County's $19 million budget will be funded Friday
61-cent tax rate will be adopted
BY GLORIA JENNINGS STAFF WRITER

The 2007-08 county tax rate will be set at a special called meeting of the commissioners court at 10 a.m. Friday in the county courtroom at Rusk. Commissioners will conduct a public hearing prior to the adoption of the tax rate. The proposed tax rate is 61 cents per $100 valuation, which is one cent less than the 62 cent rate adopted last year.

The new tax rate will be used to finance a $19 million budget, which was adopted Aug. 27.

An inter-local agreement between the county and Jacksonville Independent School District was approved. The county will conduct a special bond election for the school district. The Jacksonville ISD will ask voters to approve a $19 million bond for the construction of a new elementary school.

Commissioners approved bids to meet annual requirements on items planned for purchase throughout the new budget year.

Bids were rejected for road materials, fuel and grader blades. New bids will be requested for the road materials and fuel. Commissioners decided they did not need to seek bids for grader blades.

Bids were approved for Dixie Paper Co. in Tyler, Beta Technology in Houston and Amsan in Lufkin for janitorial supplies; Dixie Paper Co. Inc. in Tyler, Story Wright in Tyler, Amsan in Lufkin and Quill Bid Department for office supplies; Bryan and Bryan Asphalt Road Oil, LTD. in Henderson for asphalts, oils and emulsions; Conroe Wood Products in Conroe, Leo Hicks Creosoting in Alto and Kennedy Saw Mills Inc. in Shreveport, La. for creosoted lumber.

The same fees as last year for the sheriff 's department and the constable offices were approved. Budget amendments for the Department of Public Safety for the fiscal year 2006- 07 were approved.

Commissioners discontinued paying employees $50 less per month than the regular pay during their 90-day probationary period; eliminated the one-year waiting period for annual salary increases and approved a 10 percent increase in the general starting salaries of county employees.

Consent agenda items approved include the auditor's monthly report; license and weight monthly report of Ricky Moore; report for July and August of Lynn Kelley, Constable Pct. 1; and plat on Whitaker subdivision.

Commissioners made plans to interview applicants for the airport coordination position at the Sept. 24 meeting.

Applications will be discussed at Friday's meeting.

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