NEWS
Commissioners to consider tax rate, budget on Monday
The Montague County Commissioner’s Court will conduct public hearings on the proposed budget for 2022-23 and the 2022 proposed tax rate at 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. on Aug. 22.
Those will be followed by the regular court meeting at 9 a.m. where both items will be considered for action. Prior to those votes, a budget workshop is scheduled to discuss any last-minute changes.
The proposed tax rate for 2022 is .503631 cents per $100 in property taxes. The 2021 rate is .56410. A large increase in property values has pushed the rates down. Commissioners opted for the voter approval rate, which means any amount over this rate could be subject to a rollback election.
The total proposed budget with all funds is $16,541,063. Of that amount $10,814,885 is the general fund. A copy of the draft budget is located on the county website, however, it has been changed since it was originally approved and posted.
The sheriff and constable fees for the new year will be presented, along with a slate of election judges for county elections for a one-year term starting Aug. 1. The order calling the Nov. 8 general election also will be approved.
Other topics Monday will include: Consider imposing an optional Department of Motor Vehicles fees for 2023; authorize the county judge to sign the home-delivered meal grant program from the Texas Department of Agriculture; consider moving to LGS hosted services; discuss the House Bill 3834 cybersecurity training certification for state and local governments online compliance report for 2022; map endorsement agreement with Liberty Marketing Company; consider proposal between Montague County and Comcell; consider demolition of the Sunset Fire Department building in Sunset on fire department property and debris removal; release construction bond on the Ranches at Blackjack Meadows and approve preliminary plat for lots 1-7 Lake Pointe in precinct four.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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