During the meeting, the court was notified that this year's tax rate would not increase, but in fact decrease, going from $0.41219 per every $100 valuation to $0.3945 per every $100 valuation, a decrease of around $0.2 cents as compared to last year's tax rate.

Maverick County has lowered its tax rate two years in a row, going from $0.44366 per every $100 valuation in 2022 to the new proposed tax rate for this fiscal year of $0.3945.

The court continued to discuss the tax rate and closed down the public hearing.

Maverick County is in the final stages of approving their fiscal year budget.

"We are not raising taxes but will be lowering them," informed County Judge Ramsey E. Cantu.

Judge Cantu also informed that this year's operating budget will be around $29,886,879.

The Maverick County Commissioners Court, which includes Judge Cantu, Commissioners Pct. 1 Jerry Morales, Pct. 2 Roxi Rios, Pct. 3 Olga Ramos, and Pct. 4 Roberto Ruiz will continue working with each governmental department to ensure that their internal budgets are balanced and appropriate to provide the residents with the services they need.

The court agreed that public safety is one of the most important services the county provides and are working alongside Sheriff Tom Schmerber to be able to cover the department's budget, which takes on a majority of the entire yearly county budget.