GROVETON — The spokesman for the Trinity County Jail Committee told the Commissioners Court that it was the decision of the board to move forward with a bond election to build a new jail.
District Attorney Bennie Schiro told the court at the Sept. 24 meeting of the committee’s decision, and that they were mindful of costs related to the election as well as the costs for construction and operation of a new facility.
He also said that there will be public forums to provide county residents with information about all aspects of the process.
“The jail has long been a point of contention, and personal and professional relationships have been strained because of this,” Schiro said.
Commissioner Neal Smith praised Schiro’s mediation with the county and members of the committee.
If an election is approved, it would take place sometime in 2025.
Separately, the court approved its proposed FY 2024-25 budget items, including a tax rate of 53.9 cents per $100 of property valuation, which is the same as last year’s rate.
The budget itself includes income and expenses of $11,995,529.
As part of the new budget, the court approved changing the county’s pay scale to top out at 20 years of service, instead of 15 years, and approved pay scales for the County Auditor and assistant auditors and court coordinators, bailiffs and reporters.
In other business, the court:
