Monday morning, Aug. 30, 2021, Lamb County Commissioners adopted the Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 budget for Lamb County, and following a public hearing on the tax rate, the tax rate was adopted.
Commissioner Cory DeBerry read the motion: “I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.7943, which is effectively a 5.77% increase in the tax rate.” The second was made by Commissioner Danny Short, and the vote passed unanimously.
Commissioners then voted to ratify the Property Tax Increase Reflective in the Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 Budget ($827,788.63). Making the motion was Commissioner Danny Short, with Commissioner Lee Logan seconding the motion, and the motion was approved uanimously.
That tax rate of .7943 cents per every $100 of taxable property, has been the same rate since fiscal year 2006 – 2007.
Other county business
After the Call to Order, Judge James M.DeLoach offered the invocation, then led the Pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags.
He opened the floor to anyone who wished to make a public comment about any of the agenda items. There was no one who wanted to make a comment, so that portion of the agenda was closed, and the Consent Agenda Items were addressed.
Minutes from the previous meeting of Aug. 23, 2021 appeared to be in order for approval.
There were no budget and salary amendments and/or line-item transfers to be considered.
Bills presented by the County Auditor included: $95,176.70 for Lamb County; and $45,770.99 for Lamb County Hospital; for a total of $140,947.69 of bills to be paid.
There were no payrolls to be paid.
The departmental reports received were considered for approval.
Commissioners received information about Lamb County’s 2021-2022 renewal of the Silver Choice Insurance offered by Blue Cross Blue Sheild for retired Lamb County employees, who pay the premiums for the insurance.
Danny Short made the motion, which was seconded by Lee Logan, to approve the Consent Agenda Items, and the motion passed unanimously.
Ben Diaz, Adult Probation Officer, appeared before the commissioners with his (CSCD) Community Supervision and Corrections Department Budget. He mentioned that his department receives state funding every year, and explained much more about what he does through his offfice.
He reported his office supervises about 225 felony cases, and 166 misdemeanor cases every year.
He the commissioners that they didn’t need to take action on the budget, that he just wanted them to see it.
Agenda items 5 thru 9 were the steps the commissioners took in approving the 2021-2022 budget, the tax rate, and ratifying the Property Tax Increase Reflective in the new 2021-2022 fiscal year budget.
For Item 10, the Commissioners approved the Appris-Vine Service Agreement for fiscal year 2021-2022. Lamb County District Attorney’s Office was awarded a grant for the Victim Assistant Coordinator.
Item 11: Discuss Lamb Healthcare Center operations. Cindy Klein reported she didn’t have any more than she had already reported earlier. She noted that the hospital currently has eight patients, two of which are Covid patients.
Judge DeLoach reported he has learned there are 95 cases countywide, and they are not all the Delta Variant. He noted that the results must come from the CDC, which has been slow to arrive with reports for the new cases, as well as those who have recovered, and are no longer patients.
For Item 12: The commissioners voted to authorize the Hospital Board of Managers to receive sealed bids on the Lamb Healthcare Center’s upcoming construction and renovation projects.
Since the new budget is approved, and the commissioners won’t be needing to meet every Monday, the next meetings for the commissioners will be on Mondays, Sept. 13 and Monday, Sept. 27.