Taxpayers will get a chance to speak their minds Monday afternoon, as Howard County commissioners hold a public hearing concerning the proposed tax rate, which exceeds the government body's rollback rate by more than four cents.

The meeting — slated for 4:30 p.m. per County Judge Mark Barr's request to better accommodate area taxpayers unable to attend the court's normal morning gatherings — will include the tax rate hearing, which is the first of two required by state law.

Last month commissioners agreed to a proposed tax rate of .5362 cents per $100 valuation, eclipsing the effective rate of .4134 cents per $100 valuation and exceeding this year's rollback rate of .4912 cents per $100 valuation. The rate is expected to produce an additional levy of $2.7 million more than last year's rate, according to County Auditor Jackie Olson.

“The additional levy would provide for $730,000 for new debt, $250,000 for increases in fuel costs and $450,000 for pay raises for full time employees and increases in benefits and longevity,” said Olson. “That includes $3,000 per full time employee, not including elected officials, and a raise of $1 an hour for the county's part time employees.

“The loss from Alon, which is $1.2 million, is also included in the additional levy, along with $100,000 for new equipment and the sealcoat program.”

In 2007, Alon USA disputed its $320 million tax appraisal, claiming it should only have to pay taxes on approximately $152 million. The $320 million assessment was later upheld by the appraisal district's review board, spurring the petro-chemical company to file a lawsuit that is still pending in 118th District Court.

According to reports following the filing of the lawsuit, Alon agreed to pay taxes on an undisputed valuation of $80 million until the matter is resolved, leaving the county with a shortfall of more than $700,000 and Big Spring Independent School District picking up a $264,000 loss.

Alon USA paid approximately $225,000 in taxes last year — based on an undisputed assessment of $80 million that was reduced to $54 million by abatement agreements — considerably less than the $1 million levied against the company, according to Olson.

Barr had expressed hopes the lawsuit would be settled before the county's deadline to set the tax rate, hopes that may have been dashed when the trial eclipsed its one-week schedule with closing statements set to be delivered Tuesday

“If the Alon situation changes for the better, it (the tax rate) could go down. It probably will go down,” said Barr. “We also have a time conflict here, because if it goes in to the court and the judge makes a ruling on it, either side has about 30 days to go through the appeal process. When you put 30 days on that, we've run out of time.”

Commissioners are also expected to hold a budget work session during the meeting, which will be held in the commissioner's courtroom, located on the second floor of the county courthouse.

Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it