WOODVILLE – The Tyler County Commissioners’ Court got to work on Tuesday morning during a regularly scheduled meeting to approve several measures for the coming fiscal year.
Commissioners and County Judge Milton Powers all voted to adopt the county’s salaries and step plan for the 2027 fiscal year, and the 2027 budget for the county. The budget adopted is based on general fund revenues of $14,499,231.75, which is the same budget bottom line as the 2026 budget.
The commissioners and Judge Powers also all voted for the following tax rates: $0.6550 per every $100 of taxable values for the general fund, being the no-new-revenue rate for the county’s general fund. No new revenue taxation rates, under Texas law, are rates that bring in the same amount of money as the previous year from the same properties. The county’s general fund is based upon a combined $1.4 billion in taxable value with a $9.1 million tax levy.
The county’s market/flood control fund, also under the no-new-revenue rate was adopted as $0.2814 and the Tyler County Hospital Fund was adopted as $0.1959 on a $3,368,541.08 tax levy.
Burn Ban lifted
A burn ban, which was issued by Judge Powers and ratified by the Commissioners Court was lifted last week, due to the plentiful rainfall brought about by Tropical Storm Edouard.
County receives audit results
The county received its audit report from the firm of Pattillo, Brown and Hill, LLP, and earned an “unmodified” opinion, which is the highest opinion for an entity to receive; designating responsible financial practices.
Chris Pruitt from the firm gave an overview to the officials. He pointed out that the general fund is in “great shape” with $7.8 million in unassigned funds.
Fire dept. policy tabled
A draft proposal from the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Justin Dilbeck, which would apply to all volunteer firefighters in the county, if adopted, was tabled on Tuesday.
The proposal, which sought to set oversight and professional standards in vetting potential volunteers, proved controversial, and was the subject of several public comments at last week’s meeting of the Commissioners Court.
The commissioners and Judge Powers agreed that the policy should be the subject of a workshop, which had been scheduled for last Thursday, but had to be cancelled due to the flooding. Powers said the workshop will be rescheduled.
