$18 million county budget submitted
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Cherokee County Commissioners will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday to discuss and consider the approval of the 2007 tax roll. This includes certified values for the 2007 tax roll, excess debt collections, discounts for the tax roll, ratio for collections and effective tax rate.

Commissioners voted Monday morning to conduct a public hearing Aug. 27 for the 2007-08 county budget. Budget total has not been determined but is expected to be in the neighborhood of $18 million. Last year's budget was in excess of $16 million. Plans are to set the 2007 tax rate at 61 cents per $100 valuation, which is a cent lower than the rate used to finance the current county budget. The one-cent deduction will be made in the general fund, lowering that portion of the budget from 42.7 cents to 41.7 cents. The remainder of the tax rate will be the same as last year with 1.35 cents going to indigent health care; 3.45 cents to contractual obligations and 14.5 cents to lateral road fund.

The proposed budget includes a 10 percent salary increase for county employees,

County Auditor L.H. Crockett said Monday morning that Judge Craig Fletcher, court-atlaw, had not included budget requests for additional salary for his part-time judge. Judge Fletcher wants to use the relief judge for his

service as a mental illness advocate. This is expected to be a $9,000 increase in expenditures.

Salary for Court-at-Law Judge Fletcher will be increased to $161,000, which includes the $137,000 salary approved by the Texas Legislature and monies paid by other counties for a judge to hear cases at Rusk State Hospital.

State law requires the salary for court-at-law judges to be set at $1,000 less than the $138,000 paid to district judges.

Additional funds will go into the justice of the peace precinct 2 budget to help with renovation of the office at Alto. Mr. Crockett did not have that amount at press time.

Laying of utility lines were approved for precincts 2 and 4. Contracts were approved with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Protective service for providing legal services.

An interlocal agreement was approved between Cherokee County and the City of Jacksonville for provision of food service permits and inspections by the county health department.

An agreement between the Cherokee County Airport and Vaisala Inc. for the AVIMET Data Link for weather services was approved.

Commissioner Byron Underwood, Pct. 4, was approved to purchase a mower. He said he expected to buy a Bush Hog mower for $10,900.

Precinct 1 was approved to sell a 1998 Ford Dump truck through Ritchie Brothers in Austin.

The resignation of Steve McCarty from the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority was accepted. Barry Hughes was appointed to fill that position.

Items from the consent agenda approved included the county auditor's monthly report; Ricky Moore, license and weight department, monthly report; Eddie Lee, Pct. 3, monthly report for June and July; and an amended plat for Gatewood Estates.

Texas Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark S. Phillips expressed his department's appreciation to the county for the work done by Constable Eddie Lee and his deputy Ray Bouman and canine Ronn.

"Deputy Bouman and his canine, Ronn, have assisted the Texas Highway Patrol on numerous occasions, including the search of suspected bank robbers. Without their help, many criminals, illegal narcotics and currency would be on the streets of Cherokee County and throughout the United States," he said.

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