Bedford Mitchell: Kerrville is on the right track

In a letter to the editor in another local newspaper, printed on April 15, the writer stated that within four years, we have “spending up by 31% and taxes up to 39%”, referring to years 2020 to 2024. I don’t know if selecting 2020 as the comparison year was intentional or not, but it was the first year of COVID, and some City expenses were lower because of it.

In fact, the City received a grant from the federal government-funded CARES Program, which reduced the General Fund Expenditures by $1.3 million. Comparing 2024 to an abnormally low 2020 yields faulty percentages. Had GF Expenditures been normal in 2020, the four-year growth pattern would have been right in line with inflation increases. The Council is doing a commendable job of managing the City finances during this inflationary period. 

As to the writer’s comment about debt, let’s not forget that the Voters wanted a new Public Safety Facility and passed the Bond Issue to fund it. Thank goodness we have a majority of forward thinkers in our City. And one more thing, the City Tax Rate is slightly lower in 2024 than it was in 2017. 

Good things are happening in Kerrville; let’s keep it going! 

Bedford Mitchell 
Kerrville, Texas