The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 25, 1985 Page: 1 of 22
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Albany News
"Oldest Journalistic Venture West of the Brazos"
THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1985, ALBANY, TEXAS 76430
16 PAGES IN 2 SECTIONS
VOLUME NUMBER 110 NUMBER 6 PRICE 29« PLUS TAX
Effective tax rate calculations released
By Donnie A. Lucas
Effective tax rate calculations
for the six taxing jurisdictions
within Shackelford County were
completed this week by the
Shackelford County Appraisal
District office with drastic
changes resulting in some cases.
The effective rate calculation is
an initial step required by law for
each of the local governmental en
tities to be able to set its property
tax rates for 1985.
The six jurisdictions served by
the local Appraisal District in-
clude the City of Albany, the City
of Moran, Albany Independent
School District, Moran Indepen
dent School District, Shackelford
County, and the Shackelford
County Hospital District.
According to Betty Viertel,
if * : ■ . v
chief appraiser for the district,
the effective tax rate is the rate
calculated by a state-prescribed
formula in order to generate the
same amount of revenue on the
same property for each jurisdic-
tion as was levied the previous
year.
"We were somewhat surprised
by the effective tax rate calcula
tions this year," stated Mrs.
Viertel. "Both school districts
ended up with higher rates than
last year, as did the county and
the hospital district. On the other
hand the cities of Albany and
Moran have lower effective tax
rates."
Jurisdictions with higher effec
tive rates than the rate adopted
in 1984 include: Albany I.S.D. —
up from 56 cents per $100 evalua
•
:
tion adopted in 1984to 61.02 cents
per $100; Moran I.S.D. — 81 cents
per $100 in 1984 to 99.88 cents per
$100; Shackelford County — 24.5
cents to 27.96 cents; and
Shackelford County Hospital
District — 9.1 cents to 10.23 per
$100.
Both municipalities in the coun
ty have lower effective rates than
the 1984 adopted rates. The City
of Albany dropped from 21.5
cents per $100 to 20.65 cents; and
the City of Moran's effective rate
decreased to 17.28 cents from 21.5
cents per $100.
Mrs. Viertel explained that the
changes in the rates this year are
partially due to revisions made in
the formula used to calculate the
effective tax rate and increased
values of property following a re
cent reappraisal of residential
and commercial property. Also,
the number of plugged and aban
doned wells affected the calcula
tions causing higher rates for
several of the jurisdictions.
Again, the effective rate is only
the rate calculated to generate
the same amount of tax as the
prior year and is not necessarily
the rate that will be adopted by
an individual governmental body.
"We do not set the tax rates,"
Mrs. Viertel emphasized. "The
jurisdictions are the only ones
who have the authority to raise
their tax rate, lower it or leave it
the same."
According to a schedule man
dated by the State Property Tax
Board, each of the jurisdictions
must set its rates during the
month of August after the effec
tive tax rates have been publish
ed.
"Each jurisdiction has the op
tion of raising its rate three per
cent over the effective tax rate
calculated or adopt a lower rate
without having a public hearing,"
she explained. "If their budgets
require them to raise tax rates by
more than three percent they
must hold a public hearing and
publish two notices of their intent
in the newspaper."
Mrs. Viertel stated that many
people are confused by the law
because their taxes are raised
more than three percent, but this
is due to an increase in the value
of their property. "An
individual's taxes may be higher
from one year to the next even
with the same tax rate if their
property value has been increas
ed."
The only jurisdiction that has
already adopted a budget and
made known its intentions of rais
ing its tax rate is the City of
Albany. At the time the budget
was approved in March, the coun
cil members indicated they would
be proposing a 25 percent tax in
crease.
The Albany council has set a
special meeting for Monday, July
29, at 6:00 p.m to discuss its rate
and make a formal proposal. A
public hearing has been set for
August 14, at 6:00 p.m. on the pro-
posed increase and the final vote
on the matter will be taken dur
ing a special meeting set for
Thursday, August 22.
X
New apartments to open
- "• ~
By David Love
Grand opening ceremonies for
the newly completed Greenridge
Apartments will be held on Satur-
day, August 3 from 4:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. in front of the complex's
office, according to apartment
manager Linda Pittard.
The new development is locat
ed one half mile east of Albany on
the Moran Highway.
"I am terribly excited about the
opening and can't wait to get
down to business," stated Pittard.
She added that "construction will
hopefully be completed by Thurs
day (today)."
Refreshments will be served
during the opening and "we
would like to show everybody
through the apartments," noted
Pittard. The entire facility will be
open for touring, depending on
the weather. "If it's raining, we'll
probably just have one each of the
different apartments open for the
public," the manager said.
Godfrey Funeral Home of A1
bany will provide a tent under
which the refreshments will be
served. "We appreciate the use of
the tent, as it should help to keep
the food cool," commented Pit
tard.
The 40 unit complex includes 24
two bedroom apartments and 16
one bedroom apartments. "All of
the units are equipped with
General Electric and. Hot Point
appliances," stated the manager.
The units are all electric.
Pittard added that landscaping
work has started and will conti
nue after the apartments have
opened.
Construction was begun on the
the Greenridge Apartments in
January of 1985. Terry Boyd of
Fort Worth is the owner of the
apartments, and Sabine Valley
contractors of Fort Worth did the
construction.
Financed through the Farmer's
Home Administration, the apart
ments will be available to anyone
with an income ranging between
$1 1,000 and $20,000. Each
tenant's rent is based on his or
her annual adjusted income.
An occupant or family must pay
25 percent of his income for rent;
thus, the rent fees range from
$220 to $400 per month for a one
bedroom, and from $250 to $450
per month for a two bedroom.
If the apartments are not filled
by low income families, they may
be rented at the full market
value —$400 for a one bedroom
and $450 for a two bedroom.
However, low income families
have top priority.
Tenants whose rent will be paid
by someone else will have to pro
ve that the money is available
during the application stage.
To apply for one of the newly
constructed apartments, contact
Pittard at the Greenridge Apart-
ments or call 762 2518
New apartments...
Greenridge Apartments, a 40 unit
complex now being completed on
the Moran highway, will celebrate
its grand opening on Saturday,
August 3. Richard Wade (right) is
among a number of local workers
hired to help prepare for the open
house. Those interested in viewing
the facilities will be able to tour the
complex at that time. According to
the local manager, Linda Pittard,
the construction should be com-
plete by the end of this week, but
the landscaping work will continue
into next month.
[Staff Photos]
Fox appointed to board
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Old Jail Art Center an
nounced this week the appoint
rnent of Sandra Fox to the Board
of Trustees of the center.
Mrs. Fox and her husband,
Richard, are life long residents of
Albany, and are among the list of
founders of the Old Jail Art
Center.
"Sandra's interest and support
of the Old Jail has been obvious
from the beginning and the board
of trustees felt she would be a
great asset," stated Betsy Koch,
administrative director of the
local art center.
Mrs. Fox's other interests in
elude co chairing the Shackelford
County Sesquicentennial Commit-
tee, serving as a docent at the
OJAC, and performing regularly
in the Fort Griffin Fandangle.
She and her husband are in
volved in several businesses in
eluding White Tank Co., Live Oak
Ranches, Lone Star Head Co., and
the newly opened Fantasy Moun-
tain amusement park in Ruidosa,
New Mexico.
"Mrs. Fox will be joining a
board that has national scope,"
stated Mrs. Koch. "Our board
members range from New York
to California and all over the state
of Texas."
Mrs. Koch explained that the
board is not composed of a set
number of members, but that two
trustees have died during the
past year and the board has been
considering another appointment.
The board is currently chaired
by Marilynne Jacobs, with Pat
Jones as vice-chairman, Jim Cot
ter, treasurer and Nancy Green,
secretary:
"I am very flattered by the ap
pointment," said Mrs Fox. "We
have been involved in the Old
Jail's activities from its beginning
and I am very pleased to have the
opportunity be able to serve in
this capacity."
A docent meeting was held at
(See Old Jail, pg. 2-A)
1,500 attend MNB celebration tl
An estimated 1,500 area resi-
dents participated in a series of
Grand Opening and 75th Birthday
Celebration activities held over
the weekend at the Moran Na-
tional Bank.
The bank hosted an Open
House from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. on
Saturday, July 20, with over 1,000
guests signing the register.
Just over 1,000 of the bank's
"customers, friends and
neighbors" were treated to a free
barbecue dinner from 5:00 p.m.
until 7:00 p.m. catered by Fort
Griffin General Merchandise
Restaurant of Albany.
A large number of the bank's
visitors stayed for a street dance
sponsored by MNB with music by
The Texas Hat Band from
Abilene.
"We appreciate everyone help-
ing us celebrate the 75th anniver-
sary of the chartering of the
bank," said Mike Parsons, presi-
dent. "We feel that we were not
only celebrating our rich
heritage, but also the beginning
of a new era for our community
and the bank."
The bank's extensive remodel-
ing and expansion efforts include
increasing the floor space in the
facility several times over, com-
Eletely changing the decor of the
ank, and providing some of the
latest conveniences in customer
service.
The bank was open to visitors
for tours during the week of July
15-20, with daily door prizes given
away. Winners were Tommy
Brooks, Linda Cozart, Tom-
my Boyd, Charles Ellis and
Lucille Forbess.
A limited edition print by
Fredericksburg artist Charles
Beckendorf was given to Sam
Brewster, winner of a special
drawing held during Saturday's
Open House.
"There are a lot of people to
thank for helping make the
celebration a success," stated
Parsons. "We would especially
like to thank Ali and Patty Esfan
diary and Nariman Esfandiary for
doing an outstanding job on the
food."
Parsons also expressed his ap
preciation to Green's Grocery, the
City of Moran, Shackelford Coun
ty, and the Texas Highway De
partment for helping prepare for
the celebration and "allowing us
to have the street dance."
"Ronnie and Diana Nail and Jim
Moore, along with the entire Com
munity Development Board, have
assisted us in many ways and we
appreciate them."
Finally, Parsons expressed his
thanks on behalf of the bank's
directors and stockholders to the
bank's employees. "We are ex
tremely indebted to all of our
employees for the many hours of
hard work they put in to get
everything ready. There's a lot to
do when you have a party for
1,500 people."
Parsons added that the Moran
Community Center, American
Legion Hall and the First Baptist
Church of Moran were "kind
enough to allow us to borrow
their tables and chairs' for the
event.
Dancing in the streets...
Participants and spectators alike seemed to enjoy the street dance in
Moron last Saturday night which was a part of the two-day 75th anniver-
sary celebration of the Moran National Bank. The bank ted over 1 000
people during the festivities [Staff Photo]
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 25, 1985, newspaper, July 25, 1985; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth401290/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.