Two days ago, on Monday morning, Sept. 14, 2020, Lamb County Commissioners adopted the tax rate of .7943 per every $100 of property valuation to operate the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Budget; and then adopted the $7,307,150 Fiscal Year Budget.
Tax rate adopted
During the business meeting, following the public hearing, Com missioners voted to leave the tax rate at .7943, as it has been the past 14 years.
Commissioner Cory DeBerry made the motion: “I make a motion to set the tax rate for Fiscal Year 2021 at .7943. This tax rate will raise less revenue from property taxes than last year by an amount of $7,501.04, which is a .1% decrease from last year’s budget. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $14,160.79.”
The vote to adopt the budget was unanimous Lamb County Judge James M.
DeLoach expressed his appreciation to everyone who worked on the budget for their departments. “I appreciate what you do every day!”
New Administrative Assistant
Before Judge DeLoach began the meeting, he introduced Amanda Torres, as his new Administrative Assistant, since Cynthia Bussey has accepted the positions as Director of the Veterans’ Services and Lamb County Public Assistance offices in the Lamb County Courthouse.
Opening of the meeting
After the Call to Order, Judge DeLoach offered the invocation and led the Pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags.
He opened the Public Comment item on the agenda, and since there was no one who made a comment, the Public Comment item was closed.
Consent agenda items:
Minutes from the Aug. 31 and Sept. 8, 2020 business meetings were approved as presented.
There were no budget and salary amendments, and/or line item transfers to be made.
Bills presented by the County Auditor for consideration for payment included: $216,674.76 for Lamb County and $401,594.90 from Lamb Healthcare Center’s account, for a total of $618,269.66.
Payroll bills presented by the Lamb County Treasurer, were: $138,332.28 for Lamb County; and $182,936,57 from Lamb Healthcare Center’s accont.
Departmental reports that were received were approved as pre-sented.
The Public Hearing for the 2020- 2021 Fiscal Year budget was opened at 10:10 a.m., and left open through the meeting, so that questions or discussions related to the budget needed to be answered.
Lease of JP Office in Sudan
Judge DeLoach moved to the subject of the lease for the Justice of Peace 4 Office space. The monthly rental on the building in Sudan is $375 per month, and the Commissioners voted to renew the lease.
No action on donation
Commissioners did not consider, and took no action on a donation to Lamb County Soil and Water Conservation District #130. Sheriff’s fees remain as are
Lamb County Sheriff Gary Maddox recommended that the Sheriff’s fee structure stay the same as it is, no changes. Cory DeBerry made the motion and Kent Lewis seconded the motion to leave the fee structure as it is, and the motion passed unanimously.
Joint Sudan and S-E elections
Commissioners voted to approve the county’s Interlocal Agreements for Joint Early Voting Elections with the Sudan ISD and the Sringlake-Earth ISD. Voters from those two School Districts will be casting their early votes in Littlefield’s Ag and Community Center, on Hall Avenue (Hwy 385), from Oct. 13 to Oct 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The exended early voting days during that time will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 19 and 20, at the Ag and Community Center in Littlefield.
But on Election Day, Nov. 3, voting will be done in their own communities at their regular voting places for Sudan ISD, and for the Sprimglake-Earth ISD.
Sudan voing on election day will be done in the Sudan Community Center, 109 East First Avenue in Sudan.
Earth voters in Voting Precinct 3 on election day will be casting their ballots in the Earth Community Center, First and Birch Streets in Earth.
Springlake voters in Voting Precinct 12, will vote in the Youth Building of the Springlake First Baptist Church, 213 US Highway 70 in Springlake.
Tax Rate, Budget adopted
The Public Hearing on the tax rate and the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year budget was closed, and the tax rate of 0.7943 per each $100 of property valuation; and the $2020-2021 fiscal year budget ($7,307,150) were adopted, as the last thing on the agenda. Those details are published in the beginning of this report.