County adopts budget

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County clerk looking for election workers

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Government

The Hopkins County Commissioners Court met Monday and formally approved the 2020 budget prior to adoption. The 2019 property tax rate of .624892 cents per $100 was also set, and election workers and county employees will receive nominal pay increases.

Commissioners conducted a final public hearing on the plan for funding the preservation and restoration of the county clerk’s records archive. The county clerk is required to submit a plan to the court each year. A $10 fee is collected on each marriage license or brand recorded in the official public county records, along with a $1 preservation fee for marriage, birth and death certificates. The fees can only be used for preservation and restoration of those specific records.

Following the public hearing, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the plan into the 2020 budget.

The court also approved the salary for all elected county officials, which includes a 5% raise with an annual $75 longevity bonus after two years of employment.

No one spoke during the public hearing on the budget.

“Hopkins County is blessed,” said County Judge Robert Newsom. “We’ve got new businesses coming, new industries coming. We are a blessed community—which also presents challenges. But I will tell you that this budget prepares us for the future. We’ve got a lot of growth ahead of us. We’ve got good things happening in Hopkins County, and we want to keep it [that way]. I believe this budget says that.”

Newsom spoke about challenges Hopkins County, as well as all other Texas counties, will face during the 2020-2021 budget cycle due to property tax caps mandated by the state legislature this past spring.

“It’s going to be challenging, but the budget for this year will give us a chance to get in a good place for next year,” Newsom said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the 2019-2020 budget, which will go into effect Oct. 1.

County election workers will receive a pay increase from $10 to $12 per hour. County Clerk Tracy Smith stated they are having some difficulty filling the 30 or so slots needed to conduct elections. Anyone interested in serving as an election worker should apply at the county clerk’s office on Jefferson Street. Paid training will be provided.

“We would urge folks who have a little time to do this,” Newsom said. “It’s a really important—well, it’s democracy. That’s what America’s about. If we don’t have that, we’re all in trouble.”

The court recognized Kristy Springfield for successfully completing training and fulfilling state requirements to become a licensed On-Site Sewer Facilities Designated Representative. Springfield received her license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Aug. 29.

“This is not an easy course,” said county Environmental Officer Jim Dial. “This is an extremely difficult course. The pass rate is really low. [Kristy] had to work for this, and I appreciate it very much.”

Commissioners also approved previous meeting minutes; one utility easement, payment of bills, revenues, expenses, payroll and financial statements; one contract; disposal of assets requests; and any resolutions or proclamations presented.

The next regular session of commissioners court will convene at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23 in the first floor courtroom of the Hopkins County Courthouse.