Tarrant County Representative Alisa Simmons Skips Meeting Amidst Budget Cuts and Tax Rate Dispute

Tarrant County Tax Rate Dispute

• 📌 Republican commissioners propose lowering the Tarrant County tax rate to 18.62 cents per $100 valuation.
• ⚠️ If no rate is voted on by October 1st, the county will default to a 'no new revenue' rate of 18.66 cents, which is 4 cents higher than the current rate.

Commissioner Simmons' Stance and Actions

• 💡 Commissioner Alisa Simmons supports a tax rate of 18.62 cents, which she states is lower than the current 18.75 cents.
• 💰 This rate, she argues, would save the county's human services department from proposed cuts.
• 🚫 Simmons skipped the last commissioner's meeting and plans to skip the current special meeting, citing a funeral for her aunt in California.

Political Maneuvering and Consequences

• 📉 Simmons and fellow Democrat Rodrik Miles Jr. previously broke quorum by not showing up to a vote, leading to budget changes.
• ✂️ In response, Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare implemented cuts, including slashing staff for Simmons and Miles to one person, reducing their travel funds, and pulling road crews from Simmons' precinct.
• 🚧 Simmons' precinct has grown significantly, and the road crew cuts mean no one will be available for road work or flood mitigation.

Ongoing Uncertainty

• ❓ It is unclear if Commissioner Rodrik Miles Jr. will also skip the current meeting, which would again break quorum.
• ⏳ The Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet at 10:00 a.m. today to address the tax rate and budget.