Good evening ladies and gentlemen, Debt and County Commissioner's Court for Tuesday, August 18th is now in session. This morning, our indication will be given by Mr. Jack Taylor, a Public Works Construction Coordinator, and our pledges will be led by Rex George, Chief Deputy Chief and Chief of the Sheriff. We will please stand. Good. Let's pray. Father, we are so grateful for your service. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. and our pledges will be led by Rex George, Chief Deputy of the Sheriff, we please stand. Good. Let's pray. Father, we are so grateful for this great nation we live in and the blessings that you have bestowed upon us. Father, we pray that is this court-conducted business tonight that you will bring peace and tranquility. Let us discuss your business and take care of it, Father. Father, again, we're grateful for all we have. We're grateful for this nation, and especially our first responders and our men and women who serve in harm's way. To guard not only our freedom, Father, and our rack to assemble with those of other nations around the world. Bless us and keep us and help us in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Please join me in pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. On of the PIXES flag, and allegiance to the Exist, one state, and God, one indivisible. Thank you, gentlemen. Item one is for public input for items not listed on the agenda. If there's any member of the public that would like to address commissioners court We ask that you please complete a public comment form there available on the side table over here Once you remind everyone to please turn off your cell phones and pages we have The first public comment form that I have is from Mr. Rowan, Acevedo is from Mr. Rowland, Acevedo. If you would come on up to the microphone and good evening thanks for being here today. Good evening Judge Commissioner's Court. Just wanted to brief the court on the request for the burn ban that was brought to Judge Horne this morning by Chief Gonzalez. Wanted to make all aware that the burn ban was requested based on several conditions. One was the increased number of fire calls while law land fires that have increased over the last several weeks to the point now that they've increased at night when historically humidity levels increase. Also the Texas 4 service, the criteria that they utilize is a Keats-Barm drought index which is a scale of 0 to 800. Today the drought index for Denton County was 686 and the forecast takes us between 7 and 800 within the next 14 days. We don't anticipate any appreciable amount of rain that is going to affect that the KBDI and that was the reason for that request. Chief Gonzalez has placed the ratification of that on the agenda for next week, but we wanted to make sure that Commissioner Schourt was briefed. Were there any questions presented to you as to the reason for the request for the burn back? Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay. The next public comment form I have for an item that's not most posted on the agenda. So Mr. Willoughudspitz. Mr. Huskers. Good evening, sir. There's another commissioners. What did you say about the agenda? I said the next public comment form we have for an item not posted on the agenda. Okay. I live at 623 Newton. The compromise about the Confederate monument to turn the water back on and to put a placket out there saying that we will never let this happen again has been removed from the table. We're not going to offer that it wasn't received years it hadn't been received so we're assuming that that's not something you want to do. The National NAVALACP organization has sent their blessings on having it removed. I am the Denton County NAVALACP President. Our organization last Thursday voted to have it removed. And we are waiting for a letter from the National NWACP organization to show that they have decided that's what they would like to have done. We don't, I don't understand why you won't put the item on the agenda. I see what the paper has printed as your reasons for doing that. Let me tell you why we would like for it to be done. When I come to these meetings, there's only one person that speaks and says anything. I happen to know what the rules are about making comments when people speak, and I know that you can make comments. We want to hurt for one person. For political reasons, we'd like to know what the other four of you, what your view is on that Confederate monument. Now that it's been taken office for as a compromise, that compromise has been taken off. What is your view on having it removed to a place where it can be viewed by those who would like to view it and where it's a place where it's historical value can be appreciated by those who like to see that. And the last part is I need to know a number of people that you, that I have to bring up here to tell you who lived in this area, who remembers the fountain from their youth and can attestify, attest to the fact that it was on. The national NAACP organization helped me to see why it is important or why you possibly don't want to say that it was the water was on. The fact that neither race, only one race could drink from those fountains, if that's true. Then it is a racial message, and it should not be erected high on county grounds. If only one race could drink from those fountains. Now, I'm smart enough to know that I've been bringing my African-American brother and sister in up here that you keep saying that they don't remember right and if there's something in other words they got old-timers, old-timers, they can't remember. I just need to know a number, give me a number that you want me to have. Next Tuesday I have two more and I'm going to start bringing white white citizens up here who can attest that the water was on. And again if that water was on it's a racist symbol and it needs to be removed. I have one more public comment for Mr. Smith as asked to speak or just prior to the public hearing so we'll do that a little bit later. Members, first I'd like to go to item 3A on the agenda. 3A is a proof of a resolution recognizing Mindy Smith's retirement in a vast commission or a few callmen to read it and Mindy, come on up to the microphone please. Mandy, I'm sorry, I keep saying Mandy, it's me. This is a Regulation Honor and Management. Microphone is. 23 years of service to Denton County. The Denton County Commissioners Court Denton County, Texas during regular session on the 18th day of August 2015 considered the following resolution. Whereas Mandy Smithers, senior paralegal for the Denton County Sheriff's Office since January 8th in 1992 will retire in August 28th, 2015 after a 23-year career with Denton County and whereas Manny continued training throughout her career and advanced her certifications and skills and whereas during her time with the Denton County Sheriff's Office, Manny received numerous letters of condemnation for her work as a paralegal where she was known for her willingness to help when needed as well as her outstanding performance and professionalism. And whereas during all the time I said service with the Sheriff's Department, Mandy has faithfully and diligently discharged the duties and obligations of the offices entrusted to her. Worked well with her co-workers, including one very good assistant VA. I implemented the policies of the I think there was a little embellishment there. In honorable and responsible manner with diligence for the safety and security of the families and citizens of Denton County. And whereas the citizens of Denton County are grateful to Mandy for entering the call to service for her commitment to duty and for the service she has rendered during her law enforcement career in tenure with Denton County. Now therefore be it resolved the Denton County Commission's Court here in Denton County, Texas, does hereby extend to Mandy our sincere and grateful appreciation for her dedicated service to Denton County. We congratulate her on her well-earned retirement extend our best wishes for to her for continued success happiness and good health in the years to come. And I will so move. I can thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Coleman, second and by Commissioner Marchandt. I'll in favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. I'll play the same name. Motion to discarry unanimous. Thank you. Rex did you learn it? Susan. Andy, for your faithful service, the 23 years, I want to present you this plaque. Thank you. Thank you very much for your service. Andy, did you wish to say anything? Well, most of you all know I prefer to be the person behind the person. It's kind of odd. I've been very nervous all day today thinking that I was going to have to stand up instead of being behind the attorney, handing him things to go do. I am very honored. I have a lot of friends. A former sheriff Parkie is here. Yes. Some a lot of my longtime co-workers are here and I just I'm very happy to have them here and thank you. I had no plans when I was going at to go into law enforcement. I was a fashion merchandising major at TWU and went to Parallegal School and worked for a downtown Dallas law firm. And when the job came up and at the Sheriff's Office, it had a very odd job description. It was like legal something, something. I said, that's a parallegal job. And my husband was kind of didn't quite understand law enforcement and paralegal and heck I didn't either but it was in town I said I'm going to do that and so I stayed there a long time. So we appreciate you doing happy return. Thank you. Okay. I looked up some stuff on Mandy just for fun. Okay. I'll tell you, I don't know if you all know this but she went to TW on an academic and athletic scholarship and she graduated in 86. She's married to Greg who's back there and she has to be wonderful children. Rachel and Sarah who I've known both for a long time since they were in elementary school. She does not look like this but to have done this because she probably went 29 right now many. But she's worked for four different shares including Kirby Robinson, Weldon Lucas, Benny Parkie and Will Travis. And she's worked for roughly, I think, and tried to count six assistant DAs. Joe Bridges, who is a current county court at law judge, me, the longest, Hardie Burke, who did a great job. He worked for him for eight years. She also worked for a court of appeals judge. David Bridges, who was over at the sheriff's department, is now at the Court of Appeals. Claire Yancey and John Biggins. Y'all may not know this but she was a representative to the State Bar Committee for the Legal Assistant Division. One of the things I was really proud of her was when she was working for me in Ditton County, she got her board certification in Civil Trial which is a really big deal for a paralegal to get. She's been involved in lots of soccer or PTA, the Texas Kennel Club, and she was one of the very first people I met when I moved to Denton. She was there when both my kids were born, and she's been a tremendous friend. Get all that? She's still smiling. Exactly. Well, great, right? Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Okay. Members, let's go to item 4A on the agenda. 4A is a public hearing on the proposed and kind of tax rate of 0.2620 per $100 evaluation for tax year 2015, which increased total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding year by 2.397349% above the effective tax rate. In schedule, public hearing to adopt a tax rate for Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 1015 at the Card House on the Square Provincial Commission's courtroom, 110 was taken three second forward. Denton, Texas. We need a motion to go into our public hearing. The move. I'll second. We'll say motion by commissioner March. It's seconded by commissioner Coleman. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Posting a motion does carry. Let's do our public comment form first. Mr. Charlie Smith has asked to speak to us. Good evening, Mr. Smith and thank you for being here Good evening judge and commissioners. I'm Charlie Smith. I don't know if you know me or not But I'm a resident. I'm a taxpayer I'm a voter and I'm an employee of Denton County, off and on for the last 15 years. Most of my life I've lived here in Denton County. This is where my family lives and this is where I will raise my kids. Denton County is my home. I'm here to speak against decreasing the tax in Denton County in favor of keeping it at status quo. increasing the tax in Denton County in favor of keeping it at status quo. Normally, I would be offered to increasing taxes, limiting the power of government, federal, state, and local. And normally, I would advocate thrift and budget spending, but I also believe in paying a fair wage to employees and rewarding dedication of service. fair wage to employees and rewarding dedication of service. Over the years, I've seen county employees, paychecks and benefits shrink more and more each year. The pay grade for sheriff's employees is between 10 and 20% below average according to your own research. Every year you've asked, every year you're asked to help close the gap and pay and make Denton County competitive with all of the municipalities around us. The excuse each year is the same rhetoric over and over. We don't have the money. If a raise is approved more likely than not, you raise the premiums on our insurance towards cancelled out. This decreases the take-home pay year after year. One example is a detention officer in the jail who has dedicated 11 years to this county. Because of higher premiums, several years of service, he has received less money, even though receiving arrays because of higher premiums. For the average citizen, I may come off as another disgruntled employee complaining about my salary that's not happy. But take this into perspective. A 21-year-old with no experience, no training, no certification can be hired on at the City of Denton Police Department making $10,000 more than a veteran Denton County deputy that we have on patrol with 10 years experience. Not to mention they get more affordable insurance. In the past when asked not to raise our insurance premiums or to pay us closer to the local average pay, you have met, you have met it with an attitude of disgust and excuses. Your attitude is if you don't like it, go work somewhere else. That's a dangerous attitude to have and one that does not make Denton County a better place. Denton County is where I live and have made my home. I won't leave. And I don't think asking for decent insurance and pay is unfair. The numbers you put in the budget each year may look good on paper, but I don't think you contemplated the deep impact it has had on the employees of this county. These aren't numbers. These are people. They are the people that educate your children. They are the ones that protect you as you sleep. They are the ones that put themselves in harm's way to shield you from it. They are the ones guarding the murders, the rapists, the chalmalesters, the drug addicts, and psychopaths from society here in our jail. They are the ones that put on a badge knowing its instant target for abuse and hate from a large portion of society. By cutting taxes one cent, you're only decreasing the average mean of around $15 per taxpayer. If you kept the tax rate the same, coupled with the growth of Denton County, you could put Denton County in position to increase benefits and raise employee salaries to a competitive range. I no longer have any trust in this court to look out for my best interest as a citizen, a voter, a taxpayer, or an employer, or employee. And I'm saddened by that fact. Furthermore, I don't expect you to be moved by this speech at all. You have heard this all before and have chosen not to listen. My whole goal is to bring this to light to these issues to light to the voters of Denton County. So they can evaluate who represents them in the next election. Maybe you will listen to them. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your time. Okay. Bonham. Leave your up. Okay. Donna. Leave you. Thank you, Judge and commissioners. I prepared a short PowerPoint presentation for you that gives some specifics about our tax rate and our proposed budget. This is our first public hearing. We will have another public hearing next week at 10 a.m. Just want to point out, Denton Central Prasal District is the body that's been established and they're responsible for praising property in Denton County. The taxing jurisdictions have no control over the specific appraisal of the individual property valuations. And there's contact information listed for the chief appraisal of the individual property valuations. And there's contact information listed for the chief appraisal. We're going to talk a little bit tonight about the effective tax rates. I wanted to describe what that means. It is the right that will provide the taxing unit with approximately the same dollars it had in the year before on properties that are taxed in both years. So basically, truth and taxation is all about the effective rate. If your values increase in the county and a given year, the effective rate will in essence go down. And if the values were to decrease, the effective rate will increase so that we can bring in the same dollars for a year to year. So that's why we're seeing a lower rate this year is based on the status of our economy. There are four principles in truth and taxation. As you know, property owners received notices of their appraised values and estimated taxes that could result from any new value placed on them by the appraisal district. Units must publish its effective and rollback tax rates before adopting the rate and that did run in the paper as well. Notices must be published and the unit must hold two public hearings before we can adopt a tax rate that exceeds the lower of the rollback rate or the effective rate. If a taxing unit adopts the rate that exceeds the rollback rate, voters may petition for an election to limit the rate to the rollback rate. Here's some important property tax dates. I just want to go over it quickly. April 1st, the chief appraiser sends property appraisal notices to single family residences. By May 1st, they have to send notices to any other property requiring notice. There's a deadline for individuals to follow a protest on their specific appraisal, which is May 31st. The appraisal district has until July 25th at such time they are required to certify the appraisal bill and provide that information to all the taxing jurisdictions. And August is where the cities and counties propose tax rates and publish notices and we've all seen all the notices in the paper for the last few weeks and ours has appeared as well. August and September is when you'll see units, texting units, adopting their budgets and their rates. And that gives the Texas SIS or collector the time frame of October, hopefully to get those notices, text statements out and in the mail. There are some specific requirements that come with this. Like we said, the public any increase in the effective rate over the effective rate requires a public hearing. At the conclusion of the final budget workshop that was held on August 4th, the court unanimously voted to propose a rate of 0.2620 and scheduled the two public hearings for tonight and next week. The notice that proposed property tax rate has been advertised and posted according to the provisions of the local government code, so they've appeared in the Ditton Riker Chronicle in August the 10th. This notice was also posted on the main page of the Ditton County website, and will remain posted through our second public hearing next week. Notice was also provided to charter communications, which is the cable station that is running this notice for us as well. This is a free advertisement where they're running that ad 60 seconds. which is the cable station that is running this notice for us as well. This is a free advertisement where they're running that ad 60 seconds. Second period is at least five times a day between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. through August 25th. This is the notice that actually appeared in the paper. It is posted as I mentioned before. The maintenance and operation rate is the component of the rate that will impose taxes needed to fund our maintenance and operation expenditures. So basically it funds everything with the exception of the debt rate. And the debt rate is what we determined is needed to fund our long-term debt service payments for the following year. And the rollback rate, as we mentioned before, is the rate if the unit were to adopt that rate, it exposes the tax rate is 0.192148. The debt rate is 0.069852 and the total proposed rate is 0.2620. Next slide just shows a little further breakdown that compares our current tax rate of .2722 to the effective rate. Again, the effective rate is the rate of 0.2620. And that's over a penny less than our current rate. And just over a half, half a cent above the effective rate. The rollback rate, if we were considering that and we're no more close to that, It would be 0.270034. So the proposed rate is approximately 2.4% about the effective rate. New property value generates new revenue to taxing units. This helps offset property value losses for new exemptions and special appraisal screened the first time during the current year. The taxing unit deducts new property value from the appraised values in the effective rate calculation. So that is additional revenue that the county is able to use to help fund our budget each year. A new property value this year, total approximately $7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 The tax increase above the calculated effective rate. I wanted to show you what the total taxable value in Denton County is. I know you've all heard it before, but I'm not sure the public realizes the taxable value is over $70 billion here in Denton County. The tax living on the effective rate would be $179 million as stated. The rate that we're proposing will provide the county with $183.771.485, which is an increase above the effective rate of $4.3 million. This next chart will show a comparison if we were to compare the effective tax rate to the proposed rate. You'll see the owner of a $100,000 home would pay a difference of 51 cents. The average home value in Denton County is $253,066. So if you compare that, you'll see that the rate is annual impact is $15.52, $4.29 per month. This next chart shows that same comparison, only comparing to the current tax rate. And you'll see if you compare it to the current rate the average home value of 253,000 plus is an is a savings of $25.82 a year or $2.15 a month. The impact of the proposed tax rate using that same average home value, if you compare that just across the line, you'll see the impact on the taxable value, the decrease in the rate and in the property tax levied on that individual piece of property as far as the accounting taxes were concerned. So again, the monthly estimated increases $2.14. The next chart just puts it in perspective just looking at a house. You'll see this compares the current rates for Denton County, Denton Ii, and the City of Denton. And you'll see that the average home value this year is $234,162. County, Texas comprises 11% of that. City of Denton is 27% and the school district tax is 62%. So looking at that same house for this year based on the increased value, you'll see that didn't count as portion actually went down from 11% to 10% and the city of dens went up from 27% to 28%. And again, this is comparing everyone's proposed tax rates for this coming year. This next chart just looks at it from a monthly perspective. You'll see that same house person would pay $55 in county taxes, $325 in school taxes, and $147 in city taxes per month. This is a 10 year tax rate history chart. The proposed rate, as you can see, is actually lower than it was in 2010. You can tell in 2010 through 13, that's when we had a decline in the economy. And as I mentioned before, the rates increase those years because valuations stayed the same or were lowered. So the effective rate came in and helped us fund our budget during those times. But you can see the last couple of years, the economy has kind of turned around. And it's an example here on this chart for you. This chart compares the top 10 Texas counties. These are taxes assessed countywide. And just to be clear, this is not just showing each individual's county taxes. It's showing taxes that are levied in each county, countywide. So for example, in Den County, we only have one tax that's levied countywide, and you'll see our rate is 0.262, that's being proposed, compared to the other nine counties. The other counties include other rates, such as hospital district rates, community college rates, some have port authority districts, flood control districts, et cetera. So this is meant to show that if you live in another county, the suds didn't county, this is what you pay in county-wide taxes. The tax bill comparison here just shows the surrounding counties of Terrent, Dallas, and Culling Counties compared to us. In Terrent County, they have a hospital district, community college, and a water district. And in Dallas County, they have a hospital district and community college, and a water district. And in Dallas County, they have a hospital district and community college. And in calling county, they have a community college district. So you'll see that in Denton County, you would pay $663 a year. If you lived in Dallas and Tarrant, it'd be real close to the same $1,680 estimate, or in calling county $802. So this is a new chart I put in this year I think it's pretty telling as well of the 254 counties in Texas. Only nine have a lower county tax rate than we are proposing. Those do include a couple of our surrounding counties like Collin and Dallas, but then there are some other counties here I didn't even recognize their names. Demet, Martin, Reagan, Wheeler, Karnes, Midland, and Upton. One thing I found interesting was that all county tax rates range anywhere from 12.65 cents to $1.00 in almost 20 cents. The one that's $1.196, I would bet that is Jim Hogg County. Didn't even know if that county existed either. They have a Pog very small population of 5,000 people. They have a general fund tax rate of 80 cents just by itself. They have a special run bridge tax that's 15 cents and a farm to market flood control tax that's almost as much as our county tax rates. So it's very large county they have a lot of area to cover and I realize they've they've got to spend money amongst a lot less citizens so that's just a little interesting bit of information. The average rate of all two and fifty four counties is .5289 compared to our proposal at .2620. And that source came from the State Controllers website. They did list each and every county in the state and a breakdown of their taxes. The top 15 counties by population. This shows to all those counties listed and you'll see that didn't county Has a 2.21 employees per 100,000 I'm sorry per 1000 population in some counties such as Travis they have 4.31 Rosaria has 4.45 etc one for Zoria has 4.45 etc. This puts it in a chart format for you to see Denton Counties per capita for the last 10 years and you'll see that rate is a little bit less than it was last year. Just a quick summary of the budget process. February 17th is when the court established goals and actually kicked off the budget process. March and April departments prepared their budget requests and our office prepared a recommended budget during the months of May and June and presented that to the commissioners court on July the 14th. Budget workshops were held here in Commissioners Court, open to the public July 28th through August 4th on each Tuesday. And again, we're here for the first public hearing tonight and one again next week on the tax rate. And then we're scheduled to adopt the budget and tax rate on September 1. This is just a quick revenue chart to show all of our sources of revenue. You'll see that 71% of our budget is paid for with property taxes. We have fees and fines, intergovernmental, which is basically other, basically grant funding or from other forms of government, auto registrations, fund balance, miscellaneous, etc. This shows an expense summary about function. Again, the budget we're proposing for adoption on the first will be $254 million, $890,520. And this is a breakdown of those services. This next chart just provides individuals with sort of a legend so they can see exactly what comprises each category. This is a quick recap. These are the major changes that are included in our budget. We have a 2% market adjustment for employees and a 3% merit increase. This will be for employees that received an acceptable performance appraisal and were hired before April 1st of this year. The court did take action this year and approved 229 reclassifications. The majority of these were the rank and file deputy clerks administrative specialists that keep the county running and keep the departments running As you know information was presented to you showing that those positions were well below market And that's a first step in the county looking at trying to make adjustments in our employees salaries to get a more competitive to the market We have new building expenses included in our capital replacement fund to help pay for major capital projects in lieu of issuing long-term debt. Again, those numbers are about $3.6 million for the salary increases and about the same amount for new building expenses. We have an increase in debt service payments of almost $2.9 million and I have a slide that will kind of break that down for you in just a minute. We have increased repairs and maintenance basically for our county buildings and other software maintenance expenses as well as ADA repairs. Totally about $1.8 million. There's new hires included in the budget at $1.1 million and again I have a slide that will break that down for you here in a second. We also have radios operating equipment and video equipment included in the budget an impact of $843,000. This includes if I counted correctly 72 in car video systems over 90 radio replacements for public safety. And this would be the first of a phase in approach over the next few years to replace all of our radios that haven't already been replaced with the radio monetization project. I increase computer equipment in software, just as a reminder, we're going to be purchasing computers this year. In the past, we've been leasing them over four-year periods, but it has been determined this would be in the best interest of the county to purchase these computers. So the impact of that is $780,000. We have missling is court expenses. That includes things like court appointed attorney expenses, psychological expenses, counseling fees, et cetera, increasing $660,000. fees, etc., increasing $660,000. Increased utility expenses, total and increased the $433,000. Just electrical loan is up over $4 million. Other miscellaneous expenses, these include things like postage, supplies, training, etc., but we also saw a lot of decreases in the budget as well. And we'll have more specific detail for you at our public hearing on the budget that breaks that out into more detail. But overall, that's a quick summary of an almost $16 million budget increase. I mentioned earlier the new positions that are included in the budget. As you know, departments requested a total of 36.5 new positions of what's being proposed in the budget is 17.5. Included in what we call general administration would be two deputy clerk, two positions, one deputy clerk, three position for the county clerk. This will be for the new offices that will be open in Etheloseville, or Prisntin III government center. Technology services includes two new hires and network engineer and technical services administrator. And the department of public works includes a new construction project manager. In the judicial section, the district clerk is receiving two senior clerks and the death investigations or medical examiners office. They're increasing their part-time medical investigator to full-time status. The county auditor will be receiving an internal audit position. Facilities management will take over the electronics technician position. This was previously included in the technology services budget and duties were shared amongst both departments. So those have been combined for efficiency purposes and will be handled by facilities. Public safety, the county jail received one deputy sheriff transport position. Jail health received two health service specialist positions that will help in the jail intake area. And the sheriff's department received a laboratory manager position. Ag extension, I received a laboratory manager position. Ag extension received a 4-H program coordinator position. Red and bridge received a driver equipment operator 3 position for precinct 1 and then red and bridge precinct 4 received a lead mechanic position. There were two slots deleted from the budget and technology services that helped desk manager position that will be deleted as of November. And then the veterans court grant position was deleted only pending grant award notification. We anticipate receiving that, and if we do, that position, of course, will be reinstated. A quick breakdown of the VOTOR approved road projects. This is a large portion of our proposed tax rate increase is for the VOTOR approved projects. Tripple-8 roads for the county. Signed to the county judge, these are roads that are a major thoroughfare. Fairs throughout the county total 10 point almost $2 million. For precinct one including county roads and trip, what we call trip O8 roads total, $4 million, $496,000. Precinct three was $1 million, $6,000. Precinct 3 was $1,500,000. And precinct 4, County Roads total 10,000,655,000. The Trip 08 Roads total $1.5 million for a total of $12,155,000. So overall total road projects are $28.3 million. We also had technology and building projects that were approved by the voters as well. And again, these were all approved in 2008. And we have been implementing that voter approved debt over several year period and will continue for a few more years. Loop 288 Phase 2 funds have been issued to have the architect design that facility. I said Phase 2, it's actually Phase 3. I'll correct that. That's $3,375,000. The Sheriff's Operations Center in Crime Lab architect $3 million. And the Fiber Optic Construction Project is $1.7 million. So total technology and building projects to be funded are $8.1 million. The next is just a quick recap of all of that to show that the grand total of voter-approved projects total, $36.4 million that will be financed through this next budget process. Again, voter debt was just recently issued. I don't actually think we have the money in hand yet, but it is anticipated, I believe, in the next couple of weeks. Just to recap that election we mentioned, this shows that road projects total $310 million that specific item on the ballot received 68% voter approval. We have issued $259 million about with a balance. I still left an issue of $50 million. So we've issued about 81% of the roadline project funds today. Proposition number two that was on that same ballot was for our building and technology projects that $185 million. That received 52.25% voter approval. We have issued a $126.7 million. Still have a balance of 58.3 million. So we've issued about 46% of our building and technology project funds. Total projects approved by the voters total $495 million. projects approved by the voters total $409,500. Based on our capsule improvement plan, we also proposed in the court issue tax notes this year. These are the projects that were approved. Countywide Network and Telephone Refresh Project at $3.4 million. Security electronic upgrades for the county jail at $1.6 million. The Lee Walker Government Center at $3 million. Pre-trial inmate and transport remodel is just over $1 million. The jail course support renovation project total $741,000. The jail, course, support, renovation project total $741,000. Emergency service is building repairs at $460,000. And precinct for government center at $1.6 million. So total tax notes issued this year will be $11.9 million. $9 million. Just some additional information. As required, we will be filing the proposed budget. It will be available in the budget office, the County Clerk's Office, and the County Auditor's Office for Public Inspection. And we'll also be posted on the main page of our website on Thursday, August 27th. We will have a public hearing on our proposed budget at 10 a.m. on September 1st here in the commissioners courtroom. And as I mentioned before, adoption of the budget is scheduled immediately following that that we're proposing a time of 1015 on September 1st. So we can open this up for any questions or any comments that you have and certainly invite anyone from the public that wants to participate in this public hearing. Thank you, Donna. Is there anyone from the public that would like to address commissioners court on the proposed budget and proposed tax rate? Anyone that would like to address commissioners court on the issue? Any members of the commissioners court that have questions about, I have one thing I'd like to add. And based really on the comments of the gentleman that spoke to us little hologol, after we finished our budget workshop the other day, looked like we had a pretty good feel on just what we're going to be proposing or what we did propose I should say. I put out an email to all county employees and I want to share it with everyone here because I think every member of this court takes very seriously our commitment not only to the taxpayers in the county but to the employees that support the county and everything that we are responsible for doing and well let me just share the suit. I sent this on August 6th, the Thursday. So good and this is addressed to all county employees. Good afternoon. The Budget commissioners court has proposed for 2016 is full of good things for dent county employees. First and foremost, the proposed budget increase, I'm sorry, includes a 2% market increase and a 3% cost of living increase for all employees with at least 6 months of service and a performance appraisal store of at least 2.8. with at least six months of service and a performance appraisal store of at least 2.8. As the largest pay increase, Commissioner's Court has been able to approve since 2001. The pay raise proposed for October 1 represents a big commitment to employees on behalf of Commissioner's Court. In addition, the budget includes increased funds for wellness rewards in the 2016 wellness plan year. Employees who enroll their spouses in the county's insurance plan will also be able to enroll their spouses in the PVC wellness plan. If both the employee and the enrolled spouse are in 300 points each, the employee will get $600 to put into a flexible spending account, a health savings account toward out-of-pocket expenses or to spend however they choose. Also, Commissioner's Court has approved providing employer seed money to an employee's enrolled and a high deductible health plan paired with health savings account. Recognizing that out-of-pocket expenses has an impact on employees this health plan. In this health plan, at the first of the year, the 2016 budget again includes a one-time deposit of $500 for employee only, or $1000 for employee and family in order to build a cash value to pay for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses. In addition to the usual number of job reclassifications and new positions approved annually, the 2016 budget also includes a large number of adjustments for many of the lowest paid employees in DIT and County. Administrative assistance in the deputy clerks. These adjustments came about because those employees pay levels were dramatically below market. The 2016 proposed budget includes $22 million for the employee health insurance program. Although premiums still have to increase, this is a huge investment in Dentville County employee benefits. Court members will hold two public hearings on the budget taxpayers will learn that the tax rate will go down in 2016. We expect that all of the above commitments to employees will remain in the budget when it is adopted after the public hearing. I wanted to bring that to everyone's attention communicate not only what's in the budget and they will do take our employees well-being, you might say, very seriously. We are faced as everybody else is with repercussions from Obamacare in the future. We are insurance plan is considered a Cadillac plan, you know, plan the Cadillac tax is what we're going to get hit with. So we are trying to take steps to adjust for that, for the benefit of employees and for the benefit of the taxpayers. So I appreciate the closest thing to Smith coming and addressing this and taking time to do that. But I will let you know that when I put this email time to do that, but I will let you know that when I put this email out to other county employees, I had an awful lot of county employees respond positively. And I believe I shared a lot of them with you all that it points out to them that our commitment is real. It is heartfelt. We are appreciated and we're doing the best we can to be considered of the taxpayer and of the employees. And that seems to be a fine line to walk. So I just thought I'd share that with everyone. And for those employees that responded, I thank you very much. And are there any other questions or comments or anything anybody wants to add before we thank you? We have a motion to close our public hearing by Commissioner Eid seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye, post a name. Motion does carry. Okay, just to make sure we crossed our keys and votted our eyes, I want to reiterate that just as the posting says here, this public hearing on the proposed rate of 0.2620 per $100 valuation for tax year 2015 would increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding year by 2.397349% above the effective tax rate. We are scheduling the public meeting to adopt the tax rate for Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 1015 AM. In the court, I sign the Square and Commission's courtroom 110 was decreased second for the Texas. And I don't know that we need to vote on that. I mean, probably wouldn't hurt. So move a second of commissioner Ead, solid favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Put us in the statute is just very specific on what has to be stated, how it has to be stated, how it has to be reiterated, right down to the notices in the paper room. What point type it has to be printed in. So I'm just trying to make sure that we've crossed our teeth and dotted our eyes. Thank you down up for your presentation and good information. Okay. Next next week is next. I mean when's your next public next week? September 1st. September 1 is the next public hearing. Actually we have a public hearing next week. Oh a second public hearing on the text, right? You're right. But then the adoption is September 1. OK. I thought it was next week. No, no, no. I'll call in. The adoption will be September 1. Correct. OK. Before we go to our consent agenda, I want to first take up item 8A on the agenda, which is approval of a new effective date for the reclassification of the telecommunication specialist or radio system specialist, slot number 100SO and one one two SO members, are there any questions questions on this I think we've discussed it quite a bit I'm gonna make a motion for approval seconded by Commissioner Marchant hearing no discussion or questions on favor Please say aye aye opposed any motion does carry now we'll go back to our consent agenda We have a motion by Commissioner Eads, seconded by Commissioner Marchant. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye, opposed, aye. Motion does carry. Consent agenda today consists of two, a, which is approval of the order making appointments. We have a rehire in the county jail. We have a lateral transfer for the sheriff's department. We have a new hire in sheriff's telecommunications. We have a new transfer for the sheriff's department. We have a new hire in sheriff telecommunications. We have a new hire in the sheriff's CID. New hire in Constable Prison 4, Promotion of Jubil Probation Services and New hire in Public Health Clinical. 2B is approval of the Intra Department of Transures to see as approval of specifications and authority to advertise for RFQ 08152313 for our contextual services for checks of success ability standards in Americans with disabilities act reimedial updates appointment of evaluation committee to include Beth Fleming director of purchasing Michael Tuyolo director of public work standing brumly director of public facilities where I shake shake. Director of Public Facilities, Murrow's Shake. Shaky. Shaky, thank you. I'll get it out, Civil Attorney, too. 2D is approved of specifications and 30 to advertise for out P-05152305, Print Pre-Sort Services Appointment Evaluation Committee to include Teresa Grabley, Administrative Manager, print mail, Stacy DuVorecheck, chief deputy tax assessor, collector around the Anderson Department Manager, Cundy Clerk, and Cony McKeefe, and the administrative supervisor, community supervision and corrections. To E is approval, to add Danny Brumley, as a member of the valuation committee for RFP 06152308 for construction, Dany County Southwest Courthouse and 2F is approval budget minimum of quest 101 6.0 0 for food for juveniles for juvenile detention at $7,485 in juvenile post-judication at $10,760 for a total amendment of $18,245. Lastly, 2G is approval budget minimum of quest 101 590 for contract labor for road bridge precinct 4 and the amount of $14,000. Okay, 3B is approval of a resolution in support of requesting legislation to provide two emergency judgeships to the Eastern District of Texas. This is short, I'll read it. Resolution in supportive legislation to provide two emergency judgeships to the Eastern District of Texas, Denton County Judicial Home, whereas the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas being fueled by growth in both common event counties will soon surpass the Dallas Division in population. And whereas the Sherman Division is locally under staff, with only two judges compared to the seven judges assigned to the Dallas Division is wo only two judges compared to the seven judges assigned to the Dallas division and recognition that such understaffing will worsen the each passing year as populations surges. And whereas the members of the Eastern District recognize that the judicial infrastructure is at the point of deep stress. Therefore the Dantconic Commissioner's Court of Texas, hereby resolves to request for congressional action to provide for the appointment and support of two emergency judges. It's recommended by the administrative office of the U.S. Court. So chair also moved. Well, second. Seconded by Commissioner Coleman. On favor please say aye. Aye. Opposed to singing. Motion does carry. Everybody is working hard to advocate for that. Much needed. I was at the local rules committee meeting and we had a long discussion about this. Our population is drawing such that we're probably gonna have a bigger population than the Northern District. Yep, that's why it's past time for this. Okay, item five A on the agenda is approval of the bill. It's, why it's past time for this. Okay, item five A on the agenda is approval of the bill. First, payments from the city, community corrections, TAP, shares, training shares, forfeiture, VIT, interest, DHA, check T&D, forfeiture funds are all presented for recording purposes only could evening James Wells. Even judge and commissioners are as approval of bills as presented with the two additions and two violations noted on separate page. I'll move for approval. Thank you. We have a motion by Commissioner Cohn seconded by Commissioner Marchand. Hearing no questions on favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Close to name. Motion is carried. Six A is approval of exemption from bidding for the sole source purchase of software license of professional services agreement between county and Tyler Technology's incorporated for OCR and e-notuses software licenses related services and maintenance support in the amount of one hundred seventeen thousand seven hundred and ninety three dollars Are there questions or do we have a motion Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Marchandt. Hearing no questions on favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Aye. Motion does carry. 6B is approval to declare computer equipment listed in the exhibit A. As surplus transfer of, I'm sorry, approval of transfer and sale agreement between Demkani and Northeast Police Department serving crossroads, career rail for surplus computer equipment in now to $350. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Eads. Are there any questions? Hearing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Motion does carry. Let's sign that, please. Six C is approved of a award to business interior. Your CBI express is the best value supplier for RFP04152303. By board furniture purchased in, we're kind of going to the center precinct for. We'll come, Beth, Fleming. I'm sorry precinct three correct We have a motion by Commissioner Mitchell seconded by commissioner. Did you need dad anything deaf? Thank you any questions You're none all in favor. Please say aye aye Focini Motion this carry 60 60 is approval of master lease purchase agreement with HACAR Financial Corp for the purchase of Ford 2016 Kenworth T800 dump trucks from MHC Kenworth through the corporate purchasing contract. 430-1-3 through by-board in the amount of $484,892.80. So the down payment of $150,000. The funding from Line Item 206725850 Road and Bridge West Least Payments. Motion by Commissioner Ead, seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Questions or comments? Here none on favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, Cine. Motion is carried. here none on favor please say aye aye aye pose in a motion does carry 7a is approval budget may have quest 101 580 to transfer funds from indigent care to jail health prisoner medical expense in the amount of $200,000 other questions on this motion motion by commissioner Eads seconded by Commissioner Marchant hearing the questions. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed, aye. Nane. Motion does carry. 8V is approval. Budget of the Maddenham A request, 101-610 to transfer funds from road and bridge, pressing 4 to text. Transportation grant, Jackson Road in the amount of $39,600. Motion by Commissioner E. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. Are there questions? Any none on favor, please say aye. Aye, post in a motion. Does Carrie said in C is approval of Budget Medical S101620 or for road maintenance equipment to purchase an asphalt milling machine at $438,450 including transfer of $10,000 from road bridge precinct one Unappropriate contingency for a problem in the $448,450 Bedford room. What's the commissioner common seconded by commissioner marching? All in favor please say aye aye post a name Motion carries. Oh, you guys are spending the money, aren't you? Shoot. It is the season, I understand. 70 is approval. Budget member quest 101 630 to transfer funds from tax assessor collector to county wide technology, computer software, and amount of $895. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. In favor, please say aye. Aye, poses. St. Nain. Motion carries. St. Nain Eads approval. Budget of the request, one on one, six, four, zero. For court appointed attorneys, including the transfer funds from non-departmental and appropriated court ordered contingency for a probate court in the amount of $30,000. I'll vote for approval. Motion by Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Marchant. On favor, please say aye. Aye. Posting, aye. Motion carries. We've already done 8a. 9a is discussion and update of arbor viral mosquito-borne disease control. Do you have an update for us, Matt? Quickly, okay. Being judged and commissioners, what we have, what we have as of this morning, in Denton County, the good news continues to be zero human cases of West Nile virus and zero chicken gun, you human cases. We are concerned still about mosquitoes. We have 26 positive mosquito pools. That's an addition of five mosquito pools since last Tuesday. That total six in flower mounds, six in Highland Village, four in Losville, four in Little Elm, two in trophy club, and four with the city of Denton. Texas is really increasing in West Nile virus activity. We have 27 cases in Texas now. That's an additional 10 from last week. In 19 chicken gunnia cases, which are all imported into Texas from other locales, and that's an addition of five since last week. So it's ramping up yet again. Okay. Okay. We don't need any formal action on that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 10A is approval of accepting the final plan for Huntington Ridge Phase III Final Plot Spide in 6 block A and lots 2 and 3 block C. This is in Commissioner Pricington. I'd like to thank our engineering and client department. We took a long time to get all this time, but we got everything fixed out there, so I'll move for approval. Why don't we go ahead and take 10 B at the same time? It's approval of accepting the Huntington Ridge phase two to subdivision into the County maintenance system. How's it going to get them out? Make a motion on both. Thank you. We have motion for approval of 10 A and B of the Commissioner of Commons seconded by Commissioner Marchant. Are there any questions or comments? Here none on the favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed to the Senate. Motion is carried. 13 A is approval of reappointing Ms. Betty prior to the Child Protective Services Board. By approval. Motion by Commissioner Cummins. Seconded by Commissioner Eads. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed to the Senate. Motion is carried. 14 A is approved of the 2015 or local cooperation agreements between Dan and Connie Texas in the town of North Lake for collection of special assessments led by North Lake Public Improvement District number one. North Lake Public Improvement District number two for tax year 2015 is recommended by the Dan and Connie tax successor collector. Motion for approval by Commissioner Eads. the committee. The committee has a committee. The committee has a committee. The committee has a committee. The committee has a committee. The committee has a committee. The committee has a committee. The committee has a committee. Texas and the City of Denton, Texas for the downtown Spur Camer System Project. I move to approval. Thank you. A motion for approval by Commissioner E. Seconded by Commissioner Marchant. Hearing the questions, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Any motion? There's Carrie. 14C is approval is assignment of real property tax abatement agreement with Denton County, Texas on state highway 114 slash Interstate Highway 35 W adventures limited to Whatever WF FB NLT X is LLC as recommend by Denton County Commission in prison for Yeah, I know it's it's clean up. It's clean up of farmers All in favor the motion, please say aye. Opposed say nay nay. Motion carries foreign favor one opposed. I made the motion. Oh, yeah, any need a motion? Who's seconded? Let's put me down. Okay, we'll say Commissioner Thomas seconded it. And it was foreign favor and I was opposed. I'm going to put me down. Okay. We'll say Commissioner, comment seconded it in a four in favor. And I was opposed. Clicking along too fast here. Okay. You okay, Ashley? All right. 14D is approval of the CUC TechShare Juvenile 2013 Resource Sharing Addendum. Amendment number three for continued maintenance and operations for the period of September 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. We'll find it in the amount of $55,246 and four cents how did they come up with that? To come from computer software maintenance, Auditor line item 0166-61275. Thank you. Motion by Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Eads. Other questions? On favor, please say aye. I pose to any motion. This carry 14 E is approval change order number one to the contract between Jago Public Company and Den County, Texas for the country club road reconstruction project in the amount of 153,640 dollars for a total revised amount of $6,471,4411. So funding to come from 2013 PI bond funds, Country Club Road, Auditor, Line-Ned and 7874109060. I'm with her approval. Motion by Commissioner Eiz. Seconded by Commissioner Mitchell. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. seconded by Commissioner Mitchell on favor please say aye aye closing in motion carries I want to remind everyone that August 25th will be a public hearing on the proposed tax rate and schedule announced our meeting to adopt the rate which will adoption will take place at 10th of 1 2015 right here before we adjourn I want everybody to join me in wishing Commissioner Bobby Neucho a happy birthday last Sunday. And if you'll, I know you're anxious to get out of here, but let's all go into the conference room over here and think we have some cupcakes. I think there's a little lemonade. So with that, we're adjourned. Everybody drives safely going home.