Two Tarrant County commissioners skipped a court meeting, blocking a vote that would have lowered property taxes.
“The Tarrant County Commissioners Court was on track to not just lower county and hospital district property tax rates, but to lower the rates below the respective no-new-revenue rates for the third year in a row,” Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare posted on Facebook.
“But yesterday, one Democrat Commissioner was sick and unable to attend Court, and the other Democrat Commissioner reprehensibly ignored her obligation to attend Court simply to prevent a lower tax rate. Due to a lack of four Court members present, as required by statute for a tax rate vote, the rates reverted to the no-new-revenue rate, which is higher than the proposed rates previously approved by a 3-2 majority,” O’Hare added.
O’Hare said he will call a special meeting on Monday to retry the vote, according to KERA News.
Democratic commissioners defended their actions, stating that the county needs more funds to meet the growing demands.
“Lowering taxes can be a worthy goal, but it cannot come at the expense of neglecting our obligations,” Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr. said in a press release.
Commissioner Alisa Simmons, who skipped the meeting, said her absence was not a “political ploy.”
“My absence from Commissioners Court today is not a political ploy: It is a legal and necessary act of conscience,” Simmons said. “It is a step to protect Tarrant County residents and defend our fundamental values of caring for our neighbors and ensuring basic human dignity.”
Republican commissioners criticized the move.
“I don’t understand the purpose of not being here, to not pass the tax rate,” Commissioner Manny Ramirez said, according to KERA News. “We’re still going to pass this budget nonetheless.”