Commissioners take issue with unfunded mandates

NEW BOSTON, Texas — Bowie County Commissioners took action Monday on opposing additional unfunded state mandates as well as making sure county officials’ voices continue to be heard in Austin.

Commissioners, approved a resolution prohibiting unfunded state imposed mandated government programs on counties to either partially or fully finance.

The resolution states that counties can’t conduct reliable local financial planning if funding obligations from the state continue to set up mandatory government programs, which only receive either partial or no state supported funding. It further states that these shifted financial burdens take a toll on local county finances needed for county operations.

Besides opposing state mandates, the court also approved a resolution opposing state Senate Bill 234 and house Bill 749. A copy of the county’s resolution basically states that both bills attempt to silence the voice input of all the state’s 254 combined counties when it comes to serving community residents themselves.

In other business, court members plan to approve replacing Bowie County resident Barry Telford with county resident Mike Ford for a three-year term on the county’s

Emergency Services District No. 6 Board of Commissioners.

The court also listened to presentation by Boyd London, a bond refinancing adviser with the Dallasbased Hilltop Securities firm.

London told commissioners he may be able secure a lower interest rate for the county as it continues to pay off bonds issued for the U.S. Highway 82 widening project, which took place on the roadway’s ninemile stretch between New Boston and DeKalb, starting in 2012.

London said he would like to see if he can lower the county’s interest rate from just slightly above 3% down to 2% when he meets again with the commissioners on April 26.