Approving the proposed 2023-2024 Tax Rate and reviewing the Terry County Airport presentation was the main topic of discussion when the Terry County Commissioners Court met Monday morning Aug. 28, 2023. After the call to meet, invocation, and pledges, the Court moved on to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and approved paying the county bills.
The Court moved on to approve a budget amendment for an engine replacement out of Precinct 3 and technology funding for the District Clerk’s office. The replacement cost for the engine was $69,333.69. For the District Clerk’s office, Tiffany O’Brient will be using funds from the District Clerk’s technology funds for headsets in the office. The cost of the headsets is $1,068.18. The Court approved both budget amendments.
Next, the Court would hear from Terry County Chief Appraiser Eddie Olivas. According to Olivas, last year’s tax rate for Terry County was $0.721316 and levied $6,762,935.00. Since property values went up, the tax rate will need to decrease. The “No-New-Revenue” rate proposed is $0.672667 and the rate for an increase in tax without an election, however, the county must have a hearing is $0.705537 and will levy an additional $308,184. The tax rate that would trigger an election is $0.731731 and would levy an additional $553,774.
There was some discussion between the commissioners as to which tax rate. Precinct 3 Commissioner Martin Lefevere said, “Everything we touch is costing more than it has been.” Preciinct 1 Commissioner Mike Swain told the Court, “With the .70 we still lower the tax rate considerably and still on the other hand it helps us (Terry County) with little extra income.” Lefevere made the motion to approve the proposed tax rate of $0.705537. Although this rate will not trigger an election, it will be required to have a public hearing.
The Court moved on to review the Terry County Clerk 2024 Records Management & Record Archive Plan. According to County Clerk Kim Carter, the reason for the review is it needed to be posted 15 days before the hearing which will be on Sept. 11, 2023, the next Commissioners Court meeting. Also, it needed to be posted before the budget.
Next the Court would review and consider approving lease agreements for Precincts # 2 and #3 for two 2024 Mack Truck for each precinct. According to Judge Serbantez, this is something new they are trying. “We want to save money and make sure we are looking out for the county,” said Judge Serbantez. Each lease agreement was looked over by the County/District Attorney Jo’Shae Ferguson-Worley to make sure the county would be able to get out of the lease agreements if something went wrong. Commissioner Lefevere said, “With them being leased… we’ll have a 50% residual value after four years or we could buy it or extend it for another two years. The repair bills on these trucks are eating us up… and its costing almost as much as we lease for, we’ll have a truck.”
Commissioner Swain chimed in talking about how used trucks, “you don’t know where that truck’s been and what its done.” Commissioner Swain went on to say, “I don’t think its a bad idea… I’m not doing it because after next year I won’t be here and I don’t think I should obligate another man with a debt or decision I made. But, I think it’s a pretty good deal.” The motion was made to lease the two Mack trucks and was approved. Commissioners Swain, Cavazos, & Lefevere voted to approve. Commissioner Elizardo did not vote.
The Court moved to the next item of business which was to review and consider approving the November 7, 2023 Special Election for Texas Constitutional Amendments and to set Early Voting hours and polling places, appoint election Judges and Alternate Judges. Terry County Joint Elections Administrator Krystal Valentin was on hand to explain the new laws from the Texas 88th Legislature. In the special election coming up in November 2023, there must be two day with 12 hours of early voting. The two days must be the last two days of early voting. Valentin recommended the early voting for the special election to be 8 days (Oct. 23 – Nov. 1) – 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. and the last 2 days (Nov. 2 & 3) – 6:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Also Valentin recommended having four polling places on election day as opposed to six. Voting in precincts 101, 102 & 201 will be located at the Coleman Park Party House, Precinct 202 will be located at the Meadow Community Center, Precincts 301 & 401 will be located at the Terry County Annex, and Precinct 402 will be held at the Wellman Community Center. The Court unanimously approved the recommendations.
The final item of business was to hear from Donnie Dingus on the state of the Terry County Airport. The Court approved the presentation. The meeting was then adjouned.
