Published: September 20, 2008 06:45 pm      

County budget vote Monday

Court will take final action on budget, tax rate

Final approval of Navarro County’s operating budget is expected Monday when the Navarro County Commisioners Court meets in a split, day-night meeting.

Commissioners will convene at 10 a.m. Monday for the first part of its agenda. Two public hearings and the vote on the budget and tax rate for the coming year is part of a 7 p.m. session of the commissioners court.

Several of the items on the court’s morning session agenda are “housekeeping” in nature — mainly, naming replacements for Paula Welch, retired county auditor, on a number of accounts and county policies. Welch left the county last week to take a position as comptroller and complinace officer with a non-profit firm in the Dallas area.

Commissioners will also consider an easement request in Precinct 3, consider closing a portion of NECR 0070 for a bridge repair project, hear the annual soil conservation report, an interlocal agreement with the city of Kerens, and the opening of bids for annual supplies.

The court’s members will also convene in an executive session to discuss pending or anticipated litigation during Monday morning’s meeting.

When the court re-convenes at 7 p.m., public hearings on the county budget and the Preservation and Restoration Records archival plan will be held, followed by votes on both items. Commisioners will also recieve a court order on the auditor’s salary from 13th District Court Judge John Jackson. Jackson, by law, oversees the county auditor’s office.

County Judge H.M. Davenport Jr. said Monday’s evening session was to allow Welch to be in attendance to answer any final questions about the county’s budget before commissioners approve it. Welch’s new position in Dallas began last week, and 7 p.m. was the earliest she could be in attendance for the final budget session.

Jackson has not made a final decision on replacing Welch in the auditor’s post.

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Bob Belcher may be reached via e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com