Today’s 73-minute budget workshop was the most detailed and informative budget discussion in the past 2 years.  I can’t summarize everything; this very consequential discussion is one you must listen to.  Learn about your county government and discover the fiscal policy of the members of the Court as they discuss the budget.  In other news, we had three more public comments opposing the bypass, Dr. Emily Smith is introduced as the new EMS Medical Director, our Historical Commission receives a distinguished service award and last but not least, the Court approved a resolution in opposition to the wind farm.  Hear it all in this detailed report with budget docs included...

The budget dominated the CC agenda today.  Property values didn’t rise so sharply so there is only about $650k in “new” revenue, and it’s already forcing budget cuts.  Every 1% in payroll increase is about $150k, so they won’t get the 5% they were hoping for.  They are still procrastinating most decisions, but Com Berckenhoff was absent, so perhaps it was better to wait.  In other news, we heard from three public commenters opposing the Hwy 71 bypass.  TxDot will be seeking City and County approval, so your input still matters.  We heard an informative presentation on restoring the courthouse windows and roof repairs ($$$).  Hear it all right here...

The Fayette County Republican Party held its organizational meeting this evening.  The purpose was to issue the oath of office to the county and precinct chairs and officers and adopt the amended bylaws.  We then proceeded to discuss plans for the future and other party matters.  It was a well-attended meeting.  Congratulations to the new executive committee and thanks for your service.  Hear it all here...

In this, the second major budget workshop of the year, the Court hears requests from county department heads for non-routine budget items.  The session lasted nearly an hour and a half with pretty good discussion (the quality of the discussions has improved this year).  However, the process is once again, moving very slowly, and they continue to procrastinate decisions as the 8/15 budget deadlines looms.

It took the court 28 minutes to dispose of 12 items, including 10 minutes worth of public comments.  Three speakers urged the court to support the eastern route for the proposed Highway 77 bypass.  (It’s not too late to influence the route decision.)  The Court breezed through several routine items before Judge Zapalac began the budget discussion with the recycling center and Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace.  Local non-profits followed with budget request presentations.  Finally, plans for the Tuesday 7/16 budget workshop appear to include EMS, Sheriff, DPS, the Airport, Elections and another 5% payroll increase.  Don’t miss that one!  Hear it all here...

Today in Commissioners Court, citizens express their opposition to the Wind Farm.  TJ Mac led the way followed by several other speakers.  Don’t miss the comments by former Judge Ed and Commissioner Brossman.  My comments?  1) Tell Governor Abbott to stop encouraging green energy scams in Texas, 2) recognize that private property rights end where they cause harm to your neighbors, and 3) while County government may have no legal recourse, they have and should exercise all political solutions at their disposal, including a non-binding resolution condemning the ”green energy” project.

The first half hour is the budget workshop. Two things were discussed: projects to use the borrowed Maintenance Tax Note money on, and revenue projections for the next budget cycle.  At 6PM the budget workshop was adjourned and the Regular Meeting started immediately. There were two public speakers. The first (me) covered a couple topics: advising the board of some education-related items in the approved Texas State Republican Party platform, teachers’ concealed carry, and hiring third party companies with a stated “woke” worldview at six-figure rates in a time of budget shortfall. Also I spoke on some EFB-Local (library materials) responsibilities the board is neglecting to address. The other speaker basically read a story from progressive Texas Tribune about a board member who supposedly had a change of heart and decided that their school’s library materials weren’t a problem after all. This progressive second speaker refuted (basically by an appeal to authority) some of my own points.

It was a very nice and productive meeting today, beginning with public comments on Juneteenth and the windmill farm.  Subdivision regulation via enforcement gets a boost today, there is a lengthy EMS report covering billing issues and scholarships, and the Muldoon Park and the airport construction project and were discussed.  The main event, however, was the discussion on employee benefits, the budget and payroll.  Don’t miss the last few minutes.

At 12 minutes, this was one of the shortest meetings I have attended.  The court spent a couple minutes approving a CVTC easement and a contract for the demolition of the last flood-damaged home.  Last November, a ballot proposition to investigate the expansion of broadband internet access was passed and the implementation of this proposal appeared before the Court today and consumed most of its time.  Commissioner Sternadel, Kelly Ellison (the CEO of CVTC) and I were appointed to serve on the Broadband Committee which will study the availability of broadband internet access in the County.

Today in Commissioners Court, Emancipation Day was declared, and the employee insurance renewal was discussed.  The new subdivision ordinance received its first test since adoption and survived.  We hear reports from the Grant Specialist and EMC, the EMS director, Chief Deputy Noviski and the Court approved a new part time animal control officer.  The most interesting thing, however, were the budget amendments.  Precinct 2 Commissioner Sternadel asked for a half a million dollar budget amendment to build a bridge which will vastly diminish Precinct 2’s reserve funds.  No word on why it was not approved in last year’s budget or why it can’t wait until next year when it can be budgeted and collected from taxpayers.