Commissioners hope to lower county taxes
County employees may receive 10% salary increase
BY GLORIA JENNINGS STAFF WRITER

Cherokee County Commissioners expect to lower taxes, but have not determined what the tax rate will be for the 2007-08 county budget. Linda Beard, tax assessor-collector, is still working on the tax base and other information needed prior to setting a tax rate.

Commissioners expect to give all officials and employees a 10 percent salary increase. Several members of the commissioners court expressed a desire Monday morning to divide the amount budgeted for raises among the various county employees and give all the same raise.

If the 10 percent salary increase is approved county officials will make $41,664. The county attorney's salary will include the $41,664 paid by the county and a $20,832 supplement paid by the state. The total county attorney's salary will be $62,496. Justices of the peace will receive $30,696 and constables, $29,544.

Salary for Craig Fletcher, county court-at-law judge, will be increased to $161,000. This includes the $137,000 salary approved by the Texas Legislature. The Legislature ruled last spring that counties must pay court-at-law judges $1,000 less than what district judges are paid. Since Judge Fletcher conducts mental health hearings, his salary will be increased from the $137,000 mandated salary to the $161,000. Judges' fees are collected from counties which send patients to Rusk State Hospital.

District judges are paid $138,000.

"We did not give him this raise and we want to make sure the public knows this," Judge Chris Davis said. "This was all done by the legislature in 2007 and his salary will be higher than the Texas Supreme Court judges receive."

2nd budget workshop

The commissioners court met Monday morning for a second budget workshop.

The new budget will total approximately $17,733,618. This budget total includes a $900,000 increase over the one last year totaling in excess of $16 million.

The largest portion of the general fund budget goes to the sheriff 's department and jail. The sheriff 's department budget has increased $300,000 from $1,817,000 to $2,117,000 and the jail has increased $25,000 from $1,908,000 to $1,933,000.

The sheriff asked for four new patrol cars, an extra deputy, drug officer and one and a half extra dispatchers.

Salary of a second assistant district attorney will come from the general fund. The salary has previously been paid partly with hot check collections' funds.

Commissioners discussed giving the animal shelter between $12,000 and $15,000. The shelter is asking to be paid $68 per animal per day received.

"We charge $35 per day per inmate at the county jail. I can't understand why it takes more money to care for animals than people," Judge Davis said.

Attending the Monday morning meeting were Judge Davis; Commissioners Mary Gregg, Kevin Pierce, Moody Glass III and Byron Underwood; County Clerk Laverne Lusk; and County Auditor L.H. Crockett.