytx.gov/business/cites.jsp

Three independent boards control approximately 10% of the county budget. If they follow the court's lead to control spending, then the final approved budget will slow the growth of county government in Collin County while maintaining services.

We are committed to providing core government functions as efficiently as possible in order to provide services, sustain our quality of life and encourage our economic growth.

Sincerely,

Keith

Citizens,

I have three very positive reports for you:

1) The Commissioners Court recently redistricted the Commissioners precincts in order to balance the precinct populations and give every citizen a full vote for county commissioners. The new map can be viewed at

http://www.collincountytx.gov/public_information/features/documents/CommishEffective01012010.pdf

2) Both major credit rating firms again gave Collin County their highest bond ratings: AAA and Aaa. This is great news and ensures the best possible cost of financing bond sales approved by you.

3) Today the Commissioners Court voted to approve a flat recommended fiscal year 2010 budget with a steady tax rate. This is good news. For the second year in a row, the average taxpayer in Collin County will pay fewer dollars in county taxes than the year before, if the final budget approved in late September reflects this flat budget.

It continues to be an honor to serve you, and I look forward to hearing from you as we move toward final budget approval in late September.

Sincerely,
Keith