The Terry County Commissioners Court met Monday morning and considered a proposed property tax rate plus approval of reports and other business items. After the invocation, pledges, and public comments, of which there were none, the Court moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting and approved three budget adjustments. Those adjustments were for the upcoming Election Day expenses which rose about $13k from the 2022 November Election. The other two budget adjustments were for Precinct 2 & 3 fixed assets for the new trucks that are leased.
The Court moved on to the next item of business, which was to approve the reports. In the County Judge’s reports, Judge Tony Serbantez showed the Court from July 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024, that $3,811 was brought in through fines and other penalties. Serbantez also shows $1,770.00 worth of time served. There were 28 new cases filed in July 2024 and 22 cases were closed.
Moving on to the Justice of the Peace reports, Judge Angie Garza showed the Court that $40,482.36 was brought in for July 2024. Of the $40,482.36, $37,793.86 was monetary. The direct deposits totaled $27,523.86, money orders were $2,908.00, there were $2855.00 in checks and $4,507.00 in cash. In the non-monetary group which totaled $2,688.50, $1,387.00 was jail credit, $648.50 was in community service, and $653.00 in indigent.
The Terry County Sheriff’s Dept. had 158 calls reported. There were 10 emergency, 146 non-emergency, and two misdials. There 12 reported offenses. Of the 12 offenses, four were abandoned or endangered child with the intent of knowing and there were three bail jumping or failure to appear. One of each offense was reported, theft of material under $120K, (aluminum, copper brass, criminal mischief over $100, and under $750, no driver’s license, and one unauthorized use of a vehicle. 10 of the 12 cases were cleared. There was $640 worth of property stolen and none has been recovered.
The Sheriff also shared the Civil and Warrants reports. There were 13 civil warrants received and 11 served. There were nine civil warrants received from other counties and three were served. Five subpoenas were received and five were served. The Sheriff’s Dept. also received 24 criminal warrants, four from the JP’s office, 12 from the County Court, and nine from the District Court. Four have been served.
The item of business was to consider and approve the certified appraisal of the 2024 Terry County Tax Appraisal. According to Terry County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser, Eddie Olivas, the net taxable value for Terry County is $968,782,750.00. This is a $32,846,106.00 increase from the 2023 valuation. The Court approved the appraisal and moved on to consider and approve the proposed (property) tax rate.
Last year’s tax rate per $100 valuation was $0.705537. The new “No-New-Revenue” tax rate would be $0.690041 which would levy $6,686,666.00. One percent above the no-new-revenue would be $0.696941 and would levy $6,753,528.00 or $66,862.00 more. If the Court chose to go with a one cent per $100 tax increase at $0.700041, it would levy $6,783,586.00. Under the “voter-approved” tax rate, which is $0.726605, the levy would be $7,040,980.00, an increase of $354,314.00 from the no-new-revenue rate. Also, this is the highest the tax rate can go without triggering an election. The Court moved to propose a $0.715500 tax rate which would levy $6,931,640.58, an increase of $244,974.00 from the no-new-revenue and an increase of $94,814 from last years tax rate. The tax rate of $0.715500 that was proposed will need final approval and a public hearing will take place.
The next two items of business were to approve the bidding process for a new pickup truck for the AgriLife Extension Agency. The approval was for the County Clerk’s “Records Management & Record Archive” written plan for 2024-2025.
The final three items of business dealt with the same organization, West Texas Centers (WTC). According to WTC, it is a community center under the provisions of Chapter 534 of the Texas Health & Safety Code Ann., as amended, and serves as the designated local authority for mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities for the established service area. The Center began operations on March 1, 1997 and continues to serve as the designated local authority for mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities through a contractual relationship with the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services, and Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services.
In addition to services for people with mental illness and intellectual and developmental disabilities, the Center is host to an Early Childhood Intervention program that is known as Little Lives ECI. This program serves children ages 0-3 years old. Not only does WTC serve Terry County, but it also serves the citizens of Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Fisher, Gaines, Garza, Glasscock, Howard, Kent, Loving, Martin, Mitchell, Nolan, Reeves, Runnels, Scurry, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler, and Yoakum counties.
The Court approved three contracts with WTC, one for Terry County jail services. The next one is for the facility’s agreement. The county own the building that WTC is housed in. The third agreement was for WTC to provide an MHMR deputy. According to Judge Serbantez, WTC found some funding to keep an MHMR deputy.
The Court was adjourned. The next meeting is slated for Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 at 9:00 am.
