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A County Progress Report --
Moving Harrison County Forward
As County Judge, I serve as chief budgeting officer of the county’s $25 million annual budget, and as the presiding officer of the Commissioners’ Court, which is the county’s governing body.
Working together with the Commissioners’ Court, county employees, and citizens of Harrison County, I’ve worked very hard and with great dedication as County Judge, and I’m very proud of the significant and positive results we’ve been able to accomplish together to benefit the people of Harrison County.
Over the past three years, every budget I’ve presented the Commissioners’ Court has been balanced and every budget has focused not only on ways to strengthen the county’s finances and keep the tax rate low, but also on ways to improve public safety, law enforcement, fire protection, infrastructure, and county services. All budgets have been approved unanimously by the Court. Here are some of the positive results:
« Significant improvement of the county finances
« Unlike the federal and state budgets which have large deficits, I’m pleased to report that in the past three years in Harrison County--due to conservative and experienced money management and by cutting wasteful spending--we’ve increased the budget surplus from $2.0 million in 2006 to $5.6 million in 2009.
These figures are based on the county’s independent annual audit and reflect numbers at the end of each county fiscal year, September 30. The independent auditor also gave the county an “unqualified opinion” which is the highest possible rating the county could earn for its financial reporting. Since 2007, we’ve increased the county’s surplus while also improving public safety, services, and infrastructure and without raising the county tax rate;
« In fact, we cut the county tax rate in 2008 from 35¢ to 32¢ per $100 valuation, the rate at which it remains today; plus,
« We ended the county’s prior practice of borrowing money each year in October to meet payroll, pending receipt of tax revenue in January. We now operate on a pay-as-you-go basis.
« Putting these savings to work, we’ve also been able to make significant improvements to
public safety, infrastructure, and county services since 2007, including:
« More than doubling the production of county road reconstruction from 16 miles of road in 2006 to 31 miles in 2009, with a projected 40 miles in 2010;
« Revising and value engineering the construction plan for the new jail annex facility, in collaboration with the Sheriff’s department, so that it now provides for a safer, more cost-effective jail annex facility and provides a much-needed solution to the jail overcrowding problem in Harrison County, which began years ago. Plus, the revised jail facility plan provides for expansion, if needed, in the future. The revised jail facility plan will cost $175 per square foot versus $350 per square foot which was the cost proposed with the 2006 plan, thus resulting in major savings of tax dollars. Construction of the jail facility will begin July, 2010;
« Completing, in 2009, the restoration of the historic Harrison County Courthouse—a longstanding project which began construction in 1998. This was accomplished by applying for and obtaining, in the summer of 2007, a final grant from the state for the interior restoration; then, providing adequate funding from the county and consistent oversight of the restoration to get the job finished. The restored Courthouse is something of which past and present elected officials, volunteers, and all who worked on or contributed to the project can be very proud;
« Establishing a $1.5 million endowment for the county through historic tax credits for the ongoing maintenance of the restored Courthouse. This endowment is designed to allow this important and historic county building to be maintained, now and into the future, at no additional cost to county taxpayers;
« Initiating and implementing a fleet rotation and periodic maintenance program for Sheriff’s department vehicles so the fleet is safer for our deputies and more cost-effective;
« Initiating an inventory of equipment and personnel of our county’s Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) and Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs). I have a deep and abiding commitment to the strong support of the important work done by members of our law enforcement, first responders, and firefighters. This inventory will help to establish a baseline for future improvements, expansion, and recruitment by our ESDs & VFDs; plus, it’s designed to assist with the possible lowering of homeowners’ insurance rates in our county in the future;
« Working with MEDCO and LEDCO to assist with the creation of more than 400 jobs in our county through tax incentives to Holt Caterpillar, C&J Energy Services, Norit, and others;
« Making much-needed improvements to the Harrison County airport, primarily using state grants, plus a portion of dedicated revenue from the county’s oil and gas leases which were established on airport property in 2006; the law requires that this oil and gas revenue be used for airport improvements only;
« Taking proactive steps to assist efforts by the Cypress Valley Navigation District and others to solve the invasive species problem on Caddo Lake;
« Taking the lead on higher speed rail efforts to improve transportation opportunities for our county and region for the future.
Looking at these and other improvements since 2007, I believe you’ll see that the parallel goals of strengthening the county’s finances, keeping the county tax rate low, while also improving public safety, services, and infrastructure are being accomplished.
They’re being accomplished through experienced, conservative business management, providing consistent oversight, cutting wasteful spending, working collaboratively with the Commissioners, department heads, and others, and making sensible system-wide improvements.
I look forward to the opportunity of continuing to work with you and to build on this progress in the next four years.
I’m a full-time County Judge. I work 40--50 plus hours a week in my work as County Judge. I believe that my many years of experience and knowledge in business, law, governance, construction, public safety, and other areas have been very helpful in my work as County Judge, as well as putting in the hard work and collaboration needed to bring about progress and to get things done.
I want to thank the Commissioners’ Court, county officials, our fine county employees and members of the Sheriff’s department, as well as the many fine volunteers who serve on our ESDs, VFDs, and county advisory committees, and all the people in our community who work with great care and commitment to make our county a better place.
If I have not had the opportunity to ask you personally for your vote and support, I would like to ask for it now.
Thank you again for your time and care in visiting this website and for re-visiting the website for updated information in the coming weeks and months.
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