County considers tax abatement agreement

The County Commissioners held a special meeting on Tuesday, September 29 to consider creating guidelines and criteria for granting tax abatements. The action is a pre-requisite for the county to be able to offer tax break incentives to bring commercial developments to this area, under Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code. Judge Byron Ryder and the commissioners discussed the criteria for the possible abatement agreement, and looked at a model from Burleson County. No formal action was taken at the meeting.

During a subsequent phone interview, Judge Ryder clarified, "It's not going to take away any taxes we have presently, but would apply only to improvements." Asked whether the proposed agreement is being considered because of major projects in the works, the judge alluded to "several good things working" and concluded, "We want to be ready -- don't want to be caught twiddling our thumbs or have to say 'we're not ready yet', while some other county IS."