NEWS
Energy values fall 51% across Montague County
2020 Montague County preliminary property values
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
As energy production values dropped 30-40 percent across Montague County, tax entities are seeing significant reductions in their preliminary property values, which doesn’t bode well for this year’s budgets or tax rates.
This past week property owners began receiving the more than 14,000 real estate and business property preliminary value statements mailed out by the Montague County Tax Appraisal District. An additional 75,000 were mailed out by mineral appraisers Pritchard and Abbott to those property owners.
Kim Haralson, chief appraiser for the MCTAD said this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions protests can only be done by teleconference or through paper affidavit, which is what Haralson suggests. The last day to protest real estate and business is May 15, and for oil and gas properties May 22 is the last day.
.The appraisal district handles appraisals for all the taxing entities in the county which includes all cities, school districts and watersheds.
As oil and gas prices plummeted to new lows during late 2019, that trend continued to historic levels into spring 2020 when oil hit a negative level at one point. During the third week of April it was $14.99 a barrel.
Property appraisals are based on the values as of Jan. 1, 2020, and do not reflect any activity after that point.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioner’s Court reluctantly returned money to the state connected to Senate Bill 22 in fiscal 2024.
During Monday’s regular session, County Auditor Charley Lanier explained the three transactions. SB 22 provided funding for prosecutor offices to assist with paying staff, and in the sheriff’s office for staff and equipment.
If all the money was not spent it had to be returned. Lanier explained the fund was approved in 2024, but it arrived after the fiscal year began and commissioners did not want to spend any of until the funds actually arrived in county coffers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The Saint Jo City Council had a brief meeting on June 17.
The 2026-27 budgets for appraisal and tax collections from the Montague County Tax Appraisal District were approved. The tax collection budget faces a 3.71% increase and 2.2% in the appraisal budget.
The city’s payment for tax collections will go from $1,305 for the year down slightly from $1,445 last year. The appraisal portion for Saint Jo will be $9,526, up from $9,361 in 2026.
A municipal election for Nov. 3 was called. Places open on the ballot will be mayor, and the places filled by Melissa McPherson and Jack Dunn, who was appointed to fill out a term.
The council approved a resolution to apply for grants for water infra structure improvements through the Texas Water Development Board. The city is working with engineers from Corlett, Probst and Boyd of Wichita Falls on a proposed project.
The 60th anniversary Jim Bowie Days Celebration opened on June 20th with a full day of activities focusing on sports and a barbecue cookoff.
Festivities continue throughout the week highlight by rodeo, youth rodeo, kid’s activities and Pioneer Court. The second annual Smokedown BBQ Cookout began on Friday night with the steak and beans contests. Three other categories for chicken ribs and brisket followed on Saturday. There were 27 teams, four more than last year.
Conducted by Outlaw BBQ, the grand champion was Vinny McNamara, with 36 points. Steve Cumbie was reserve grand champion with 26 points.
Read about all the weekend’s winners complete with many photos in your Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – The first annual pickleball tourney drew 17 teams. Teams greet each other before they start play (Photo by Barbara Green0
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