Vanderbilt: Cost Curbs Incorporation

By John Meng Managing Editor          Incorporation for a small community such as Vanderbilt brings a long list of pros and cons. While some residents might prefer the organizational structure and adherence to possible ordinances, others prefer the freedom from government dictates on how to manage their property.     

Vanderbilt residents have recently been hounded with a large number of stray dogs and there have been many concerns raised over crime and the public health and safety of numerous unkempt properties in the community.     

Early last month, a poll question was posted on the Cobra Connection group page on Facebook which simply asked residents “Who would like to see Vanderbilt become incorporated?” As of last Thursday, 90 residents had responded to the poll with the breakdown being 23 for Yes, 38 for No, and 29 stated they would like more information.     

However, regardless of individual preference, there is a cost to incorporating and that cost may be more than Vanderbilt residents are willing to bear or be able to afford.     

At a town hall meeting held last week at the Vanderbilt Community Center, Jackson County Commissioner, Precinct 3, Johnny Belicek and Jackson County Tax Assessor-Collector Monica Foster spoke with residents on the process and cost of incorporation.     

There are several decisions to make and several steps to take for a town to incorporate under Texas law, Belicek advised the meeting’s attendees.     

First, the rules for incorporation are outlined in Texas Local Government Code. For example, towns can be incorporated as Type A, B or C general law municipalities or as a home rule municipality with its own charter. Each type has its own distinct requirements which must be met by the town.     

According to Belicek, a few of those requirements are boundaries that are a minimum of two square miles and a population of at least 200 people. A petition must be circulated that seeks incorporation and at least 10 percent of the residents must sign the petition. If those goals are met, then the petition would next be presented to the county judge who, by law, would appoint two election officers and hold an election for all the residents to determine whether Vanderbilt would incorporate.     

“I’m very impressed with Tammy Gendke, her husband and other people coming to meetings and getting things done. That’s what it’s going to take in Vanderbilt,” said Belicek after the meeting.     

Belicek also noted that Vanderbilt residents will see some changes in the near future.     

“The roads will be getting better because of the grant money we recently obtained. Things will be improving there,” he said.     

Foster tackled the financial aspects of incorporating and presented tax data for residents to consider.     

To provide Vanderbilt residents with some examples of what could be expected financially from incorporation, Foster explained that she first contacted the Jackson County Central Appraisal District for data from the Vanderbilt water district because it encompasses all of Vanderbilt. According to that data, the market value of the certified and uncertified properties indicated a total taxable value of $18,749,043.     

Foster used the City of Edna’s tax rate of 0.2636 and the City of Ganado’s tax rate of 0.4443 as examples. By taking the taxable value, multiplying it by the tax rate and dividing by 100, an ‘incorporated Vanderbilt’ would generate $83,302 under the Ganado rate and only $49,422 using the Edna rate.     

Plus, explained Foster, residents should take into consideration that both Edna and Ganado give exemptions to people over 65 years of age, so that would even lessen the estimated revenue if they also gave an exemption to the over 65 residents.

“It’s not enough money,” said Foster. “They (Vanderbilt residents) are not going to be able to generate enough revenue to even operate a city office or hire a police officer. I suggest that the residents’ best alternative is to look out for one another.   

 “In my own community,” she added, “it’s all about looking after your neighbor. If their grass needs to be mowed because they are gone or ill, offer to mow it. If you’re to the recycling center, you offer to take anything they have that needs to go.     

“The money is not there to incorporate,” said Foster.     

The average homestead value in Vanderbilt is $126,435. Using the Edna and Ganado examples, Vanderbilt residents would be adding $330 to $560 to the tax bills they are already paying.     

“Is it worth it?” asked Foster.