Citizens,

1. Farmersville celebrated the 84th anniversary of Audie Murphy’s birth on Saturday, June 21. Audie Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient, was the most decorated soldiers of WWII and one of the most famous soldiers in American history. Along with Audie Murphy’s memory, the city also honored veterans from every era during a parade around the town square and a ceremony held in the historic Onion Shed. It was a moving experience to watch veterans wipe tears from their eyes during patriotic songs, and then swell with pride as their individual branch of the Armed Services was recognized. It was a genuine celebration of freedom honoring the cost borne by our veterans to defend our freedom. 

As we approach the 4th of July, Independence Day, our annual celebration, we will hear “freedom” frequently over the next few weeks. 

Our freedom focus today tends to our concerns over the threat (and rise) of radical Islam, but we also need to keep close watch on the domestic issues addressed in our U.S. Constitution. Freedom can be lost not only by foreign threat, but also by concentrating too much power and money in our government. The Constitution is a wonderful document written by men who had first-hand experience with a too-powerful government. The Constitution is all about limited government. 

As you consider your freedom over the next weeks, consider what Frederic Bastiat wrote in a period when France was turning to socialism, “Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.” This great fiction is NOT what our veterans fought and died for. 

Freedom flies in your heart like an eagle.

Let it soar with the winds high above

Among the spirits of soldiers now sleeping,

Guard it with care and with love.

- Audie Murphy

Guard your freedom with care and love.

2. The Commissioners Court voted 3-2 today to institute a 5% homestead exemption with a $5,000 minimum during the next fiscal year that starts in October. This homestead exemption means that your county tax burden in real dollars should decrease, depending on your individual property appraisal. That is good news. One of my longtime primary goals has been to give you tax relief.

However, I preferred a more broad based tax relief through a tax rate decrease. A broad based tax rate decrease would give not only you, the homeowner, tax relief, but it would also give tax relief to the business that employs you. In this troubled time, we need to be encouraging all the employment that we can. I will continue to work through the budget process to include a tax rate decrease that will include tax relief for our businesses.

Sincerely,

Keith

For more information please visit my website:   www.KeithSelf.com