Request
for Public Information
COURT DATE FOR FEB 1ST HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Press Release – January 08, 2010
On Tuesday, January 6th the City of Tool Mayor and Council were given official notice of a law suit filed by the Henderson County Emergency Service District #4 against the City of Tool.
The Emergency Service District #4 claims entitlement to the 3 cent Emergency Service tax imposed on the property owners in the City of Tool despite the City’s removal from the District last year.
The outcome of litigation will determine if the 3 cent Emergency Service Tax; currently paid to the Emergency Services District number 4; will continue to be reflected on your annual tax statement.
Currently all Residents within the City of Tool, are protected by the City’s Volunteer Fire Dept, the ESD #4 no longer funds our jurisdiction.
This lawsuit will be binding on all persons who would be subject to the District’s ad valorem tax, including all property owners within the City of Tool. Such persons are entitled to participate in the lawsuit by filling a written answer or by attending on February 1st 2010 at the Judicial Complex in Athens located at 109 West Corsicana Street at 9:00am.
CANDIDATE PACKETS NOW AVAILABLE
PACKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL IN PAPER FORMAT (123 PAGES) OR CD ROM
City Council Meetings
All regular meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Oran White Civic Center, located next to City Hall at 6:00pm.
The History of Tool
The City of Tool is located in Northeast Texas in the heart of the area known as the Post Oak Belt. Tool is a small community which straddles Highway 274 near the southern end and the western shores of Cedar Creek Lake, between Seven Points and Trinidad. The actual beginning of Tool took place over 124+ years ago. Tool will celebrate its 40th year of incorporation in 2009 and is the third largest city in Henderson County.
The City of Tool is now a General Law Type A community that is a modest and economically stable small town of about 2500 well-dispersed citizens. "A community that is on the move," is what residents say. With improvement of highways we are seeing many more people from the metroplex area moving to Tool and commuting to Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arlington and other larger communities. Made up of 24 Sub-divisions with approximately 36.22 miles of roadway and approximately 14 miles of shoreline, the population is steadily growing.
City officials are happy to work with new businesses interested in moving to town. Even with the growth, Tool remains a community where neighbors watch out for one another. With the beautiful lake, landscapes and many other benefits, Tool owes its growth to the formation of Cedar Creek Lake in the mid sixties.
Tax Rate Notice
"THE CITY OF TOOL ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE."
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"THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 1.08 PERCENT AND WILL LOWER TAXES FOR MAINENTANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATLEY $.04."