County to discuss new elections commission
A new elections commission, along with inmate outsourcing to Travis County, is back on Hays County’s docket.
On Tuesday morning, the Hays County Commissioners Court will discuss and take possible action to create a Citizen’s Elections Commission. The agenda item follows last week’s discussion on a possible community elections commission, which concluded after County Judge Ruben Becerra and Precinct 4 Commissioner Walt Smith decided to bring back recommendations at the Sept. 3 meeting.
In other business, the County will consider approval of an updated agreement with Travis County for the outsourcing on Hays County inmates to the Travis County Correctional Complex.
According to the agenda item request, the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement was updated by Travis County to include one change. The change would amend the agreement to raise the per diem rate of outsourcing from $2,000 to $3,500 per day for up to 50 inmates. In other words, the new agreement would cost Hays County $70 per day, per inmate to outsource to Travis County, instead of the previously proposed $40 per day.
A public hearing on the County’s proposed tax rate of 42.37 cents is also slated for Tuesday’s meeting. Following the first hearing, a second public tax rate hearing will be held on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Commissioner's Courtroom.
In other business, Commissioners will consider approving a proclamation declaring September “2019 Hunger Action Month” in Hays County.
According to the proclamation, “Over 1.65 million Texas children live in households that have difficulty providing enough food, and hardworking families must make difficult choices among necessities, such as food, rent, rent, utilities, and medicine.”
Additionally, the Court will hear a presentation Lee McCormick, who will summarize the Texas PACE Authority’s 2019 annual report.
According to their website, the Texas PACE Authority is a “proven financial tool that incentivizes Texas’ property owners to upgrade facility infrastructure with little or no capital outlay. Approved by State legislation and established by your local governments, TX-PACE programs enable owners to lower their operating costs and use the savings to pay for eligible water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects.”
The Hays County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse, 111 San Antonio St.
