COUNTY LIFE
County budget, tax rate up for vote Monday
Montague County Commissioners will conduct public hearings and are expected to adopt the budget and tax rate during its Aug. 24 meeting.
The tax rate hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m., the budget hearing at 8:45 a.m. and the regular meeting at 9 a.m.
Commissioners could make last minute changes to the budget as a workshop is set on the agenda prior to the action item to adopt it. Budget expenses are proposed at: General fund, $9,434,015; indigent health care – $486,984; road and bridge one, $1,163,913; precinct two, $995,975; precinct three, $1,140,975 and precinct four, $1,000,975.
The proposed tax rate will be .5641 cents per $100 in property value. It will be broken down as follows: .4401 cents in maintenance and operation; .1289 special road and bridge and .0168 cents for debt.
Several election topics will be discussed including the order calling the November election, joint election agreements with the Cities of Bowie and Nocona, and schools districts in Montague and Bowie and approve the 2020 Help America Vote Act Election Security sub-grant to Texas counties.
Veteran’s Service Officer Colm Murphy will address the duties of his current assistant. During the recent budget workshops Murphy asked the assistant position salary be increased to a deputy clerk due to additional training.
A data processing service agreement between Justice Solutions and the sheriff’s office will be examined. The sheriff is looking to add six software licenses in use at the his office. He had hoped to purchase new software, but commissioners have indicated they can’t make it work in this year’s budget.
The 2020-21 county clerk records management and archive yearly plan will be reviewed, along with the energy capital reimbursement distribution.
In other agenda items: Precinct four will present a finance agreement for a motor grader; precinct one budget adjustment from gravel to part-time and renting an excavator; precinct one to enter the Mike Berkley property to clean debris from a bridge waterway; precinct one buying two acres on Farm-to-Market Road 455 for a maintenance and storage yard and precinct two accepting donations for chip sealing Tage Road.
The Nocona City Council gave its budget proposal a final once-over before setting a public hearing for it and the proposed tax rate for Sept. 9 at 8 a.m.
Council members also heard from Blake McNew who is against the recently approved fee and registration process for golf carts and related vehicles.
Last month the council approved an ordinance that set forth registration requirements for these vehicles with a $50 registration fee. After several close calls and complaints from downtown business people and citizens on near misses with ATVs and golf carts driving unsafely downtown the council took the step to add the ordinance.
City Secretary Revell Hardison said after some discussion the council asked for it to be back on next month’s agenda with possible consideration for repealing the fee. After some research she added a person can go through the state to obtain a license plate for these vehicles and the local sticker would not be needed.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The staff of Texas Education Agency on Aug. 14 announced the release of 2026 A-F Accountability Ratings for public school systems and campuses across the state.
Almost all of the school districts in the county saw their district ratings increase or remain consistent, along with some of their campuses.
There were 1,202 districts and 9,105 campuses rated in 2026. Some 24% of both districts and campuses increased in rating compared to 2025.
Read the full story and see all the county ratings in your Thursday Bowie News.
2026 state accountability ratings
Bowie Independent School District – B, 80 of 100 points
Elementary/intermediate – C, 74
Junior high – B, 84
High school – B, 86
Bellevue ISD – A, 92
Forestburg ISD – B, 82
Gold-Burg ISD – C, 76
Montague ISD – A, 93
Nocona ISD – B, 86
Elementary – B, 80
Middle school – C, 79
High school – A, 94
Prairie Valley ISD – B, 88
Saint Jo ISD – B, 82
Elementary – D, 66
High school – A, 92
Friends of the Bowie Animal Shelter will host the annual Clear the Shelter event from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 22.
The shelter is located at 1508 E. Wise. While this is a nationwide effort to recognize the work of animal shelters, their staff and volunteers, this also is a chance to support their efforts by attending the bake sale, silent auction and food vendors.
Adoptable dogs from the Bowie shelter as well as Easy Street Shelter of Saint Jo, Lucky Paws in Nocona and McCares of Montague will be present.
If your family is considering adopting a pet this would be a great time to visit with the animals and meet the volunteers who can tell you a bit about the animals. Prospective volunteers also are welcome, so ask your questions.
Staff from Cross Timbers Vet will be giving reduced price vaccinations.
There will be a prize drawing at noon for a bounce house and a Turtle Box speaker. Tickets are $5 each for a chance to win either prize. Drawing at noon.
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