Commissioner shares more behind his vote against the proposal

(Seguin) — Guadalupe County Commissioner Stephen Germann is explaining his recent vote against a proposed purchase by the Guadalupe Appraisal District, which is looking to relocate its office to the former Mary B. Erskine school campus in Seguin.

Although the commissioners court voted 3-2 in favor of the move, Germann, who represents Precinct 4, says he felt it was important to clarify his opposition. Joining him in voting “no” was Pct. 3 Commissioner Michael Carpenter.

The appraisal district is under contract to buy the historic property at 216 E. College St. for $1.8 million. However, Germann questions the overall cost, suggesting the final price tag for renovations could far exceed the district’s $8 to $10 million estimate.

“The reason I voted against relocating to the Mary B. Erskine building – while I’m all about preserving history, I think that repurposing that building is going to cost the taxpayers an enormous amount of money. I’ve seen the architectural feasibility studies of that building and I just don’t see how you can repurpose that building into an office building. It’s just not going to work for that reason and the other reason that I voted against it was there are over 100,000 taxpayers living west of 1044 and I just don’t feel like it serves them. There is a two-slot office in the Schertz annex but that is the only small office that serves that west end of the county and that’s the reason why I voted against it,” said Germann.

State law requires that at least 75 percent of the taxing entities represented on the appraisal district’s board approve the purchase and renovation plans.

Germann says that also means each entity would be financially responsible to foot the bill.

“The county is approximately 20 percent of the tax roll that the appraisal district serves so the county residents will pick up approximately 20 percent of the bill of the purchase and renovation of this building. But the thing that people need to understand is that if you are a county resident and let’s say – you are also living in the Seguin ISD – you are going to pay the county’s portion, but you are also going to pay the Seguin ISD’s portion of that — as a taxpayer in that entity,” said Germann.

Despite Germann’s concerns, other commissioners supported the plan. The appraisal district currently operates out of 3000 N. Austin St. Officials say the 39,000 square foot building is needed to address its growing pains.

Among those agreeing to the plan was Pct. 2 Commissioner Drew Engelke. Engelke called the project strategic and cost-effective.

“I think it’s a good presentation and good forward thinking for long term and projected costs. I mean in today’s world, that’s very economical in relation to the price for square feet. I mean today, you are looking at $400 to $600 a square foot easy and you are coming in less than $300 with four acres,” said Engelke.

County Judge Kyle Kutscher also voiced support, citing the need to prepare for future growth and rising construction costs.

“I know it’s a little bit concerning looking at that price tag over the long term, but we know up here when we talk about facilities, there is substantial costs to these projects and if you build only for today, you will have a bigger price tag tomorrow. So, to the commissioners’ point, I think it is responsible for us to participate in a way that we know that fixed cost over a period of time that has the space long term so they don’t have to come back and have this conversation five years from now and have a $200-300,000 county responsibility every year as opposed to a $180,000 responsibility,” said Kutscher.

While the appraisal district serves Guadalupe County and its taxing entities, Germann stressed it operates as a separate agency under state oversight. He says it is not as a county department.

During a presentation to the court, appraisal district leaders said they intentionally sought a building in Seguin, “the county seat,” despite population growth elsewhere. The former campus, originally built in 1914, sits on four acres and includes a multi-story facility.

The overall purchase is pending final approval from the required taxing units. As of today, there have been no taxing entities who have voted against the proposed purchase.