North Plains Groundwater

  Conservation District

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE

The North Plains Groundwater District will hold two public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 7.996509 percent (percentage by which proposed tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or effective tax calculated under Chapter 26, Tax Code).  Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value or your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.

The first public hearing will be held on September 7, 2010 at 11:00 AM at 603 E 1^st Street, Dumas, Texas. The second public hearing will be held on September 10, 2010 at 11:00 AM at 603 E 1^st Street, Dumas, Texas.

The members of the governing body voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase as follows:

For:                                 Bob Zimmer, Gene Born, Wesley Spurlock, Harold Grall, Phil Haaland, Daniel L. Krienke

            Against  :                          None

            Present and not voting:      None

            Absent:                            Brian Bezner

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in North Plains Groundwater District last year was $65,760.  Based on last year’s tax rate of $0.019783 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was $13.01.

The average taxable value of a residence homestead in North Plains Groundwater District this year is $67,469.  If the governing body adopts the effective tax rate for this year of $0.021772 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $14.69.

If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of $0.023513 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $15.86.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings and express their views.

*                     “Appraised value” is the amount shown on the appraisal roll and defined by Section 1.04(8), Tax Code.

**                  “New property” is defined by Section 26.012(17), Tax Code.

***               “Taxable value” is defined by Section 1.04(10), Tax Code.

History and Purpose

The Texas State Legislature in 1949 authorized the creation of Groundwater Conservation Districts to perform certain prescribed duties, functions, and hold specific powers as set forth in Article 7880-3c, Texas Civil Statutes, changed to Chapter 52 of the Texas Water Code, currently Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code.

A confirmation election was held in 1955 and the vote to create a groundwater conservation district dedicated to protect and conserve groundwater resources was affirmed. Sherman County, Hansford County, Ochiltree County, and the area north of the Canadian River in Hartley County, Moore County, and Hutchinson County comprised the original area of the District. In 1973 the people of Lipscomb County voted to annex into the District and in 1993 and 2004 portions of Dallam County were annexed into the District.

The main District office is located in the Texas Panhandle in the city of Dumas Texas, Moore County.  The Texas Panhandle is arid to sub-arid in climate with few surface water resources and for a large majority of the area the only water supply is from the groundwater resources of the Ogallala Aquifer.  The Ogallala Aquifer contains vast amounts of groundwater but with little to no recharge and around 8800 (within this district alone) active wells it is a finite and dwindling resource.  Management of the Ogallala Aquifer and its groundwater resources was and is recognized as a priority and  groundwater conservation districts were created by the Texas State Legislature to address Groundwater Management.

The purpose of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District is achieved through rules, education programs, District-provided services, and through mutual cooperation of local, state, and federal agencies. The District issues water well permits, collects groundwater information, performs water quality analyses, provides a number of well system tests and other services. Extensive databases are used to store, retrieve, and analyze the groundwater information for the District in its Groundwater Management Plan.

Throughout the history of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, the Directors, County Committees, and staff have used their best effort to identify future concerns which could reasonably arise and find solutions which will prevent these concerns from becoming problems. The North Plains Groundwater Conservation District continues to be aware of regulations of other local, state, and federal agencies which affect groundwater use or groundwater management.  The District acts as a buffer between these agencies and the residents of the District. It is the goal of the District to provide the best management of groundwater resources and make every effort to insure that an abundant supply of potable water will be available for many future generations.

Contact Information

Office hours:   8:00 AM - 12:00 AM,   1:00 PM - 5:00 PM CDT, Monday thru Friday

Telephone  806-935-6401 or 1-800-456-3026    FAX  806-935-6633
 

Postal address                                                                       

Staff