With a full agenda, the Erath County Commissioners Court approved its budget, tax rate and levy, Monday, Sept. 11.
The tax rate was approved at $0.3947 per $100 valuation, a rate below the voter approval rate and above the no new revenue rate.
The tax rate represents a 4.9% increase overall due to increasing property values in the county.
The tax rate for the county is broken into three components – the general fund or $0.2861 per $100 valuation, $0.0102 per $100 valuation for Interest and Sinking (debt services) and $0.0964 per $100 valuation for Road and Bridge.
The overall budget shows $2.6 million in contingency funds and $5 million in reserves, according to County Judge Brandon Huckabee.
“Thanks to all of the officials and department heads, I hope everyone feels like they were heard,” he said.
Within the budget, the court has worked to establish an increasing step pay scale for county employees.
After brief discussion about a part-time employee position being added back in for Precinct 2, the budget, tax rate and tax levy were unanimously approved.
The court also approved the budgeted payroll and accepted the order of District Judge Cashon setting the salaries for the auditor, auditor’s staff and the District Court reporter.
A slew of election related items for the upcoming Nov. 7 Constitutional Amendments were approved including a new main voting location for the county in the new annex located at 222 E. College Street. Voting will not be held at the courthouse.
The city of Stephenville will be having a joint election with the county on charter amendments in addition to the statewide constitutional amendments.
Early voting times are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23 through Friday, Oct 27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30 through Wednesday, Nov. 1 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 and Friday, Nov. 3.
Early voting locations include the new Erath County Annex (222 N. College Street), Dublin County Annex (219 S. Grafton), Texas Bank (988 Wolfe Nursery Road in Stephenville) and Texas Agrilife (1229 N. U.S. Hwy. 281 in Stephenville).
Election Day voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Election Day polling places include the new Erath County Annex, Patrick St. Church of Christ (630 N. Patrick Street), Texas Bank in Stephenville and Texas Agrilife in Stephenville.
An interesting bit of history from 1884 made an appearance on the court’s agenda as the commissioners unanimously approved abandoning a piece of property originally deeded to them for a school.
The family of Jim Beyers has utilized the land for more than 50 acres for agricultural use and would now like to put a home on the property, however, when going back to look at the deed, it was found out that it was actually owned by the county.
“Thank goodness they had good handwriting back then,” Huckabee said about the handwritten deed.
The county “abandoned” the property so the family could move ahead with the project.
Several subdivision type items were approved including the final plat for The Ranches at Star Hollow, the majority of which is located in Hood County but some of the lots are in Erath.
“I would like to see something about emergency services included because Hood County is going to have to respond to these lots,” Commissioner Joe Brown said.
After discussion, it was agreed that an interlocal agreement probably needed to be drawn up but the plat was not the place for these restrictions to be addressed. The plat was unanimously approved and the interlocal agreement will be addressed at a different time.
A replat for the Legends of Buffalo Ridge Subdivision Ranch 15R was approved as two lots were combined into one.
In other business the court: ■ unanimously approved a contract between Erath County and Trott Communications in regard to radios
■ unanimously approved awarding a 2017 Ford Explorer to the city of Stephenville for the joint CARES program
■ approved an agreement for police services between the county and Bluffdale ISD for a school resource officer
■ approved receiving six allterrain vehicles from the surplus group with travel to Fort Lewis, Washington to pick them up
■ approved line item transfers
■ approved the August 2023 Monthly Treasurers report