Commissioners to propose tax rate with possible increase

Aug. 07--Ector County commissioners will propose a tax rate and set public hearings Monday after a week of trying to negotiate a budget that was proposed at a $6 million deficit.

County Judge Ron Eckert proposed $60.5 million in expenditures despite a projected dip in revenues, even with a possible tax rate increase.

In the proposed budget, only about 20 departments out of 94 saw a decrease in their expenditures, and some of them by only hundreds of dollars.

The budget would leave the county with about $6.3 million in the fund balance, which would be down from a $12 million fund balance passed a year ago.

Among the decreases in revenue include the lack of a $1.3 million insurance settlement the county received last year, fewer justice grants from previous years and nearly $800,000 less in ad valorem taxes.

County officials have yet to finalize updated numbers after commissioners and department heads met throughout the week to work on the budget.

Commissioners also will:

-- Receive a presentation from Mark Mounts with Primerica regarding a retirement benefit for Ector County.

-- Consider a resolution requesting legislators to pass a law allowing Ector County to issue regulations concerning game room operations.

-- Consider a joint resolution with the City of Odessa for the Nov. 8 general election and approve people to serve as ballot board and early voting clerks.

-- Receive an update on building maintenance projects.

-- Consider bid specifications on fire extinguisher services.

-- Consider bid specifications on district court records and trial exhibits storage.

-- Consider the master service agreement with American Crane & Equipment Inc.

-- Consider a contract for professional services between Ector County and Allison, Bass and Magee LLP for assistance with various legal issues as they arise, including reviewing and responding to public information act requests.

-- Consider Certification Form 1 and TIP List No. 13 Project List.

-- Consider the purchasing cooperative interlocal agreement with Midland County.

-- Consider an engineering agreement with LCA for a traffic study associated with the planning, development and analysis of a potential reliever route to 42nd Street involving the extension of Yukon Road.

-- Consider the Nieto MHRC Development Plan.

-- Consider Oncor's request for an easement through Ector County property.

-- Consider a replat in Section 32 and 41, block 43.

-- Consider the placement of 35 mph speed limit signs at eastbound Trunk Street and Loop 338; westbound Trunk Street and Solo Road; northbound Solo Road and Interstate 20 service road; southbound Pronto Avenue and Cargo Road; northbound Pronto Avenue and Trunk Street; and Trunk Street between Proctor Avenue and Pronto Avenue eastbound and westbound.

-- Consider the consent agenda: move $1,155 from Meteor Crater fund electricity to Meteor Crater fund building materials.

-- Consider a $3,500 budget amendment from unreserved fund balance to general fund other general expense.

-- Consider a $1,800 budget amendment to elections fund educational travel and Chapter 19 revenues.

-- Consider a $38,989 budget amendment to airport fund insurance proceeds and special departmental equipment.

-- Consider the accounts payable fund requirements report for Aug. 8 and review county financial statements and reports.

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