County leaders adopt $24.6 million proposed budget; set Sept. 7 public hearing on proposed tax rate

RUSK – A $24.6 million budget adopted Aug. 24 by the Cherokee County Commissioners’ Court will fund operations for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

Prior to their unanimous vote, a public hearing was held on the proposed budget, with no input or comments offered by county residents.

According to County Auditor Steve Daugherty, the $24,651,335 newly adopted budget is an increase of $1,964,049 from last year’s budget.

In a separate but related action, the court voted to set a Sept. 7 public hearing on the proposal of setting a tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. The rate “will be somewhere between the No New Revenue rate ($0.561022) and the Voter Approval Tax-Rate ($0.590749),” Daughety said.

Meanwhile, other action taken during the meeting by the court included:

• Approving a single request – from Craft Turney WSC – to lay a utility line in Precinct 3

• Approved the sale of a 2017 dodge pickup by the county sheriff’s department

• Approved of the sale of miscellaneous items by CCSO, such as old bumpers and light bars that are no longer in service

• Approved a list of election workers, as well as consolidated the number of polling places to 15 for the constitutional amendment election only

• Granted approval for the County Auditor’s Office to conduct an audit on all Chapter 59 Forfeiture Funds as required by Article 59.08(g)(1) of the Code of criminal procedure

• Approved annual bid tabulations from 32 different vendors for items in seven different categories – including office and janitorial supplies – for purchase during the upcoming fiscal year

• Approved an interlocal agreement with north East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA) for the purpose of providing grant funding in connection with the design of improvements at the Cherokee County Airport.

• Approved agreement for funding 9-1-1 Database Maintenance activities between ETCOG and Cherokee County
• Approved a consent agenda featuring monthly reports from the county auditor’s, the county treasurer’s and license & weight offices; a final plat creating Lots 1-25 of Stone Chimney Cove North Subdivision, Unit 1 in the John Vaughn Survey, Abstract No. 53. Dedication of 2.232 acres (Stone Chimney Cove Road) for additional county road right-of-way. See Road Bond; and authorization of payment of bills, payroll and transfer of funds.