NEWS
‘Sharpen your pencils’ urges judge on county budget
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Montague County Judge Rick Lewis told the commissioners they better “sharpen their pencils,” because despite the elected officials offering up conservative budgets the requests still exceed last year’s expenses and will require some cutting.
The commissioner’s court met Monday and tackled the budget following a lengthy agenda. The final certified values will not be available until the end of July, so they are only able to calculate projected tax rates.
Lewis reminded the court this year the county will still have the ability to increase the effective rate by up to 7.9 percent before facing any rollback; however, next year thanks to the legislature that limitation goes to 3.5 percent with anything over that amount an automatic rollback election.
During the discussion, the judge took note of several new items to be considered in the budget including one extra pay period for the year, which only rolls around every seven years. Estimated expense for that pay period is $250,000 to $255,000. Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
Montague County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on Dec. 23.
The court will consider obligating $276,961.84 of American Rescue Plan funds to completing the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex. Commissioners have been working on this project much of the year.
Montague County will apply to the Nortex Regional Planning Commission for a solid waste disposal grant to purchase a tire cutter for use by all four precincts.
Developers for Kingdom Estates Phase 2 subdivision will offer a plant for lots 6-10, 16.06 acres located in precinct two.
A cooperative agreement between Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the county will be presented, along with a non-exclusive license and service agreement between Local Government Solutions and Justices of the Peace one and two.
Annual bonds for seven elected officials will be offered, along with the county attorney’s 2024 Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report.
Montague County has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist individuals with the purchase and installation of a residential storm shelter.
The shelter must be FEMA-approved and individuals must install and pay for the shelter. After installation and passing an inspection, the individual could be eligible for 50% reimbursement of the cost of the storm shelter up to a maximum $3,000 reimbursement.
The initial program allows for financial assistance for the installation of up to 100 storm shelters. Visit the Montague County website at co.montague.tx.us and click on “Safe Room Program,” and under quick links to see the qualifications and requirements for participation in the program.
There is no deadline to apply, but only 100 applicants will be accepted
It’s here, the first day of winter marked by the winter solstice at 4:21 a.m. on Dec. 21.
The winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight throughout the year, making it the “shortest day” of the year. Thankfully, after the winter solstice the days begin to grow longer and longer again and until the summer solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year
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