Works continues on ‘21-22 budget

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners continued trimming the budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and got their first look at preliminary tax rate numbers during a meeting held Monday, Aug. 9.

Final tax valuations are still pending from the Shackelford County Appraisal District.

For several hours on Monday, the elected officials continued to chip away at the expense side of the budget, hoping to have a document ready to propose in the next two to three weeks.

In the meantime, they opened bids for the bank depositories and also for repair of a bridge on Caldwell Lane, postponing a decision on the bank depository until the next meeting.

County treasurer Tammy Brown asked for a couple of weeks to review the bank bids from First Financial Bank and First National Bank.

Bridge Repair

One bid from Morales Concrete of Graham was opened to repair concrete under the bridge on CR 179 (Caldwell Lane) in Precinct 2.

A contract was signed with a different company to make repairs to the bridge almost two years ago, but did not complete the job.

The bid approved by commissioners this week totaled $70,800 and specifies that work be completed in four months.

Other Business

•An order was passed establishing the criteria for redistricting in order for the county’s legal consultant to begin the process to see if redistricting will be necessary.

•A HVAC maintenance contract from Cary Services for the Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center for about $7,500 a year was approved, pending a few changes in the contract recommended by county attorney Rollin Rauschl.

•An agreement with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service was accepted, with the new extension agent, Kelsey Bell, taking over her duties on Aug. 16.

•A contract signed July 26 with All Copy of Abilene was voided and a new contract approved that includes 10 leased printers that were originally thought to be owned by the county, along with a correction on the purchase option price of 11 copiers used in the Courthouse and the Law Enforcement Center.