HEALTHY COUNTY BOOT CAMP Teamwork and Perseverance. County Management and Risk Conference. Unfunded Mandates Survey.

Transcription

1 ounty HEALTHY COUNTY BOOT CAMP 2017 COUNTY OFFICIALS LEARN THE TOOLS TO GET HEALTHY AND EMPOWER THEIR STAFF PG. 16 Teamwork and Perseverance Building a Better Future for the most vulnerable county residents pg. 24 County Management and Risk Conference Photos showcase this informati ve event pg. 30 Unfunded Mandates Survey The Eye-Opening Cost of County Government revealed pg. 33 Real News County Reports Share Cou nty Finan cial Info and more pg. 35

2 Our leading solutions solve the biggest challenges in increasingly understaffed and underfunded appraisal and tax offices with mass appraisal services computer-assisted mass appraisal and tax billing and collections so people like Kevin can spend less time juggling tasks and more time juggling cans at the local food bank. Put our appraisal & tax software to work for you. tech.com

3 Contact Us! We re here to help. Staff Directory: county.org/whotocontact Main number: (800) TAC Helpline: (888) ASK-TAC4 Texas Association of Counties Mission Statement The mission of the Texas Association of Counties is to unite counties to achieve better solutions. County, a bimonthly magazine, is distributed to every elected county official and county auditor in Texas 254 counties. Other readers include purchasing agents, budget and planning administrators, appointed department heads, state legislators and state agency personnel. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part, is permissible only upon express written authorization from the publisher and when proper credit, including copyright acknowledgment, is given to Texas Association of Counties County Magazine. 2016, Texas Association of Counties. Published by the Texas Association of Counties, P.O. Box 2131, Austin, Texas Telephone: (512) , Facsimile: (512) Articles in County magazine that refer to issues that could be considered by the Texas Legislature may be interpreted to be legislative advertising according to Texas Gov t. Code Ann Disclosure of the name and address of the person who contracts with the printer to publish the legislative advertising in County magazine is required by that law: Gene Terry, 1210 San Antonio, Austin, Texas

4 Anderson Andrews Angelina Leon Archer Atascosa Austin Bailey Bandera Bastrop Baylor Bee Bell Blanco Borden Bosque Bowie Brazoria Brazos Brewster Briscoe Brooks Brown Burleson Kinney Burnet Caldwell Calhoun Callahan Cameron Carson Cass Castro Chambers Cherokee Childress Clay Cochran Coke Coleman Collin Collingsworth Colorado Comal Comanche Concho Cooke Coryell Cottle Crane Crockett Crosby Culberson Dallam Dallas Dawson Jim Wells Deaf Smith Delta Denton DeWitt Dickens Dimmit Donley Duval Eastland Edwards El Paso Erath Falls Fannin Fayette Foard Fort Bend Franklin Freestone Gaines Galveston Garza Gillespie Glasscock Goliad Gonzales Gray Grayson Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hamilton Hansford Hardeman Hardin Harris SHARE It s Your Story. good news about your county with Hunt Bexar h bliharrison d Hartley di Haskell Hays shemphillhenderson i Henderson i f Hidalgo Hockley SPEAK to community groups about how county government delivers for them. Time to tell it! MEET with your legislators about VISIT regularly with acomm unity leader(s) who can help advocate for your county. Hood Hopkins Houston Howard dh Hudspeth Hutchinson Ii Irion Upton Fisher Floyd Aransas Jefferson Camp Jim Hogg Armstrong Wilson Johnson Jones Karnes You can improve understanding of and trust in county government. GET STARTED WITH THESE TOOLS. Kaufman Kendall Kenedy Kent Kerr Kimble King Ector Frio Kleberg Knox La Salle Lamar Lamb Lee Loving Lipscomb Llano Lubbock Lynn Titus Madison Ellis Hill Marion Martin Mason Matagorda Maverick McCull loch McLennan McMullen Medina Live Oak Menard Midland Milam Mills Mitchell Montague Montgomery Morris Hall Motley Nacogdoches Navarro Newto on Nolan Nueces Moore Orange Palo Pinto Panola Parker r Parmer Ochiltree Oldh ham Pecos Polk Potter Presidio Rains Randall Reagan Real Red River Reeve es Refugio Roberts Robertson Rockw wa all Runnels Rusk Sabine San Augustine San Jacinto San Patricio San Saba Sc chleicher Scurry Shackelford Shelby Sherman Smith Somervell Starr wwwtexascountiesdeliver org Texas County Government Brochure Stephens Sterling Stonewall Sutton Swisher Tarrant Taylor Terrell Terry n at Throckmorton Tom Green Travis Trinity Tyler Upshur Uvalde Val Verde Van Zandt Victoria Walker Questions Waller or comments?erty Liberty WardWhartonWheeler WheelerW Wichita Wilbarger Willacy Williamson Jackson Jasper Washington Jeff Davis Winkler Wise Lampasas Wood Yoakum Limestone Webb Jack Lavaca Young Zapata Zavala

5 County Magazine MAY/JUN Contents Officers & Board of Directors PRESIDENT Joyce G. Hudman Brazoria County Clerk Highlights 10 Historical Highlights Saving the Seat of Justice: Texas Historical Commision grant rescues Navarro County Courthouse. 14 Keynotes for TAC s Legislative Conference Confirmed The schedule is packed with not-to-be-missed sessions and speakers, including Dr. Rick Rigby and Chet Gardner form PBS s The Day Tripper. 16 Healthy County Boot Camp 2017 County officials spent two days learning tools to make healthier food choices, get more active and provide healthy resources for their staff. 24 Teamwork and Perseverance San Augustine County partnered with local agencies and universities to build a much-needed center to service their most vulnerable residents. 30 County Management and Risk Conference Photos showcase this informative event. 35 Real News Annual reports share county financial information and more Best Practices Award Winners Tarrant County developed three innovative programs, each earning an award. Departments 4 Staff Report 6 Voices of County Government 14 Clipboard 40 County Information Program 43 Calendar 46 Newsfeed 48 One Last Look County Staff Gene Terry, Executive Director Leah Magnus, Communication and Education Services Director Anna McGarity, Managing Editor Liz Carmack, Cassandra Sanchez-Barrera and Joel Nihlean, Contributing Writers Ben Chomiak, Graphic Design On The Cover Attendees get in a morning walk at sunrise before starting a day of learning during the 2017 Healthy County Boot Camp (page 16). Photo by TAC Wellness Consultant Carrye Chen. PRESIDENT ELECT Larry Gallardo Hidalgo County Constable VICE PRESIDENT Renee Couch Comal County Treasurer MEMBERS Everette Bo Alfred Jefferson County Commissioner John R. Ames Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collector Celeste Bichsel Carson County District/County Clerk Cindy Yeatts Brown Denton County Treasurer Nathan Cradduck Tom Green County Auditor Laurie English District Attorney, 112th District Woodrow W. Gossom, Jr. Wichita County Judge Kim Halfmann Glasscock County Judge Tammy Kneuper Bandera County District Clerk Jackie Miller, Jr. Ellis County Justice of the Peace Michael Truitt Denton County Constable Dennis D. Wilson Limestone County Sherif Grover Tiger Worsham Trinity County Commissioner Ben Zeller Victoria County Judge EX OFFICIO MEMBERS Don Allred Immediate Past President Oldham County Judge Connie Hickman Navarro County Justice of the Peace NACo Representative MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 3 3

6 Staff Report By Gene Terry, TAC Executive Director STAFF Report Gov. Abbott, Let s Take a Summer Road Trip Gene Terry Executive Director, Texas Association of Counties Most of us believe that the best form of government is the one that is closest to the people. The 2017 Legislative Session is just over the halfway mark. A lot is still roiling around the halls of the Imperial Pink Dome: Some good, most not and all worth keeping an eye on. Notably, I just read an editorial about a meeting Gov. Greg Abbott had with supporters in Corpus Christi. An almost off-the-cuff remark by him really laid bare the great differences of opinion we have about how we should manage the affairs of this state. Speaking of the tax reform bill, Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), the Governor commented that the legislature should just stop takin pot shots at local government issues individually and go for the kill with legislation that would simply allow the state to step in any time officials believe they need to fix local problems. He said, and I quote: As opposed to the state having to take multiple rifle-shot approaches at overriding local regulations, I think a broad-based law by the state of Texas that says across the board, the state is going to pre-empt local regulations, is a superior approach. Read more here: Really, governor? Why don t you use your superior approach to fix public education, something you actually have a responsibility for. Counties are constitutional. We have duties conferred by the Texas Constitution. We hold offices created therein. Legislative fiat cannot be substituted for local control. Our state doesn t operate that way. Most of us believe that the best form of government is the one that is closest to the people. I doubt seriously if the governor has ever sat in a room full of his relatives, friends and neighbors and set a property tax rate. It s called accountability. We invented governmental transparency. We have no place to hide. Everybody knows where to find us, and find us they do. Governor, I invite you to join me this summer. Let s go on a road trip. Let s visit the Panhandle, the Big Thicket, the Trans Pecos and the Valley. Let s watch commissioners courts struggle with the budget process, struggle to find a way to pay for the things you won t and struggle to determine just how much is needed to get through another year. Rainy Day Fund? We don t even have a Rainy Minute Fund! The property tax is the only revenue stream we have been given. We didn t choose it. But we have learned to live with it and to live within our means. We don t need a balanced budget amendment. We don t have a choice. Counties don t get to choose who moves in and who doesn t. Some Texas counties are among the fastest growing in the nation. Others are losing population and tax base. A one-size-fits-all approach might work in Delaware s three counties, but not here with our 254 counties. Local control is the only way to be sure local needs are met. If it ain t broke, don t fix it. * 4 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

7 REGIONAL POOL WORKSHOPS RESOURCES AND SOLUTIONS FOR COUNTIES 2017 Aug. 2 Sept. 6 Sept. 20 Oct. 4 Oct. 11 Nov. 8 Georgetown Corpus Christi Abilene Amarillo Midland Tyler Plan to attend a one-day session near you to hear the latest on risk management, HR trends, workplace wellness and more. Free registration with lunch included. See to learn more and to register. (800) county.org

8 Voices of County Government County Magazine Voices of county government Voices of County Government HON. JACKIE MILLER Ellis County Justice of the Peace In all 254 counties, county government is a full-time job. Texas county government officials dedicate their careers and lives to public service and are the foremost experts on the challenges their neighbors face each day. County government officials are as diverse as the Texans who elect them, coming from every background imaginable. But as a group, they have one thing in common: from El Paso to Newton and from Dallam to Cameron, county officials are dedicated and committed to keeping Texas strong. Here, county officials talk about their passion for public service. (Interviews here have been edited for brevity.) * How long have you been the Ellis County Justice of the Peace? I was appointed in 1997 and took office on Jan. 1, It will be 20 years this January. Prior to your election, what kind of work did you do? What got you interested in running for office? Well, I actually worked for the previous Justice of the Peace (JP) as chief clerk. I have a paralegal degree and had worked for an attorney in Dallas. As a paralegal, the prior JP hired me to run his office. I just kind of fell into it. I enjoy the opportunity to help people with problems on a daily basis. What was the biggest surprise or adjustment after becoming the JP? Being that I worked here for several years before taking office, I knew the ins and outs. But probably the biggest adjustment was the inquest. Not hard just a big adjustment. What are some of the biggest challenges you ve faced as a JP, and what advice would you give your peers across the state that may face the same or similar challenges? The biggest challenge is, you know, you have to hit the ground running. A lot of your training comes from hands-on action. Every case is different. The adjustment to being in the public. You change hats multiple times a day and you need to adjust where you address your efforts. Since taking office, what accomplishments are you most proud of? I think that the efforts we have taken to keep children in school is probably number one. I now handle all the schools in the county and all the truancies. I remember one young man coming up to me years after he had faced me in court who said if I hadn t stayed on him he would have never graduated or gone on to college. He was the first one in his family to graduate from high school. Parents have also come up to me to thank me for helping them keep their kids in school. I m really proud of that. 6 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

9 County Magazine Voices of County Government What do you find are the most successful methods for reaching out to the residents of your county to communicate what your office is doing and why it s doing it? The easiest is treating everyone in court with respect. Be involved to the point that you can. Support local high school and organizations. Be involved and show you care. Being the people s court we have more exposure to the public than all of the other offices combined. The way you treat them is how they see all county government. How do you describe your job to people who may not be familiar with the day-today of what you do, the responsibilities of your office or with the way county government functions? Are there any common misconceptions you hear? A lot of people think you only do marriages, when we hardly do any. We have civil court, small claims, evictions, criminal courts (traffic offenses, penile codes offenses, safety code offense) property hearings, cruelly treated animals. We handle the inquests (county coroners) warrants for multiple agencies from 311 calls up to murder, as well as handling the jails. I have five staff members the longest has been with me for 14 years. You re only as good as your staff. They handle a lot of the day-to-day business. When you re not at work, what are you doing? Do you have any hobbies or something interesting you do that may surprise your colleagues? Spending time with my children. I like to read. I like to cook. Anything outdoors: hunting, fishing and even mowing the lawn. Your Municipal Specialists awarded HGAC, TXMAS and Buyboard contracts Call us today! 4562 IH-10 East San Antonio, TX MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 7 7

10 Voices of County Government County Magazine Voices of county government Voices of County Government HON. BEN ZELLER Victoria County Judge How long have you been the Victoria County Judge? I m in my third year. I took office January of Prior to your election, what kind of work did you do? What got you interested in running for office? My day job had been in banking since graduating college first at Wells Fargo Bank and then at Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) as a senior loan officer. However, my real interest had always been in public policy and public service. I see my election in 2014 as simply where my passion and preparation for this type of work intersected with the need for it in our community. What was the biggest surprise or adjustment after taking office? I am not surprised by much. The world of politics is predictable because people are predictable. What are some of the biggest challenges you ve faced, and what advice would you give your peers across the state that may face the same or similar challenge? Inertia is a big challenge in any level of government the old we venever-done-it-that-way-before mindset. The social media rumor mill can also be challenging, where those with very limited knowledge of the issues like to play the role of expert. The best way to mitigate this is to stay ahead the issues and be the one to frame the discussion when new ideas are presented to the public. Since taking office, what accomplishments are you most proud of? We ve gotten so much done over the last two years it s hard to pick just one, but I d really have to say that coming into office as a new judge, and a very young one, and earning the trust and respect of my colleagues is so short a timeframe is an accomplishment I am really proud of. What do you find are the most successful methods for reaching out to the residents of your county to communicate what your office is doing and why it s doing it? A proactive relationship with local media has proven to be a great way to communicate our county activities to our residents. Aside from that, I am frequently asked (and volunteer) to speak to civic groups like Rotary, Kiwanis Club, Lions Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, etc. I also keep an active presence on social media with news about what s happening within the county. How do you describe your job to people who may not be familiar with the day-today of what you do, the responsibilities of your office or with the way county government functions? Are there any common misconceptions you hear? I describe my role as being one step ahead of everything and everyone all the time, which is tough to do. Coun- 8 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

11 County Magazine Voices of County Government ty judges wear so many hats. Lots of folks in Victoria are unaware that my role is primarily budgetary and administrative rather than judicial since we have two County Courts at Law. The sheer number of responsibilities that a county judge has is surprising to most people. What is your favorite thing about Victoria County? Victoria County is a wonderful place to live. My family here goes back many generations. Victoria is filled with great people and it s a tremendous honor to serve them as the Victoria county judge. When you re not at work, what are you doing? Do you have any hobbies or something interesting you do that may surprise your colleagues? I love serving as Victoria County judge, so to me, work is a whole lot of fun. My wife and I have three rambunctious children (ages 4, 3 and 1) to keep up with so I don t have much time for extra hobbies! I used to do a lot of hunting and fishing, but nowadays work and family fill most of my time, and I am perfectly fine with that. Rentals Sales Parts Service PAVING COMPACTION AIR COMPRESSORS PUMPS SOIL STABILIZERS CRUSHING COMPACT MILLING MACHINES EXCAVATORS DOZERS CRANES BOOM TRUCKS Abilene Amarillo Dallas Ft. Worth Kansas City Lubbock Odessa Oklahoma City St. Louis Tulsa Not all makes and models available at all locations. MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 9 9

12 HIstorical Highlights By County Liz Carmack Magazine Saving the Seat of Justice THC Grant Rescues Navarro County Courthouse The 1905 Navarro County Courthouse received a top to bottom restoration in with the help of a grant from the Texas Historical Commission s Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program. (Photo by Liz Carmack) One sunny summer day in 2013, Navarro County Judge H.M. Davenport Jr. walked out of his home and climbed into his car, mentally reviewing that day s to-do list during his eight-mile drive into Corsicana. Half-way to town, a phone call rearranged his priorities. It was the county s maintenance supervisor calling to report that, overnight, part of the dropped ceiling in one of the historic courthouse s courtrooms had collapsed. Had it happened a few hours later, the ceiling tiles would have landed on a witness and County Court at Law Judge Amanda D. Putman during a trial. Davenport and Putman quickly found a new location for the trial so county maintenance crews could remove the entire ceiling. In the process, the workers discovered that the dozens of 1960s-era ceiling tiles and their supportive grid were barely hanging on, secured only by brittle screws corroded to the width of toothpicks. Building maintenance crises such as these were routine for Navarro County before its 1905 courthouse underwent a top-to-bottom restoration in The $10.5 million project was made possible through about $5 million in grant funds from the Texas Historical Commission s (THC) Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) and $5.5 million in matching funds from the county (raised through a bond election). The undertaking had been on the table a long time. In 2010, the THC provided a planning grant to the county of $450,000 to produce construction documents, typically prepared in advance of seeking a major THCPP grant for restoration. Additional financial support for the project came from the Corsicana Preservation Society, which earlier had paid for paint testing to determine the original paint colors used throughout the building and to begin the restoration of the unique faux marble, or scagliola, columns that were later completed during the full restoration. All interior paint used during the restoration was mixed to match those original colors. The Navarro Community Foundation also donated $1 million toward the project, said Davenport. 10 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

13 County Magazine Historical Highlights Modernization and New Lady Justice It took 22 months of painstaking work to restore the building. This included major mechanical upgrades such as installation of new plumbing, electrical, security, fire, energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems, and provisions for accessibility. County staff and officials began moving back in January after completion of a final project to reinforce the vault floors in the County and District Clerks offices. The Classical Revival style courthouse with Beaux-Arts influences is home to the offices of the county judge, county commissioners, county and district clerks, district attorney, county treasurer and county auditor. In addition, it houses the County Court, the County Court at Law and the 13th Judicial District Court. Through the THC s assistance, we have preserved our past and not let deferred maintenance be the downfall of the building, Davenport said. We didn t want this building to become a museum; we wanted it to continue to function as a courthouse. The extensive restoration tackled several areas both inside and outside the courthouse. Brit Barr, THC courthouse program reviewer, said the exterior restoration included full window rehabilitation, repair to the porch ceiling, major structural repairs to the entry porch columns, repointing, County Judge H. M. Davenport gives a tour of the restored District Courtroom. The restoration included returning the ornamental plaster proscenium arch embellished with gold leaf behind the judge s bench, returning the room to its original, 24-foot height by removing a floor that had been inserted in 1964, restoring the room s pressed metal ceiling and reconstructing the original balcony. (Photo by Liz Carmack) A close up of the restored ornamental plaster proscenium arch behind the judge s bench in the District Courtroom. (Photo courtesy Texas Historical Commission) significant roof repairs and terracotta restoration, as well as reproduction of the building s Lady Justice statue. The original statue went missing in the 1940s. (NOTE: See accompanying sidebar.) Using early photographs as a guide, artisans in Canada recreated a custom copper replacement that weighs 1,000 pounds and stands 13 feet tall. Today she reclaims her perch high atop the southern entrance of the building. Interior Glory Restored While the extensive overhaul of the building s technical systems remain largely invisible, the restored original details are apparent around every corner while touring the building. The most dramatic turnaround was on the interior, Barr said. A corroded water pipe (and source of a leak) removed from the courthouse prior to the full upgrade of its plumbing, electrical, fire, security and other mechanical systems, which were part of the building s restoration. (Photo courtesy Judge H.M. Davenport) Here are a few highlights of that work: District Courtroom This space, originally a two-story space that boasted a 24-foot-high ceiling, had been subdivided into two levels during a 1964 renovation. The restoration returned the courtroom to its original height by removing the inserted floor, restored the room s pressed metal ceiling and reconstructed the missing balcony. It repositioned the stained glass skylight (which had been moved to behind the judge s bench in the early 1980s) and returned the ornamental plaster proscenium arch embellished with gold leaf behind the judge s bench. The original furniture in the room was restored and additional furniture recreated to match. MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 11 11

14 HIstorical Highlights County Magazine County Judge H.M. Davenport and Courtney Peters, Criminal Deputy Clerk in the county s District Clerk s Office at the restored transaction counter inside the District Clerk s Office. (Photo by Liz Carmack) County Clerk s Office The transaction counters were restored in both clerks offices. This includes the frosted glass, metal and wooden screen in the District Clerk s Office. The office s floor-to-ceiling metal racks that store heavy record books and their tiny brass rollers that allow the books to be moved easily were also restored. Paint covering the vault doors in both offices was carefully removed to reveal handpainted designs. Four additional vault doors in the courthouse were similarly restored. The artwork on this vault door in the County Clerk s Office had been completed covered by paint before its restoration. (Photo by Liz Carmack) Lady Justice Where Did She Go? Lady Justice welcomed visitors to the Navarro County Courthouse from the day it opened in She sat on a pedestal atop the building s southern pediment, high above its original main entrance. Then around 1943, the copper statue disappeared from photographs. No one knows where she went. Davenport, a history buff, searched newspaper articles, commissioner court records and historic photographs to pin down why she was removed from the courthouse. He even interviewed long-time residents hoping they d provide a clue, but so far, the reason for her disappearance is still mystery. It s thought that perhaps the statue became storm damaged and the county donated her copper to the war effort during World War II. Today, a new Lady Justice has taken up her post. This time, she s made of heavy gauge copper sheet metal, weighs 1,000 pounds and stands 13 feet tall. Dozens of Texas county courthouses across the state boast similar statues, including McLennan, Fort Ben, Harrison, Williamson and Coryell counties. Atrium and Scagliola Columns Off-white paint covering the brick walls of the central atrium was removed and the space s ornamental plaster was repaired. Eight scagliola columns that rise from the second to the third floor were carefully restored by an art conservator. Scagliola, an Italian decorative technique, uses layers of tinted plasters to create the appearance of marble. The Navarro County Courthouse is believed to be the only Texas 12 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

15 courthouse with scagliola columns and one of only five remaining buildings in the U.S. to feature this unique building material. During the process of restoring the eight columns in the atrium and the 12 others located off the lobbies of the main floors, decades of dirt and grime were carefully removed, cracks and other damage repaired with pigmented plaster, and wax applied to the columns surfaces to protect the finish. Praise for THC Program Davenport worked for 35 years in the construction industry before running for judge, so his expertise had come in handy when weekly maintenance crises popped up before the courthouse s restoration. Today he s happy that those times are long gone and grateful for the grant. I m so proud of the program, he said. Now I can actually say I have firsthand seen the results. Before the restoration, it was constant deferred maintenance problems, Davenport said. We had weekly problems to deal with just to keep functioning. Mechanical problems. Corroding pipes in the floor of an upstairs bathroom that leaked water into one of the district attorney s offices. Crumbling plaster coming off the walls. Moisture affecting walls (and dropped ceilings) because they were closed off from ventilation. The THC s program rescues courthouses from this cycle of constant patch-work maintenance, Davenport said. These buildings are so expensive to rebuild and most counties just don t have the money to do it. They can patch and patch to keep things going; that s just throwing good money after bad. The grants not only help with these problems, they help preserve the courthouse function, Davenport added. They are the center of justice in a county. That function has to be maintained. * Restoration in action on one of the 20 scagliola columns throughout the courthouse. Scagliola, an Italian decorative technique, uses layers of tinted plasters to create the appearance of marble. (Photo courtesy Texas Historical Commission) José Antonio Navarro County Namesake A bronze statue of José Antonio Navarro commemorates the county s namesake on the southern side of the courthouse. Navarro, born in 1795 at San Antonio de Bexar, was a leading Mexican participant in the Texas Revolution. Navarro supported Texas statehood in 1835 and embraced the idea of Texas independence. He was one of three Mexican signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence and helped write the first state constitution in Corsicana, the county seat, was named in honor of Navarro s father s birthplace, the island of Corsica.

16 CLIPBOARD News You Can Use Keynoters for Legislative Conference Confirmed The 2017 TAC Legislative Conference keynote speakers have been announced, and the agenda is packed with valuable sessions that are not to be missed. Dr. Rick Rigsby and Chet Garner, of PBS s The Daytripper will serve as opening and closing speakers respectively at the Legislative Conference, Aug , in Austin. This year s opening general session will start with the big picture of leadership, and then zero in on what the Legislature did and didn t do. Rigsby, an award-winning former journalist and professor at Texas A&M University, will help kick the conference off with an inspiring presentation about leadership, being empowered to be a great leader, and the difference between making a nice impression and making a real impact for communities. Following Rigsby s talk, smile, you re on camera. New for this year s opening session, attendees will be in a live studio audience as TAC s Legislative Department films their 85th legislative session close-out episode of TAC on the Lege, the roundtable-style discussion webcast show. They ll take the attendees through what did and didn t happen this session, navigating the twists and turns of the good, the bad and the ugly legislation affecting counties. This roundtable, and in fact the full opening general session, will be broadcast live on TAC s Facebook page for those who are not able to attend. Once finished, the videos will remain there for anyone to review in the future. Friday morning s conference closeout event will serve up a full breakfast and send attendees home with new tools they can use to help their constituents better understand their connection to county government. That morning, the Daytripper himself, Chet Garner, will act as emcee for the debut of a new full slate in the Texas Counties Deliver video series. Garner, the creator, executive producer, writer, editor and host of the five-time Emmy-award winning television show, The Daytripper, has been working with TAC to produce more than a dozen videos in the Texas Counties Deliver series over the past year. They are featured on TAC s Youtube channel. The videos educate and inform on the role of county government, the services it provides and the challenges it faces. Attendees will leave knowing more about how they can use these videos as part of public outreach and education in their own county. Several of the videos have gone viral on social media, including the more than 1 million views Williamson County Justice of the Peace Bill Gravell garnered on TAC s How Did We Get to 254 Counties? video he posted on Facebook. Texas Counties Deliver was launched in 2015 as a public education campaign aimed at improving the public s understanding of county government. In addition to the popular video series, the full campaign also includes the website brochures, infographics and other tools county officials can use, and a series of how-to articles in County magazine to inspire county officials to take action in more effectively telling their county s story and defining the conversation about county government. Breakout Sessions Confirmed The live edition of the TAC on the Lege webcast featured during the opening session of the conference will review some of the big issues covered in the 85th legislative session. On Thursday, 10 breakout sessions dive deeper into those big issues important to county government. The sessions will feature experts and key players who will give attendees a more detailed understanding of these key issues. Choose the topics most relevant to you and customize your conference experience while in Austin. This year s sessions include: Working with your County Veteran Service Officer Identifying Resources Surveying Unfunded Mandates Technology in Courts The Future of Re:SearchTX Criminal Justice Roundup The Intersection of Law Enforcement and Mental Health Slash and Burn: State Budget Cuts to Counties Talking Property Taxes Future of Emergency Management Funding 14 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

17 News You Can Use Clipboard Criminal Justice Reforms: A Look Back and A Look Ahead Statewide Legislative Exchange Invite Your Legislators This conference is designed as a way to bridge the county courthouse and the Capitol. It s an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of partnership between counties and the state. To that end, TAC has again formally invited every member of the Texas Legislature to attend this year s conference. Developing relationships with senators and representatives, as well as their staff, is absolutely essential for communicating the county message and make sure the state and local governments work well together as partners. Don t underestimate the power of a phone call to personally invite your legislators to connect at this conference, said TAC Legislative Director Paul Sugg. Having state senators and representatives joining county officials in Austin for three days of sessions, working meals and informal meetings on some of the most important issues facing Texas today is an invaluable opportunity for building and strengthening relationships moving forward. County officials are strongly encouraged to reach out to their legislators about the invitations. The invitation for legislators includes two complimentary registrations and the opportunity to meet privately with county officials in their district. Informal conversations between legislators and county officials can help establish county officials as go-to resources for legislators and help raise awareness of county government concerns and local issues. Legislators can rely on county officials as a valuable resource. Counties are where the rubber meets the road on state policy, TAC s Legislative Director Paul Sugg said. But they cannot know exactly how valuable a resource local officials are unless they have good relationships with them. It s incumbent upon county officials to make those first steps and build that relationship here. The CommCube Returns In the past year, social media has taken center stage in politics across the state and across the country. Joel Nihlean of TAC s Communications Department will again be on hand to talk about how social media can help county officials quickly communicate the right information to constituents in their county using established digital communications methods like Twitter and Facebook, as well as other platforms. The CommCube will offer bite-sized sessions on social media scheduled at convenient times throughout the conference. The 20-minute overviews will take participants from the basics needed to effectively use social media as a public figure, including real life examples, to more advanced tips for maximizing the power of these channels. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of the technology, the reasons why it is so valuable and how their office and their county can benefit from using it. The Texas Counties Deliver Video Story Booth The TAC legislative conference is an event focused on the legislative process, and at the heart of politics and the legislative process there must be a good, simple story. That s why TAC is providing a platform for county officials to share their stories of how they serve their communities and what it means to them. We know Texas Counties Deliver, now it s time to spread the word. County officials can take advantage of this story booth to share what serving in county government means to them, talk about the challenges, the solutions, the joys, their hopes for the future of their county, and much more. A copy of each participant s recording will automatically be ed to them so they can share it on Facebook or other social media channels. The booth will run Wednesday and Thursday, in room 602. With permission, some of these recordings may run during the closing general session or be posted on TAC s social media channels. Join us at the 2017 Legislative Conference, Aug in Austin. Don t miss the most comprehensive county government conference of the year. Connect with your county government peers from across the state; Pick up best practices for communicating essential information to your constituents; Learn about the opportunities and obstacles counties may see come out of the Capitol; Explore new strategies for improving collaboration and leadership; and Exchange your experiences, know-how and contacts with other attendees. Register today and book your room at the JW Marriott. Check the TAC website, Facebook and Twitter feed, and watch for s to get conference updates. MAY/JUN county.org/magazine 15

18 CLIPBOARD News You Can Use Healthy County Spotlight: Healthy County Boot Camp 2017 The TAC Health and Employee Benefits Pool (TAC HEBP) Healthy County Boot Camp took place Feb at the Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop. The theme, Back to Basics, was promoted with healthy meals and beautiful walking trails to explore during breaks. Wellness coordinators and sponsors were updated on new programs for 2017 that will incorporate more movement and healthier food choices for participants. Attendees also learned how to help set up health fairs in their counties, resources available to them through Healthy County and new programs on the horizon for More information on Healthy County can be found online at county.org/ HealthyCounty. 16 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

19 News You Can Use Clipboard Healthy County 2.0: Healthy County Powered by Provant Healthy County Powered by Provant is the new portal accessible to all TAC Health and Employee Benefits Pool (HEBP) member employees. The new portal allows employees to log in and track their activities. Employees can also order their own fitness tracker and redeem their own rewards. Physical Activity Program Every benefit-eligible employee will receive a $30 device subsidy every three years. The subsidy is redeemable in the user-friendly online catalog, where you can get a Garmin Vivoki or Fitbit Zip at no additional cost. You can also apply the value of your subsidy to upgrade to any device, paying the remainder with your own debit or credit card. All devices can be shipped to a home address for free. 4 Challenges for 2017 The new challenges incorporate more movement and healthy eating, both of which help combat metabolic syndrome. There will be three physical activity challenges and one nutrition challenge. The first challenge, Spring into Motion, kicked off April 17 and will go through May 28. Participants will virtually visit springtime events all over the world, earning Springers for daily steps. New Benefit for ASO Groups ASO Groups now have access to the new Healthy County portal and device subsidy for covered employees at no cost to the county. However, ASO s wanting to participate in the Healthy Rewards gift card program would need to fund their gift cards, and significant advance notice is required to activate. For more information on the new program and additional resources, visit org/healthycounty. Challenge Dates Spring into Motion April 17 May 28 Passport June 19 July 30 Colorful Choices Aug. 14 Sept. 24 Healthy Trails Oct. 9 Nov.19 Health Fairs 101: A Guide to Success in Your County Health fairs are a great way to promote the wellness program in the county. But how does a health fair come together? During this question and answer session at the 2017 Healthy County Bootcamp, attendees heard the various ways to plan a health fair in their county, get vendors to the health fairs and get participation from employees. What s the purpose of a health fair? To make sure people are aware of the programs offered through health insurance and Healthy County. Some counties use health fairs as an opportunity to offer biometric screenings or flu shots. It is a way to bring health-related information to employees while meeting face to face with vendors. What activities can be done at a health fair? First aid training, AED training, blood panels or blood donations can all be set up with local organization to be done at a health fair. An educational presentation is always helpful in drawing more participants. Where is the health fair held? Depending on the size of the county, the health fairs can be held in a conference room, court room or larger venue if available. Where can vendors be found? Attend other local health fairs and speak to vendors. Counties have had everyone from the local fire department to the American Red Cross attend health fairs. If the county works specifically with local banks or auto insurance companies, those venders are looking for opportunities to speak to individuals and promote their services. Other counties have attorneys attend the health fairs to speak about living wills. Be mindful to primarily invite in-network medical providers to avoid employees receiving extra medical bills. What can be done to draw county employees to the health fair? Offer things such as healthy snacks, giveaways (often donated by vendors just ask!) and trainings to appeal to employees. Host your health fair and your flu shot clinic at the same time. Some counties incentivize health fair attendance. Should a health fair last all day? A small window of three to four hours is better for a health fair. Most people tend to show up first thing or toward the very end of the health fair. How are employees made aware of an upcoming health fair? Send a save-the-date a few months out if possible. Monthly reminders, posters in common areas and handouts always help to get information out. Don t get discouraged with the turnout the first year or two, it will get better! Once vendors and employees see all the information available to them at health fairs, they will look forward to the next one. MAY/JUN county.org/magazine 17

20 CLIPBOARD News You Can Use Virna Jameson from Bastrop County Honored with 2016 Iris Stagner Award Bastrop County Human Resource Generalist Virna Jameson was presented with the 2016 Iris Stagner Award at the Healthy County Boot Camp in Bastrop on Feb. 23. The award was established to recognize county wellness coordinators and sponsors who are inspiring motivators for their counties. Instrumental in expanding Healthy County programs to all Bastrop County employees over the last few years, Jameson coordinated lunch and learn events, a flu shot clinic and a walking program for county employees. Jameson managed all these events while also being the sole HR practitioner for the Sherriff s office. It starts with organization and time management, which can only be cultured in a workplace with clear leadership support and a wonderful group of co-workers. Our department assists and supports each other based on workflow needs, such as open enrollment, or staffing dips, and vacation coverage, Jameson said. When you have a great team in place, you can make the time to see the county grow healthier. When asked what advice she d give to others who are trying to start or improve a program in their county, Jameson said, Reach out to TAC and other coordinators from neighboring counties. They have seen the hurdles already and can offer suggestions and tips. The team I work with and myself are always available. Give us a call. Jameson offered words of support and encouragement to fellow Healthy County members, Keep forecasting how healthy the county will look five years from now, and how the employees have been positively impacted from the time and effort your team is putting out now. Do not expect overnight success. It may take baby steps or giant steps but one thing is sure - persistence will bring success. During the event in Bastrop, honorable mentions were given to Rhea McGinnis, treasurer from Sterling County and Paula Bennett, wellness coordinator from Grayson County. The award was created to honor the memory and commitment of Palo Pinto County Wellness Coordinator Iris Stagner, who died after being hit by a pickup truck Sept. 17, 2012, while cycling. Stagner was an active member of the Healthy County Wellness Program and often described as inspiring and a motivator. Introducing Allison Kennedy, Healthy County s New Wellness Specialist Allison Kennedy joined the Healthy County team on February 20 as a Wellness Specialist. She is taking on the day to day administrative tasks of running the Healthy County program allowing the consultants to spend more time strategizing with and visiting counties. Welcome Allison to the Healthy County team! Registration now Open for the Conference of the County Investment Academy County officials and staff interested their county s investment options can learn the tools of the trade at the annual Conference of the County Investment Academy, set for June at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel Convention Center and Spa. Twenty hours of continuing education is approved for County Investment Academy members. CPAs, auditors, treasurers, clerks and commissioners may also earn credit toward mandatory continuing education requirements. The McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University is the education co-sponsor for this event. For more information and to register online, visit investmentconference. Contact Deanna Auert in Education Services with questions at (800) MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

21 News You Can Use Clipboard Counties, Staff Honored for 2016 Workplace Safety Efforts The Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool (TAC RMP) has recognized more than a dozen counties and three county staff through its 2016 Safety Awards Program for their efforts to promote safety in the workplace. Safety Award Recipients This award aims to promote a commitment to employee safety in the workplace by recognizing those counties that have instituted or maintained quality risk control programs. Duval County, Erath County, Madison County, Smith County Gold Star Awards Recipients This award recognizes counties with an active safety program that have met the safety award criteria for two consecutive years. These Ruben Escobar, Risk Manager for Duval County, accepting the Safety Award on behalf of his county from Larry Boccaccio, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the South territory. counties have expanded on the minimum criteria requirements and have diligently worked to engage with management or governing body to obtain and maintain support for employee safety and risk control programs. Burnet County, Chambers County, Cochran County, Denton County, Gregg County, Hardin County, Jim Wells County, Kendall County, Kerr County, Montague County, Nueces County, San Patricio County, Taylor County, Val Verde County Making a Difference Awards Recipients This award is presented to an individual who exhibits strong leadership in promoting risk control efforts within the workplace, not limited to safety. Candidates for the award can be any employee whose dedication or creativity has positively affected risk management efforts within the county or organization from line employees to management, as well as elected or appointed officials. Don Farmer, Precinct 2 foreman, Wichita County Armandina Martinez, benefits coordinator, Starr County Velma W. McGlothin, human resources director, Harrison County Michelle Brewer, Denton County Assistant Director of HR, accepts the Gold Star Award on behalf of her county from Isaac Garcia, TAC Risk Control Consultant for the Northeast territory. Rita Fyffe, HR Director for Gregg County, accepting the Gold Star Award on behalf of her county from Isaac Garcia, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the Northeast territory. Kendall County Commissioner Richard Elkins and County Auditor Corinna Speer accepting the Gold Star Award on behalf of their county from Larry Boccaccio, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the South territory. Cochran County Treasurer Doris Seely accepting the Gold Star Award on behalf of her county from Jack Coffee, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the Northwest territory. Jim Wells County Commissioner Ventura Garcia Jr. accepting the Gold Star Award on behalf of his county from Larry Boccaccio, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the South territory. Dawn Lantz, HR Director for Kerr County, acceptingn the Gold Star Award on behalf of her county from Larry Boccaccio, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the South territory. Amanda Cameron, HR Assistant, Wichita County, accepting the Making a Difference Award for Don Farmer, Precinct 2 Foreman. Jack Coffee, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the Northwest territory, presented the award. Armandina Martinez, Benefits Administrator with Starr County, accepting the Making a Difference Award from Larry Boccaccio, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the South territory. Velma McGlothin, Human Resources Director for Harrison County, accepting the Making a Difference Award from Isaac Garcia, TAC Risk Control Consultant for the Northeast territory. Shelley Butts, Emergency Management Coordinator for Madison County, accepts the Gold Star Award on behalf of her county from Isaac Garcia, TAC Risk Control Consultant for the Northeast territory. Cathy Taff, Director of HR and Risk for Taylor County, accepting the Gold Star Award on behalf of her county from Jack Coffee, TAC Risk Control Consultant serving the Northwest territory. MAY/JUN county.org/magazine 19

22 CLIPBOARD News You Can Use Bee, Live Oak and McMullen Counties and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Honored with Texas Gideon Award Left to Right: Jessica Canter, Michelle Ochoa, Judge Jim Huff, Judge Jim Teal, Judge Stephanie Moreno and TRLA Executive Director David Hall were presented the Gideon Recognition Award by Judge Sharon Keller. On March 3 the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) presented the Texas Gideon Recognition to Bee, Live Oak and McMullen Counties and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid for their dedication to improving indigent defense practices. In 2009 the three counties joined with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to form the Bee County Regional Public Defender Office with the support of a TIDC discretionary grant. Since then the program has addressed two critical and challenging indigent defense needs: access to counsel and quality of representation. On hand to accept the award were Bee County Judge Stephanie Moreno, Live Oak County Judge Jim Huff, McMullen County Judge Jim Teal, TRLA Executive Director David Hall, Bee County Chief Public Defender Michelle Ochoa and First Assistant Public Defender Jessica Canter. These counties have shown important leadership in pioneering a new regional indigent defense model with TRLA that has proven effective, said Commission Chair Judge Sharon Keller. The regional collaboration with TRLA has helped our counties improve our justice system in ways that would be impossible if we were on our own, said Live Oak County Judge Jim Huff. The program helps ensure that all eligible defendants have access to legal representation. Prior to its inception, Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen Counties were among 110 counties in Texas with misdemeanor appointment rates below 10% and the counties struggled to find enough attorneys to represent indigent defendants. Today, staff investigators actively monitor jail populations and provide intake support at the jails and dockets, streamlining applications for counsel and eligibility determinations. Appointment rates in the counties are now in line with or above state averages. By ensuring early access to representation, the program has helped us minimize unnecessary pre-trial incarceration, said Bee County Judge Stephanie Moreno. We can be confident that cases are being handled professionally and in a timely manner, said McMullen County Judge Jim Teal. The Commission established the Texas Gideon Recognition Program to commend local governments that meet a high standard for indigent defense. Emerging Legal Trends in Law Enforcement Regional Training One-day workshops addressing evolving risk management issues inherent to law enforcement are scheduled July 11 in Waxahachie, July 13 in Abilene, Aug. 8 in Longview and Aug. 10 in Huntsville. Sheriffs, chief deputies, constables, jail administrators, jail staff and other ranks Presenter Jack Ryan, co-director of the Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute with supervisory oversight, as well as risk managers are encouraged to attend. Members of the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool s (TAC RMP) Law Enforcement Liability program can attend at no cost. Additional information about the specific topics to be covered can be found at LEtrends. Seating is limited. Register online at The day-long training, sponsored by the TAC RMP and the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, will be presented by attorney and former police officer Jack Ryan. Ryan is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and has 20 years of experience as a police officer with the Providence Police Department, Providence, RI. He is also co-director of the Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute (LLRMI). TAC RMP partners with LLRMI to deliver programs to TAC RMP members participating in the Law Enforcement Liability Program. 20 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

23 News You Can Use Clipboard Currently Providing Jails $35,000 to $200,000 in Annual Savings* Guaranteed Meal Pricing for 12 Months Designed for Jails with Populations Over 35 Inmates Proven Track Record Great References Reliable Quality Professional Support Five Star Service We Also Offer Customized Meal Service for Jails of All Sizes. Call Us Today and See How Much Money We Can Save You. * Depending on Jail Size FIVE STAR 4928 Beeman Ave Dallas, TX MAY/JUN county.org/magazine 21

24 CLIPBOARD News You Can Use TAC Welcomes Newly Appointed Officials The following county officials were recently appointed to new offices. TAC welcomes them to their new positions and thanks them for their service to county government and Texas residents. Danja Bloodworth Clay County Treasurer Marci Gilbert Cooke County District Clerk Joan Kostiha Falls County Auditor Hilario Villa Gillespie County Constable, Pct. 1 Sylvia Sheffield Gonzales County County Clerk Gwen Wilbanks Hudspeth County Treasurer Danny Jimenez Jones County Constable, County Wide Sam Berry Milam County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Nikita Fridia Morris County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1 Robert Johnson Polk County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3 Rick Ott San Patricio County Commissioner, Pct. 2 Sharon Blossman San Saba County Justice of the Peace, County Wide Jody Harris Sutton County Justice of the Peace, County Wide Isabel Adame Willacy County District Clerk Scott Heselmeyer Williamson County Treasurer Jerri Jones Williamson County Auditor Shannon Nutt Winkler County Treasurer This list may be incomplete. Please submit new county official appointments to TAC Membership Manager Frank Baca at frankb@county.org. Regional Pool Workshops Aug. 2 Nov. 8 A day-long, Regional Pool Workshop is coming to a location near you Aug. 2 Nov. 8. These sessions, back by popular demand, will cover the latest in risk management, HR trends, workplace wellness and more to continue the learning from TAC s County Management and Risk Conference. Choose from: Georgetown Aug. 2 Corpus Christi Sept. 6 Abilene Sept. 20 Amarillo Oct. 4 Midland Oct. 11 Tyler Nov. 8 Registration is free and lunch is included. Check the TAC Calendar of Events at for the latest details and to register. Is County Going to the Right Place? With county officials and employees retiring and switching offices or buildings, TAC wants to make sure that County is getting to the right people and the right places. Is your subscription up-to-date? Is your county receiving too many subscriptions, or too few? Are there employees who are receiving the magazine under previous employees subscriptions? Let us know by ing tacmembership@county.org. e County A Publication of the Texas Association of Counties Looking Through the Lens of Body-Worn Cameras Meet the President Q&A with new TAC President Joyce G. Hudman pg. 4 A FULL PICTURE APPROACH PG. 23 Nellie Gray Robertson First Female County Attorney in Texas pg. 8 County Government 101 Comal County Educates The Community on County Government pg. 29 New Law Aims to Prevent Truancy Decriminalize Students pg. 32 JAN./FEB Vol. 28, No. 1 county.org/magazine 22 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

25 Measuring purchasing cooperatives? You may need a longer ruler. BuyBoard offers a wide range of commodities, contracts, and vendors, and we respond to members needs. BuyBoard a trusted, transparent, and experienced source of cooperative purchasing. buyboard.com Endorsed by

26 County Magazine Teamwork and Perseverance: Building a Better Future for the Most Vulnerable County Residents By Anna McGarity 24 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

27 County Magazine The future of San Augustine s at-risk youth is looking much brighter as the community comes together to create the San Augustine County Children s Social Services Center. The Center is the result of multiple agencies, universities, foundations and residents working together to solve a series of issues affecting the county. Soon after taking office in 2008, San Augustine County Judge Samye Johnson realized her community had a deep hole that needed to be filled. She had not been completely aware of the dire situation many in her county faced in until she began meeting with residents. She discovered that there was a problem in her community addiction and abuse, coupled with deep poverty, were taking a toll on a large portion of the population. When I took office, people would call in desperate need, but I had no background in this. We have deep-seated poverty in the county, but I had no real concept of the depths, said Johnson. Breaking the cycle, she thought, was the key. But there were limited social services and resources in place to help. While neighboring counties did have some services available, residents often did not have adequate transportationn to get to them. Johnson decided to act. Assessing the Needs She believed they could build a service center that would act as a one-stop-shop for the entire community. To provide the help, they needed to know exactly what the community needed. So, in 2010 she contacted Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant, professor at Sam F. Austin University (SFAU) School of Social Work in nearby Nachogdoches. Together, with Oliphant s team of undergraduate and graduate students, they set about getting community feedback and buy-in. They held a community meeting, which was attended by nearly 400 people agency leaders and residents to discuss the needs of the county. That feedback helped Oliphant s team create a needs assessment. to develop a deeper understanding of social problems, strengths and challenges in the county. They also created a participatory action model that enabled county residents to participate in the planning and implementation and of the project. Not a lot of communities use participatory action models. The communities know themselves; we can t make assumptions about them; they need to tell us, said Oliphant. There was always community engagement, so they had involvement and buy-in. Earning Trust But to get buy-in, you need trust. And trust can be hard earned. When people are dealing with domestic or sexula abuse, drug and alchohol addiction or have had problems with SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY, TEXAS COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development 2013 the law, they can be fearful of government. They may even think talking to someone from the government is risky. Next Step Ministries has played a key role in building community trust as part of its mission, which also includes bringing high school volunteers to help build and repair houses. We want to be the bridge between the community, the local church and the government. We want to be bridge builders and community builders, said Mission Director Nick Cocalis. Next Step has been in San Augustine each summer for the last three years helping and will have a space in the new Center. With the community trust, Oliphant and her team could more effective survey the community with a questionnaire on perceptions related to social service needs, social problems and community challenges and strengths. The results showed many positives, such as a strong sense of community, active residents, a volunteer network and leaders who care about the community. However, there were a number of social problems including substance abuse, unemployment and problems related to poverty. Based on the assessment, it was obvious there was a need for establishing social services in the county. Finding the Money The assessment reinforced Johnson s belief that a one-stopwas what they needed. That shop meant coming up with funds to build it. I went up against a lot of brick walls for two years. Finally, we were able to get a community block grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) for the first wing of our building. This grant had never been given to a project like this. We pleaded to just be able to qualify. They voted and changed the guidleines and we got it for $275,000. MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 25 25

28 County Magazine That would be just for the building not for all the things that it needed to house, said Johnson. Armed with the data reinforcing the need from the assessment, they went to the Temple Foundation and were awarded a matching $275,000 grant to pay for the services. Services and Programs The social services needs will be managed by STAR, Court Appointed Special Advocate of Deep East Texas (CASA), Child Advocacy Center and Child Protective Services (CPS). Each agency will have space at the Center. In addition to the social services to be provided, they saw a need for enrichment programs for both children and adults. These programs are offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and include personal health and development classes, as well as a number of Master Gardener classes. Stephen F. Austin School of Social Work will bring outreach classes and training programs designed to address the needs of the county. Next Step Ministry will also have space at the center to support their San Augustine County housing rehab and Community Development programs. As part of the enrichment offerings, AgriLife Extension will provide Masters Gardener programs for adults and 4-H programs for at-risk youth. But they didn t wait for the Center to be built to get started. They began their 4-H programs last year and doubled the number of children involved. Johnson said she expected that number to double again this year. Additionally, AgriLife Extension is providing a full-time family consumer scientist for the Center. She s great! She will focus on nutrition and health education programs, as well as parenting classes and financial management, said Dr. Jeff Ripley, associate director of county operations at AgriLife Extension. Power in Partnerships The judge hopes the holistic approach helps end the cycle of addiction and abuse by educating adults and intervening with children early on. All the different services require the collaboration of many different people. Judge Johnson made sure to engage leaders in their respective fields and form an extremely strong coalition. Each partner worked for the betterment of San Augustine County. The partnership between the different groups and agencies is impressive. Honestly it s a miracle. It did all work, said Johnson. This partnership would not have been as successful as it has been if not for the tenacity of Judge Johnson who recognized not only that there is a need, but with the support of many there is a way. The judge has so much on her plate. It s amazing she s been able to do this, said Oliphant. With all the players in place each developing targeted programs in their specific area of expertise it was time to build the future home for them. On Jan. 25, after years of planning, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to kick off the building of the more than 5,000-square- foot center on the same property as the San Augustine County Sheriff s office. According to Johnson, the building was designed to look like grandma s house. She wanted a space that would help put children at ease, not add to their stress with a sterile, office building. I can t believe it s going to be so beautiful AND on budget, said Johnson. Additionally, all the landscaping will be done by A&M s Master Gardeners, including a children s childrens vegetable garden. 26 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

29 County Magazine MEMBERS CAN COUNT ON: Toll-free TAC Helpline, (888) First-rate training and continuing education programs A strong voice representing county interests at the state and federal government levels County news, issues and best practices online and in County magazine and website hosting services TAC Health and Employee Benefits Pool TAC Risk Management Pool TAC Unemployment Compensation Group Account Fund Cost-effective, comprehensive risk management services and programs Healthy County customized employee wellness programs Created by counties, for counties. (800) county.org MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 27 27

30 County Magazine Do you have their back? Funding for the $550,000 building came from two sources, a $275,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture with support from the Deep East Texas Council and a matching grant from the Temple Foundation grant. Based on the successful collaboration in San Augustine, a similar program has begun in Luftkin. The Temple Foundation is funding us to do the same thing in Luftkin, said Oliphant. We re doing the needs assessment now and the community is very involved. It s exciting! Replicating the Success Counties interested in replicating a similar program should start by identifying the resources in the county especially colleges or universities. The regional universities love those projects for their graduate students, noted Ripley. But he also adds, They need a county judge like Judge Johnson, to bring all the parties together and stick with it through to the end. The San Augustine County Children s Center is scheduled to open early this summer. It will also serve adjacent counties. This is also expected to be the first phase or a continued effort to expand social services for the county. It s always been my goal to help small counties find a way to move forward, said Johnson. Our funds get cut all the time. And we get left at the gate. Our people are as important as those from larger counties. * county.org (800) MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

31 With us, you do. Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool We provide your employees with high quality benefits while helping you manage costs and promote wellness. TAC Health and Employee Benefits Pool members count on: Coverages and benefits customized to your county s needs Plan management guidance and support Healthy County wellness programs and initiatives County-focused customer care Retiree enrollment assistance Employee Benefits Consultants on-call Long-term rate stability Sound county leadership Created by counties for counties. (800)

32 County Magazine 1 2 Record Numbers Attend the 2017 County Management & Risk Conference The 2017 County Management and Risk Conference was held April 5 7 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in San Marcos. This year there were 356 attendees from 154 counties and entities, which is the most to date. Sessions included an opening keynote about the personality traits of leaders, breakout sessions on several topics, including planning for disasters and other emergency management topics, human resources best practices, the affect of employees health on counties and more. The final day ended with an alarming but enlightening keynote presentation about cyber security followed by an update on Health Care Reform. But it wasn t all business. There were also several fun social events, including a fun run Thursday morning and a Casino Night dinner that evening. We will be highlighting several of the sessions in the July/August issue of County magazine MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

33 County Magazine 5 6 (1) The opening session was lively and engaing. (2) TAC Health and Benefits Director Qunicy Quinlan spoke on the last day about the importance of good health. (3) The band Jukebox Heroes performed at the Thursday night dinner. (4) More than 20 breakout sessions provided a wide array of educational opportunities. (5) More than 350 attendees ascended on the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center for the three-day event. (6) Speaker Louis L. Barton gave a eye-opening closing session on cyber safety. (7) Attendees had an opportunity to ask questions during an HR Roundtable breakout session. (8-9) Thursday night s Casino Night offered attendees time to socialize with dinner, games and music MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 31 31

34 County Magazine Unfunded MandateS Survey Cost of County Government: 2016 Unfunded Mandates Survey Reveals Eye- Opening Cost of County Government By Joel Nihlean

35 County Magazine Cost of County Government: 2016 Unfunded Mandates Survey Judicial System In Texas, counties provide the lion s share of the financial support for courts and other elements of the judicial TAC released the results of its first unfunded mandates survey online earlier this spring. This first-of-its-kind study details the growing financial impact of unfunded and underfunded mandates on county budgets and the property tax payers that fund those budgets. Unfunded and underfunded mandates are laws or regulations passed by the state or federal government, requiring counties to undertake specific actions or provide certain services, but without any state or federal funds. New laws and rules come down all the time, but the funding rarely follows. And these mandates are significant cost-drivers for counties, said Paul Sugg, TAC s Legislative Director. They increase the stress on county budgets, and in turn, on property tax payers. And what s really concerning is, what happens when you combine this upward pressure on county budgets with the Legislature s proposed ratcheting down with revenue caps. Among the eye-opening findings was a more than 20 percent increase in the cost of the overall judicial system in Texas from approximately $1.2 billion in 2011 to almost $1.6 billion in The survey showed increasing costs in almost all mandated services. In total, the survey covered 31 separate unfunded and underfunded mandates. The full report can be found at unfundedmandates. The study, which looked at five years of data gathered from 98 counties, was conducted by the Texas Association of Counties in cooperation with the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, the Texas Conference of Urban Counties and the Texas Association of County Auditors. It collected information on the costs of certain unfunded and partially funded mandates and then extrapolated to estimate the annual statewide expenditures by counties for those mandates. The report focuses on the statewide extrapolations to give readers a better grasp of statewide costs incurred by property tax payers. system. Counties fund much of the district court operations (the state pays the base salaries of district court judges), county-level courts (constitutional county court and county courts-at-law), and justice courts. While the state pays the salaries and benefits for district judges, counties pay all personnel and other operating costs plus provide the actual courtrooms and courthouses. Counties also fund county clerk offices, district clerk offices and in smaller counties, the office of the county and district clerk. Prosecutorial offices, those of county attorneys, district attorneys, and criminal district attorneys, receive a large part of their funding from counties, as do lawyers appointed to indigent defendants in criminal cases and FISCAL YEAR FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016 those appointed to represent children and indigent parents COUNTIES COULD FEEL THE SQUEEZE County officials are concerned that proposed revenue caps, like those in Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) will force them to reduce or even eliminate essential services that are not mandated by the state in order to pay for the everincreasing cost of unfunded mandates like those detailed in the survey. Among the essential but not mandated services that could be threatened by a revenue cap are law enforcement patrols, economic development incentives, EMS and VFD funding, and road and infrastructure investments. When you shift more of the cost to the county, it s going to get to the point where, because we have to spend what the state says to, now we ll have to start cutting essential services, Floyd County Judge Marty Lucke told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Now we ll start cutting road service. Now we re going to have to start cutting law enforcement. In smaller counties where we help senior citizens, that ll go away. Revenue caps are based on the assumption that the need for the basic services counties provide is relatively uniform across the state, and steady from year to year. The reality is, local revenue needs often spike above or below proposed revenue limits. According to Sugg, these spikes are caused by numerous factors like local growth spurts, declining local or regional economies, receipts of or reductions in federal grants, new or modified state and federal mandates, and natural disasters or homeland security breaches. in certain Child Protective Services cases. All of those expenses add up. Extrapolating from the expenditures reported by 84 counties shows that statewide expenditures started out at over $1.2 billion dollars, reaching almost $1.6 billion for FY Total estimated expenditures for all 254 counties increased by 20.9 percent from FY 2011 to FY It should be noted that not all counties necessarily included the same types of expenditures to determine their costs for supporting the judicial system, as not every county tracks these expenses in a similar manner. Generally, however, the estimated expenditures provide a helpful assessment of the total county costs for supporting the state s court system. e Total Estimated Expenditures for Supporting the Judicial System For All 254 Counties $1.298 billion $1.293 billion $1.358 billion $1.418 billion $1.477 billion $1.570 billion $0 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 Expenditures 20.9% Increase from FY 2011 to FY 2016 of total estimated expenditures for the judicial system for all 254 counties. MILLIONS PERIOD % CHANGE FY % FY % FY % FY % FY % (800) ENDING UNFUNDED MANDATES Early in the 85th legislative session, Rep. DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne) filed House Joint Resolution 73 (HJR 73), protecting counties and cities from unfunded mandates by restricting the legislature s power to mandate any new requirements of cities and counties without including some sort of funding. HJR 73, unlike a revenue cap, actually goes to the root of the problem. It would put an end to the practice at the Legislature of cost-shifting its responsibilities to downstream local governing entities, Sugg. On May 11, the Texas House of Representatives decisively passed the bill 127 to 18, sending it to the Senate. It was hailed as a major victory for the idea of payas-you-go government. No similar measure has fared this well in the Legislature. Burns bill is not a novel development, and much of the optimism surrounding the bill is tempered by history. In recent memory, Sen. John Carona and representatives Burt Solomons and Garnet Coleman have all filed similar legislation. In all cases, counties signaled strong support for the bills, journalists wrote up stories and commissioners courts passed resolutions in favor of the bills, but despite the groundswell of good press and bipartisan support, the measures all failed. The time is right for this, said Sugg, The conversation about how the Legislature can do its part to help lower property taxes is happening now, and putting an end to unfunded mandates is part of the solution. * MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 33 33

36 REAL NEWS Annual Reports Share County Financial Info and More By Liz Carmack

37 County Magazine The Texas Counties Deliver public information campaign aims to improve the public s understanding of county government and the essential services it provides Texans. This is one in a series of articles highlighting how Texas counties are sharing the county story with the public. Need ideas for how you can share the good news about your county? See texascountiesdeliver for ideas and resources. Let TAC know how what you re doing. us a texascountiesdeliver@ county.org. Texas Counties Deliver. It s time to spread the word! Williamson County budget Officer Ashlie Koenig How do you spend my property tax dollars? Who is my county commissioner? What s the county s tax rate? What county road projects were completed last year? Texans across the state ask county officials and staff a host of common questions such as these. Creative initiatives by Williamson, Potter and Bell counties answer them, through reader-friendly annual reports. All three provide local government transparency and help educate county residents about how county government works and how their tax dollars are spent. Counties that are considering producing something similar can learn from each unique publication. Williamson County s Budget in Brief Ashlie Koenig, Williamson County budget officer, said the county s Budget in Brief aims to deliver a snapshot of information to address taxpayers most frequently asked questions that s easy to understand and easy on the eye. The tri-fold brochure includes statistics about the fast-growing county, including its population trends, unemployment rate, median household income and average home value. County government details presented include the number of county employees, an organization chart of elected and appointed county officials, the names of commissioners court members and a map of county precincts. Colorful charts, bar graphs and data tables present financial information showing where the county gets its revenue and how it spends those funds, including a pie chart that illustrates the various functions of its more than 1,600 employees (public safety, judicial, etc.). A brief description of the COMMIS ISSIONER SIONERS SCOU COURT ,136 38, , , ,755 Additional budget information may be found at Willia mson County, Texas 710 Ma ins St reet, Suite $72,118 $55,653 $51,939 MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 35 35

38 County Magazine budget process is accompanied by an illustrated timeline and an overview of how the county s funds are allocated in the current budget. One of the report s graphics illustrates the average property taxes paid by a Williamson County resident and what proportions are distributed to school districts, the city of Georgetown and the county. An additional chart tracks Williamson County s tax rate over 11 years, and a table provides a comparison of the last three years of the county s revenue by source. Koenig said the brochure, which the county has produced for about six years, is slightly tweaked each year in response to feedback from officials and the public. Over time, they ve been able to add historical data to compare data and trends. The first year, Koenig printed 500 copies, which were distributed within a few months. The print run is now double that to meet demand. Our commissioners court members said when they hand these out (at presentations) the public loves them, Koenig said. It s really been a great thing for the county. It gives us the opportunity to put out valuable information. Koenig now supplies the Georgetown Public Library with copies and hopes to have enough available to stock other libraries across the county. Williamson County Commissioner Valerie Covey said that she distributes the brochure whenever she speaks to groups and refers to it during her presentations. It s well received, she said. I think it s very valuable for a citizen. Williamson County Commissioner Valerie Covey Most people don t know what county government does, Covey said. They don t know how county government is organized, how many employees we have, how big our county is. We re trying to get people interested in what we do and what their tax dollars are paying for. The Potter County Annual Report A few years ago, Potter County Commissioner Mercy Murguia boarded a Southwest Airlines flight and began flipping through a brochure that was in the seat pocket in front of her. The pamphlet s concise writing Potter County Commissioner Mercy Murguia and graphics explained the important parts of the plane. That sparked her imagination. I thought it would be a really neat idea to translate this to county government, she said. We could give people an inside look.. Last year, during half a dozen meetings, she, other county officials and department heads collaborated to produce copy, data and graphics for a brochure; the county enlisted the services of a graphic designer and the Potter County Annual Report was born. The four-page report includes an overview of the commissioners court, briefly details the duties of the county judge and commissioners and includes photos of each. It also provides concise descriptions of 11 county offices, from the Community Supervision and Corrections Department to the District Clerk s Office. Each department drafted its own description. Text was kept short so print could be large and easy to read. Illustrations of the county s numerous facilities also point out the location of each department. The report shows people where everyone is and who to call for what they need, said Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner. It s a helpful tool for the public. Colorful graphics present Potter Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner County s demographics, a breakdown of how the property taxes it collects are distributed, and show county revenue and how funds are spent. Tables on the back page present additional condensed financial information. The idea was to help supplement the information we already have out there, Murguia said. The county provides copies of its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, as well as utility reports, check registers, debt information and more on its website. The idea was two-fold to continue our transparency efforts for constituents, and to have a peoplefriendly version of the financials. The report was designed as a template, so the county can annually update the information easily. It s important for the taxpayers to know what we re doing with their money and this is just one of the ways we can do that, added County Auditor Kerry Hood. 36 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

39 County Magazine The Bell County Road & Bridge Annual Report This publication from the Bell County Road and Bridge Department packs a lot of information into 14 pages. Text, charts, tables and photos report on the department s projects, spending, safety records and more. Readers learn about new construction, reconstruction and road-widening projects, and the county s interlocal agreements with other government entities for road work. The document also highlights specific staff and their accomplishments during the year. The publication outlines (among other things) time and labor costs for mowing, vegetation management, sign maintenance, pipe installation and repairs, and the material costs for each county precinct. In addition, each new piece of equipment purchased is highlighted with a photo and summary of its features and purchase price. County Engineer Bryan Neaves said he works with his department to determine the activities they ll report on. They use Cartegraph to collect Bell County Engineer Bryan Neaves and filter data for the report. Data is tracked daily, then compiled, evaluated and double-checked for accuracy at the end of the year when producing the report. A report of this quality takes time, Neaves said. My staff enjoys being challenged. It builds their knowledge of our operation and makes them see ways to improve our department. The county makes the publication available online and in print. We are on the unit system, so we have a county engineer and unified equipment and crews, said Bell County Judge Jon H. Burrows. The unit system requires us to Bell County Judge Jon H. Burrows work together. An annual plan is the result of that cooperation. More than likely each county has such a plan, though it may be more informal. However, the information is there. Making it available keeps the public informed, but also keeps the court engaged in being sure the plan is always up to date. Neaves said he considered the report a tool officials can use to show their constituents how the county serves them. We want to accurately supply information about the funds used on our road system, said Neaves. People can have confidence that we are wisely spending funds to maintain a system of roads if they can see how we re addressing sing maintenance issues. It is an excellent product that we are proud to make available to the public, Burrows said. The taxpayers WORK PLAN SUMMARY Seal Coat Our Seal Coat plan was presented and approved through Commissioner s Court with great anticipation for another successful year. The Asphalt crew completed over 100 miles of seal coat during the months of April through September. The crew remained productive in the early Spring months despite rainfall. Once the season was underway, the crew was able to gain momentum with prolonged good weather and equipment that ran efficiently. Although the seal coat procedure can be carefully calculated and planned, the overlay asphalt operation serves a complimentary role to improve cross slope prior to coating and is used as needed. An overlay helps create the smooth ride while supporting the side banks of the roadway. Any small cracking, dips, drop- offs or erosion are ideal situations for placing overlay material before coating. The table shows the totals separated between overlay mix used as preparatory material and mix used as routine maintenance. Overall in 2016, 2,727 tons was used as Level-up and 4,604 tons was used for routine maintenance. Year Miles Materials Cost million million million million million million Pct. Pavement Widening 2015 Combined Mix Used (Tons) Pavement widening improves an existing roadway by placing hot mix in small quantities along the edges. The depth and width varies from roadway to roadway. This procedure can be used as a planned project or preventative maintenance. The following table gives a snapshot of the pavement widening operation completed this year. Actual miles were calculated using 1440 tons of materials Asphalt Overlay (Tons) 2016 Routine Maintenance Mix (Tons) 1 2, , , ,492 1,079 1, Pct. Tons Miles* Note: The calculation of miles is based upon a 2 wide by 4 deep patch (volume of mix is 110 lbs./sy.) can see how the road and bridge funds are earmarked to be spent, and can see the long-range plan to maintain and improve all county roads. * 7 Tips for Creating an Annual Report the Public Wants to Read 1. Collaborate on content and collect data. Get input from county departments and county officials to identify the publication s contents. Identify taxpayers most frequently asked questions and try to answer them. Involve departments that collect the data needed. Seek input from the public about what else to include. 2. Don t reinvent the wheel. Take inspiration from what other counties have done, then customize your county s report as needed. 3. Collect daily data for a department report. Use a software database to collect and filter data about your department s activities. 4. Use illustrations and keep text short. Incorporate illustrations to quickly get your message across. Use photos of projects taken during the year. Report data in pie charts, graphs and tables. Write concisely. 5. Create a template. The first report may take longer to develop, but it will make annual updates easier. 6. Present draft report to the commissioners court. We had some great suggestions made by our court that made it a better document, Koenig said. 7. Distribute several ways. Put copies in the courthouse and county offices. Place in public libraries. Share copies with high school students during career days. Hand out during public presentations. Post on your county s website. Don t forget to provide copies to all county officials and departments. MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 37 37

40 County Magazine 2016 County Best Practices Award Winners The County Best Practices Awards Program recognizes accomplishments and best practices in county government. The 2016 winners will be highlighted throughout 2017 in County magazine. Learn more about the winners at WINNER: TARRANT COUNTY EARNS 3 BEST PRACTICES AWARDS Tarrant County recognized a need to better inform students about county government, improve efficiency and accuracy in the county tax office and honor United States military personnel. In response, it developed three innovative programs that have been selected by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) to receive 2016 County Best Practices Awards. The three Tarrant County programs receiving awards: 38 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

41 County Magazine Honorary Jurors Program More than 400 students from 20 Tarrant County schools better understand the justice of the peace and constable s official duties thanks to the county s Honorary Jurors Program. Tarrant County Justice of the Peace (Pct. 5) Sergio L. De Leon welcomes elementary and secondary students from his precinct into his court to view actual proceedings, invites them to participate in a mock trial and provides tours of his office and that of Constable (Pct. 5) Ruben Garcia. The program, which works closely with the Fort Worth Independent School District, has received overwhelming positive responses from students, educators and the community. Cash Balancing Standardization Project The Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector s office developed new tools and procedures for use across its eight locations to improve management of county funds. The tools make the office s cash balancing process more manageable and the reconciliation of funds in the accounting department much easier. Trained staff follow standardized instruction quick cards that make it easier to identify and locate accounting errors. Since the tools implementation, the office challenged the county s bank five times on shortages that had been adjusted out of the county s account. After providing detailed supporting documentation available through the new tools, the bank returned funds to the county. Armed Forces First Initiative Several thousand military personnel are stationed at the Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base in Tarrant County. The county wanted to honor them by allowing personnel wearing military uniform the ability to move to the front of a line when queuing for county services. Implementation of the county-wide policy was easy and inexpensive and garnered overwhelming support from the community. Tarrant County s innovative programs deliver great value to the community in so many ways, said TAC Executive Director Gene Terry. We hope these awards will inspire other counties to follow suit with their own initiatives. Tarrant County was one of more than 15 counties across Texas selected by TAC to receive a Best Practices Award. MAY/JUN. Jan/Feb county.org/magazine 39 39

42 Information Program Data about counties, by County Information Program Senior Analyst Tim Brown Wide Opne Spaces: Open Space Land Appraisals In the past, we ve looked at how property tax exemptions affect total taxable value by county. 1 This time, let s drill down and look at one of those exemptions, specifically the agricultural exemption, in more detail. At least every other year, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts must conduct a ratio study of each appraisal district to find out how closely the districts appraised values match up with the values as determined by the Comptroller. That is an oversimplification; for more information see the Comptroller s publication, The Property Value Study and How to Protest. 2 What interests us is that in order to prepare that study, properties in each county are divided up into property use categories one of which is open space land. That seems like a fairly simple title, open space land. You might think it included farms and ranches, which it does. But you might also think it would include empty lots or even parking lots anything without an actual building on it. But that would be incorrect. Generally, to qualify for open-space appraisal, the land must be currently devoted principally to agricultural use to the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area. 3 The Texas Constitution address qualifications for agricultural appraisal in two different sections. It defines agricultural use in Article VIII, Section 1-d which requires a property owner to show farming or ranching as his or her primary occupation and source of income. According to the Comptroller, very few property owners qualify based on this definition. The majority of land receiving agricultural appraisal falls under Article VIII, Section 1-d-1, also known as openspace valuation. Open Space Land: Change in Market Value Change % % % % % Agricultural use can vary from producing crops, livestock or timber to wildlife management. 4 Minimum standards vary from county to county on, for example, the number of acres in wheat production or the number of goats required to qualify as agricultural use. To see what standards exist in your county, be sure to check with your appraisal district. 5 County Information Program, Texas Association of Counties What makes open space land an important category is that appraisers must use a special appraisal methodology for these properties. Qualified open-space land is appraised at its productivity value rather than at its market value. In general, this results in a considerable reduction in taxable value which means property taxes are also considerably reduced. Change in Lost Value due to Agricultural Appraisal Change % % % % ,260.0% County Information Program, Texas Association of Counties 40 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

43 Data about counties, by County Information Program Senior Analyst Tim Brown Information Program Open Space Land: Change in Qualifying Acreage Change % % % % ,486.50% Thus, the many references to the agricultural or Ag exemption. But no actual exemption exists. The reduced property taxes result solely from the use of a different appraisal methodology. However, what we want to look at is not the taxes on these properties, but how this category has changed. The first map shows the change in the market value of open space land by county from 2005 to 2015 according to data reported to the Comptroller. 6 As might be expected, most counties showed an increase in the total market value of open space land over this 10- year period. Market value is the value of the property after it is appraised but before that value has been adjusted for County Information Program, Texas Association of Counties any exemptions. The next map shows the change in the amount of value lost by appraising the properties as agricultural land instead of appraising the properties based on their highest and best use as all other properties are (except for residential homesteads). Counties shown in shades of blue lost more value due to properties qualifying for agricultural appraisal in 2015 than they lost in Interestingly, some counties, such as Cameron and El Paso, which experienced a loss in market value of open space lands actually saw an increase in the value lost to the agricultural appraisal. While the value of the properties increased in these counties, the amount of taxable value lost due to agricultural appraisal increased even faster. Increasing property values that result in an increase in the value lost to the agricultural exemption is not altogether surprising. But the third map shows something that is surprising the total number of acres classified as open space land increased from 2005 to 2015 in many counties. We would expect that large urban counties like Tarrant and Harris lost open space land due to urban sprawl. Many people might not even be surprised to find that many smaller, rural counties such as Castro and Reeves also lost open space land, particularly when those counties are near urban areas. However, the number of acres that qualify for agricultural appraisal varies from year to year in every county. A review of the change in qualifying acreage for every county from 2004 to 2015 found only 12 instances where a county reported the same number of acres in consecutive years. In many cases, the changes ranged into the tens of thousands of acres; and, often, the changes exceeded 100,000 acres. The 12,486.5 percent (522,685 acres) increase in Goliad apparently resulted from a change in how the appraisal district was categorizing properties in Something similar happened in 2007 which accounts for the 34.5 percent (143,402 acres) increase in Martin County. * 1 Most recently in Total Market Value Lost to Property Tax Exemptions in the January 2015 edition of County Magazine available online at Tex. Tax Code 23.51(1) 4 For more information, see the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts publication , Property Tax Basics. Available online at 5 Contact information can be found on the Comptroller s web site ( 6 The 2015 data is the most current available; 2016 property tax data is currently being collected by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. MAY/JUN county.org/magazine 41

44 SUPPORTING THOSE WHO SERVE cira.state.tx.us * county.org * (800) County Information Resources Agency (CIRA) The County Information Resources Agency (CIRA) services more than 140 counties and local governments in Texas by providing technology services and resources including: Website hosting services Website creation Domain name registration and hosting Ability to collect payment of taxes, fees, etc. County management of website content For more information on CIRA, visit (800)

45 Events and education for counties Calendar of Events Note: More information regarding events can be found online via the TAC Education Calendar, MAY , 59th Annual County Auditors Institute and New County Auditors Training DoubleTree Hotel North, 6505 IH-35 North, Austin, (844) For more information contact Tom Dupnick at (830) , Probate Academy Overton Hotel and Conference Center, 2322 Mac Davis Ln., Lubbock, (806) For more information contact Allyssa Lee at (512) , North and East Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Annual Conference and Business Meeting Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Beaumont, 3950 I-10 South & Walden Rd., Beaumont, (409) For more information contact Michele Ewerz at (800) , Leadership Module 2 Hanger Hotel, 155 Airport Rd., Fredericksburg, (844) For more information contact Haley Click at (800) JUNE , Tax Assessor-Collectors Association Annual Conference Hyatt Regency Houston, 1200 Louisiana St., Houston, (713) For more information contact Ashley Royer at (800) , South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, 900 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, (361) For more information contact Chrystal Checketts at the V.G. Young Institute of County Government at (979) , Conference of the County Investment Academy Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel, Convention Center and Spa, 7600 John Q Hammons Dr., Frisco, (972) For more information contact Deanna Auert at (800) , 122nd Annual County and District Clerks Association of Texas Conference Hotel Isla Grand Beach Resort, 500 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, (956) For more information contact Luz Hinojosa at (800) , 73rd Annual Education Conference of the Justice of the Peace and Constables Association Omni Austin at South Park, 4140 Governors Row, Austin, For more information contact Luz Hinojosa at (800) JULY , Emerging Legal Trends in Law Enforcement Workshop Waxahachie Civic Center, 2000 Civic Center Ln., Waxahachie. For more information, contact your Law Enforcement Consultant at (800) , Emerging Legal Trends in Law Enforcement Workshop Abilene Civic Center, 100 N. 6th St., Abilene. For more information, please contact your Law Enforcement Consultant at (800) , NACo Annual Conference and Exposition Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St., Columbus, (614) For more information contact NACo at (202) AuctioneerExp A uc ctionee tione ee erre Express.com Ex E xp x press.com pr p rre es e ss s s..c s co om o m m Online Auctions GOVERNMENTAL - MUNICIPALITY - PRIVATE PARTY + Specialties: Online & Live Auctions for Counties-CitiesGovernmental Entities + Our goal: to get you the HIGHEST RETURN FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT & SURPLUS + Sold at your location + Reasonable reserve on items allowed, if desired + Also, bid on other counties surplus equipment on our online site Texas Auctioneer Lic. # , Impaired Driving Symposium Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd., Bastrop, (512) For more information, contact Laura Tolin at (800) , 139th Annual Sheriffs Training Conference & Expo Gaylord Texas Grapevine Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trl., Grapevine, (817) For more information contact the Sheriffs Association of Texas at (512) August , TAC Regional Pool Workshop Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center, 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Georgetown, (737) For more information, contact Ashley Royer or Amy Lawson at (800) , TAC Regional Pool Workshop Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel & Conference Center, 1101 Woodlawn Ave., Georgetown, (737) For more information, contact Ashley Royer or Amy Lawson at (800) , Emerging Legal Trends in Law Enforcement Workshop Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Center, 100 Grand Blvd., Longview. For more information, please contact your Law Enforcement Consultant at (800) , Emerging Legal Trends in Law Enforcement Workshop Walker County Storm Shelter - Veterans Complex, 445 State Hwy 75 North, Huntsville. For more information, please contact your Law Enforcement Consultant at (800) September , TAC Regional Pool Workshop Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, 900 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, (361) For more information, contact Ashley Royer or Amy Lawson at (800) , Fall Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association Conference Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd W, Amarillo, (806) For more information contact Michele Ewerz at (800) , 69th Annual County Treasurers Association of Texas Conference Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria, Dallas Parkway, Dallas, (972) For more information contact Deanna Auert at (800) MAY/JUN county.org/magazine 43

46 NEWTON A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE GRAYSON DENTON COLLIN denton TARRANT dallas DALLAS Providing emergency & non-emergency care to CORYELL LAMPASAS SAN SABA BELL WILLIAMSON TRAVIS FALLS WALKER MONTGOMERY TYLER HARDIN JASPER Millions of Texans HAYS KENDALL COMAL BASTROP HARRIS LIBERTY JEFFERSON ORANGE MEDINA BEXAR GUADALUPE FORT BEND CHAMBERS BRAZORIA GALVESTON FRIO ATASCOSA LIVE OAK BEE UPDATED 12/15 Nationally Accredited/ Employee Owned Acadian.com/Texas

47 TCDRS ANNUAL CONFERENCE This year s speaker lineup will help you live longer, be happier and get your organization ready for what s next. 10 YEARS That s how much time Health Improvement Expert David Meinz says you can add to your life by following his simple steps. 20 YEARS That s how many years Burnout Expert Mark Yarbrough worked as a district attorney before he personally burned out. But in learning to successfully overcome it, he launched a new career. 10 YEARS $50 That s how many years it took Futurist Thomas Frey to build an enormous following due to his highly accurate ability to predict the future and its impact on business. That s how much you ll save if you register by July 5 at Reserve your hotel room by July 5 to receive the special rate of $141 per night. JULY 26 28, 2017 SHERATON AUSTIN

48 Newsfeed County Magazine top postings These are the top postings for TAC s Facebook and Twitter accounts last month. Like TAC on Facebook at facebook.com/texascounties and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/ TexasCounties. Readings Research, articles, publications and websites FROM THE FRIO TO DEL RIO: TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE WESTERN HILL COUNTRY AND THE LOWER PECOS CANYONLANDS By Mary S. Black Each year, more than 2 million visitors enjoy the attractions of the Western Hill Country, with Uvalde as its portal, and the lower Pecos River canyonlands, which stretch roughly along US 90 from Brackettville, through Del Rio, and on to the west. Amistad National Recreation Area, the Judge Roy Bean Visitors Center and Botanical Garden, Seminole Canyon State Park, and the Briscoe-Garner Museum in Uvalde, along with ghost towns, ancient rock art, sweeping vistas, and unique flora and fauna, are just a few of the features that make this distinctive section of the Lone Star State an enticing destination. Now, veteran writer, blogger and educator Mary S. Black serves up the best of this region s special adventures and secret treasures. From the Frio to Del Rio is full of helpful maps, colorful photography and tips on where to stay, what to do and how to get there. In addition there are details for 10 scenic routes, 3 historic forts and 7 state parks and other recreation areas. Texas A&M University Press THIS LAND: AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT Photographs by Jack Spencer; foreword by Jon Meacham Created across 13 years, 48 states and 80,000 miles, this startlingly fresh photographic portrait of the American landscape shares artistic affinities with the works of such American masters as Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Mark Rothko and Albert Bierstadt. University of Texas Press TEXAS SPORTS: UNFORGETTABLE STORIES FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR By Chad S. Conine When it comes to sports, Texas more than earns its bragging rights. The Lone Star State has produced championship teams and legendary athletes not only in football, baseball, and basketball, but in dozens of other sports as well. Texas Sports celebrates more than a century of achievements in a day-by-day record of the people and events both unforgettable and little-known that have made Texas a powerhouse in the world of sports. Chad S. Conine packs a wealth of sports facts and stories into 366 days. Conine covers more than 25 sports and all levels ls from high school to professional, reminding us that if Texas had never seen a pigskin or a backboard, its sports legacy would still be secure. With a winning combination of victories and heartbreaks, men s and women s sports, and all regions of the state, Texas Sports is a must-read for all sports fans and trivia buffs. University of Texas Press. 46 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

49 LUNCHEONS WITH LEGISLATORS Join TAC s Core Legislative Group To schedule a luncheon with your legislators or to join the Core Legislative Group, contact Legislative Group Coordinator Rhita Koches at RhitaK@county.org (800) county.org

50 Last Look County Magazine Lightning Strike! Chapel Hill Firefighter Adam Moore examines a tree that had been struck by lightning as a nearby shed full of firewood burns shortly before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, The tree is located off of County Road 219, behind Mink Plumbing outside of Tyler, Texas. * Photo by Smith County Fire Marshal Connie McCoy-Wasson. County officials and employees (and anyone else in a Texas county) are encouraged to their high-resolution photographs for publication in Last Look to County Managing Editor Anna McGarity at annam@county.org. Please make sure to write about the events behind the photograph why the picture was taken, what makes the moment or memory special, or what can t be seen in the shot. 48 MAY/JUN county.org/magazine

51 2017 Impaired Driving Symposium July REGISTER NOW Anatomy of an Impaired Driving Case: Arrest to Disposition Texas judiciary members, you are invited to attend the 2017 Impaired Driving Symposium, a TxDOT-sponsored conference, brought to you by the Texas Association of Counties, Texas Center for the Judiciary, Texas Justice Court Training Center, and the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center. This joint program brings together judges of all levels to discuss impaired driving issues. Topics will include Setting Bail and Bond Conditions, Challenges and Solutions of Drugged Driving, Occupational Drivers Licenses, Legislative Updates and more. Registration and Information on Reimbursement is available at the following websites: Constitutional County Judges: Register with the Texas Association of Counties at Appellate, District Court, Statutory County Court Judges: Register with the Texas Center for the Judiciary at Justices of the Peace: Register with the Texas Justice Court Training Center at Municipal Judges: Register with the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center at For this conference, hotel reservations will be made through a rooming list. Hotel reservations will be made by the organization with whom you are registering. Please do not call the hotel directly. Hotel Info Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road Lost Pines, TX 78612

52 TEXAS ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES 1210 SAN ANTONIO STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID AUSTIN, TEXAS PERMIT NO Legislative Conference August / Hilton Austin Connect / Learn / Exchange The Legislature is back in Austin, hard at work. Attend TAC s Legislative Conference this August to learn the details about what they did and didn t do during the 85th legislative session. Register now to join your colleagues from across the state. You ll get to network with your county government experts about the issues that affect your county and your constituents. IT PAYS TO CONNECT. Invite your legislator to join you at no cost. If they attend as your guest, TAC will reimburse your Reimbursements will be provided after the conference. (One reimbursement awarded per legislator). Visit Today To Register And Book Your Room (800) county.org