The Erath County Commissioners Court recently got its annual report on delinquent property tax collection.
At the Monday, May 22 meeting, the court heard from Robert L. Meyers of McCreary, Veselka, Bragg and Allen, P.C. who presented the report.
“In the last four years, the County’s total annual tax collections (current and delinquent taxes, penalties and interest) actually exceed the amount of taxes that have been levied,” he said. “The county has collected 99.63% to 99.76% of the taxes that were levied for each of the last four years.”
As far as delinquent tax collections are concerned, the firm has collected 77.01% of the taxes referred to us in July 2022, 91.95% of the taxes referred to us in July 2021 and 89.31% of the taxes referred in July 2019.
“In order to collect the county’s delinquent taxes during this report period we have sent more than 2,132 delinquent tax notices, filed 37 delinquent tax suits, recovered 11 judgments and posted 11 properties for sale,” Meyers said.
The court also received an update by Doni Green, Director of Aging Programs, from the NCTCOG Regional Aging Advisory Committee.
She discussed aging programs such as the area agency on aging, aging and disability resource center, dementia friendly North Central/East Texas and nursing home relocation.
Funding sources include: U.S. Health and Human Service, through Administration for Community Living, the state through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, fee-for-service contracts, counties contributions and client contributions.
Green described what different agencies accomplished and services that are available for those who may need help.
The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) plans, administers and provides services for older adults and family caregivers and serves people who are at least 60 years old or a qualifying caregiver. If they are a caregiver, they must be unpaid, care for someone aged 60 or older, care for someone of any age who has dementia, be at least 55 years old and have primary custody of minors who are not biological children or be at least 55 years old and care for a person under the age of 60 who has severe disabilities.
All services through AAA are provided at no charge and eligibility is determined by age.
“Although services are not restricted on basis of income, they target people who have the greatest economic need, have the greatest social need, live in rural areas, are members of minority groups or have limited English proficiency,” Green said.
Direct services include: information and referrals, benefits counseling, case management, long-term care ombudsman, evidence-based programs and vaccination assistance.
With case management, they may provide short-term services including in-home services, residential repair, medical equipment and supplies, and/or financial assistance.
Benefits counseling will serve medicare beneficiaries of any age, provides medicare counseling, helps complete applications for Medicare Savings Programs and Low-Income Subsides, counsels regarding advance directives and in some cases, pays for a consult with attorneys.
A newer program that is being offered, Green said, is called Dementia Friendly, which is funded through a grant. It provides in-home services and service coordination to people with dementia who live alone, provides dementia training for profession and compiles resource information.
As the county’s new annex nears completion in mid-June, the Grand Lodge of Texas re-quested the ability to host a Cornerstone Leveling ceremony for the new county building. The court gave a nod of approval and a date will be set in the future.
Several subdivision related projects were approved in the meeting including the final plat for Phase 5 of Legends of Comanche Moon and a variance request for road frontage on County Road 247.
Rick Baker also offered a public comment about the job performance of the county auditor.
Commissioners also recognized Stephenville ISD athletes for their recent appearance at the state track meet.