DeWitt County Commissioners Court approved a 2025 tax rate of 0.38576, the highest they can adopt without going to voters for approval, and set Aug. 25 for final budget adoption during their regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 11. Citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting to give their input.
Commissioners discussed several factors influencing the tax rate before voting including that it is critical to upgrade the county’s communications system. The tax rate is a penny more per $100 of taxable property valuation than is required to generate the same amount of revenue for the county as last year. In DeWitt County, 2,335 homesteads pay lower taxes because of age, disability or veteran status while 2,212 homesteads would be subject to the tax increase. A recently passed bill exempts taxes on reworked oil and gas wells up to $750,000. As activity in that industry increases, there are increased costs for county roads maintenance.
To supplement the county’s road and bridge budget, the court voted to continue charging an optional fee of $10 added to the registration fee of a vehicle and credited to the county road and bridge fund.
Taxes and fees fund multiple services for the benefit of county residents. It is the business of Commissioners Court to procure and supervise those services.
The Court heard a report on the work of St Jude Ranch for Children, Belong Division, which is the provider of community-based care for children in foster care in DeWitt County and 28 surrounding counties. Services include support for the child, the parent, and the caregiver through placement, reunification and/or adoption. There are currently 13 children from DeWitt County in care. Belong works with the Child Welfare Board, CASA, and community groups to enhance services to the children. For more information, call Cynthia Ramirez, 361652-9403.
A county grant was authorized to support Meals on Wheels South Texas. There are currently 105 seniors who receive a box of frozen meals once a week. The cost of each meal is $10; the cost of delivery is donated by volunteers in Dewitt County.
Contracts were approved for services, including 911 emergency services from Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission, residential and/or detention services for juvenile offenders from eight counties, and public health services from Texas Department of State Health Services.
The business of financial management included receiving reports, audits, and inventories from the county auditor and the county treasurer, authorizing the auditor to advertise for bids for road and asphalt maintenance services, authorizing the auditor to dispose of salvage or surplus property, adopting a resolution for signature authority on a bank account, authorizing accounts payable, approving the appraisal district budget, accepting the insurance settlement on a sheriff’s department vehicle that was totaled in an accident, and approving a release form related to the Opioid Settlement Resolution.
An election on Nov. 4 was ordered for citizens to cast their ballots on constitutional amendments.
Certificates were received as evidence of ongoing training for county employees.
Reports of facility maintenance and improvements included repairs to the AC at the courthouse, renovations at the DeWitt County Historical Museum on Broadway, and the construction of the shop at Precinct 1. The need to replace the ADA ramp at the courthouse and open up the east door in the first floor courtroom for emergency exit if needed were discussed.
A permit was granted for installation of a temporary waterline along a county road. Of interest to residents in the Hochheim area, Chilek Road between SH111 and FM 443 will be closed for repairs beginning Aug. 18. Construction on FM 240 around the Westhoff school is ongoing.
