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Community
The Gonzales Cannon

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Gonzales EMS named best rural provider

Cannon News Services
newseditor@gonzalescannon.com

Rural EMS Service of the Year

Atkinson named new Cub Scout leader

Cannon News Services sons up through the ranks.
newseditor@gonzalescannon.com

Gonzales county EMS & Rescue has been selected as the Rural EMS Service of the Year at the Leaders of EMS Banquet sponsored by San Antonio AirLife. The service is also being nominated as the top EMS system in the state of Texas. (Courtesy Photo)

Cub Scout Pack 261 is proud to announce the appointment of Cheryl Atkinson as our new Cub Scout Master. She will be leading Pack 261 over the next couple of years in adventure and activities for the boys from 1st 5th grade. Mrs Atkinson has been a resident of Gonzales for the past 19 years and currently has 2 boys that are active in the local Boy Scouting program. She started as a Tiger Cub leader for 1st graders and has followed her

This notice concerns the 2011 property tax rates for COUNTY OF GONZALES. It presents information about three tax rates. Last years tax rate is the actual tax rate the taxing unit used to determine property taxes last year. This years effective tax rate would impose the same total taxes as last year if you compare properties taxed in both years. This years rollback tax rate is the highest tax rate the taxing unit can set before taxpayers start rollback procedures. In each case these rates are found by dividing the total amount of taxes by the tax base (the total value of taxable property) with adjustments as required by state law. The rates are given per $100 of property value. Last years tax rate: Last years operating taxes $5,227,514 Last years debt taxes $351,153 Last years total taxes $5,578,667 Last years tax base $864,909,612 Last years total tax rate $0.6450/$100 This years effective tax rate: Last years adjusted taxes $5,570,510 (after subtracting taxes on lost property) + This years adjusted tax base $941,242,609 (after subtracting value of new property) = This years effective tax rate $0.5918/$100 (Maximum rate unless unit publishes notices and hold hearings.) This years rollback tax rate: Last years adjusted operating taxes (after subtracting taxes on lost property and adjusting for any transferred function, tax increment financing, state $6,353,963 criminal justice mandate, and/or enhanced indigent healthcare expenditures) + This years adjusted tax base $941,242,609 = This years effective operating rate $0.6751/$100 x 1.08=this years maximum $0.7291/$100 operating rate + This years debt rate $0.0367/$100 = This years total rollback rate $0.7658/$100 -Sales tax adjustment rate $0.1182/$100 =Rollback tax rate $0.6476/$100 Statement of Increase/Decrease If COUNTY OF GONZALES adopts a 2011 tax rate equal to the effective tax rate of $0.5918 per $100 of value, taxes would increase compared to 2010 taxes by $85,913. Schedule A: Unencumbered Fund Balance The following estimated balances will be left in the units property tax accounts at the end of the fiscal year. These balances are not encumbered by a corresponding debt obligation Type of Property Tax Fund Balance GENERAL 2,841,353 ROAD & BRIDGE 1,396,151 DEBT SERVICE 129,434 Schedule B: General Fund - 2011 Debt Service The unit plans to pay the following amounts for long-term debts that are secured by property taxes. These amounts will be paid from property tax revenues (or additional sales tax revenues, if applicable). Principal or Contract Interest to be Description of Debt Payment to be Paid Paid from Other Amounts from Property Taxes Property Taxes to be paid Total Payment 2000 SERIES BONDS 160,000 4,000 350 164,350 2002 SERIES BONDS 145,000 14,813 300 160,113 2006 SERIES BONDS 15,000 67,021 0 82,021 Total required for 2011 debt service - Amount (if any) paid from Schedule A - Amount (if any) paid from other resources - Excess collections last year = Total to be paid from taxes in 2011 + Amount added in anticipation that the unit will collect only 100.00% of its taxes in 2011 =Total debt levy Schedule C - Expected Revenue from Additional Sales Tax In calculating its effective and rollback tax rates, the unit estimated that it will receive $1,130,943 in additional sales and use tax revenues. The county has excluded any amount that is or will be distributed for economic development grants from this amount of expected sales tax revenue. Schedule D - Criminal Justice Mandate The COUNTY OF GONZALES Auditor certifies that COUNTY OF GONZALES has spent $33,016 in the previous 12 months beginning JUNE 1, 2010, for the maintenance and operations cost of keeping inmates sentenced to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. COUNTY OF GONZALES Sheriff has provided information on these costs, minus the state revenues received for reimbursement of such costs. This notice contains a summary of actual effective and rollback tax rates calculations. You can inspect a copy of the full calculations at 522 ST. MATTHEW, GONZALES, TX 78629. Name of person preparing this notice: NORMA JEAN DUBOSE Title: GONZALES COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR Date Prepared: 08/12/2011 $406,484 $54,434 $0 $0 $352,050 $0 $352,050

2011 Property Tax Rates in COUNTY OF GONZALES

Her other youth experience are working as a FUMC Sunday School teacher for 3-4 year olds, a high school teacher in Seguin, and as an advisor for FCCLA in Seguin. I am a supporter of cub scouts because the values and skills taught and practiced throughout the boys time in the scouting program. We are not always able to focus on these underlying principles and values in our academic day where our children spend most of their time. By learning what scouting has

to offer, helps these boys in their everyday life, on the sports field and in the classroom. Pack 261 has been a part of Gonzales for over 50 years, and are sponsored by the United Methodist Men Club. Many of Gonzales current leaders were members of Pack 261 when they were young boys. Through the leadership and the parents guidance values were instilled in these boys that date back more than 100 years when Lord Baden Powell started scouting. In closing Cheryl commented, I was honored

when approached about the Cub Scout Master position and will Do My Best to make cub scouts fun, exciting and informative for the boys and parents. I am hoping together with your help as parents, guardians and community members we can make scouting a positive and memorable experience for our young citizens and future leaders.

Cheryl Atkinson

Gonzales County EMS was among the honorees as San Antonio AirLIFE hosted its annual Leaders in Emergency Care recognition dinner, Aug. 12, at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel. The dinner was held in conjunction with AirLIFEs Emergency Care Clinical Conference, Aug. 13. With KSAT 12s Jennifer Dodd as the emcee for the celebration, there were more than 150 attendees for the annual affair. The purpose of this event was to take the opportunity for AirLIFE employees to recognize others in the region that work hard at ensuring the best care is given to their patients stated AirLIFE president and CEO Shawn Salter. All of those recognized were chosen by AirLIFE Flight Nurses, Flight Paramedics, and Flight Communicators based on interactions they had experienced with hospitals, EMS agencies and individuals in Emergency Medicine. All facilities and agencies in the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Trauma Service Area P were included.

Those to be recognized during the event were: Rural Healthcare Facility: South Texas Regional Medical Center; Urban Healthcare Facility: CHRISTUS Santa Rosa New Braunfels; Urban/Suburban EMS: New Braunfels Fire/EMS; Rural EMS: Gonzales County EMS; Hospital Representative: Denise Fletcher, Uvalde Memorial Hospital; Fire/EMS Representative: Keith Eldard, Helotes Fire/EMS; Telecommunicator: Juanita Hernandez, University Health System Transfer Center; Partner for Life: David Wampler, Ph.D., UTHSCSA.I believe that it is important to be recognized by your peers, and these are the people that our flight crews interact with daily, added Salter. Serving the community since 1991, AirLIFE is the only Texas owned nonprofit and CAMTS (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services) accredited air medical service in Southwest Texas and provides emergency air transport to more than 50 counties within a 150-mile radius of the San Antonio. AirLIFE is jointly owned by Baptist Health System and University Health System. www. txairlife.com

Friends of the NRA Dinner & Auction Tues., Aug. 23 Hermann Sons Hall - Gonzales Doors open 6 p.m. $20.00 per person For More Information Contact: George Fink 830-857-6119 or Gerald Black 830-437-5772