Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Local News

Discussion

July 2, 2009

Commissioners looking to save money

Holstein says hard decisions will have to be made, preliminary revenue estimates don’t match projected expenses

By Rich Flowers News Editor

The Henderson County Commissioners will be doing some trimming this month during a series of 2010 budget workshops.

County Judge David Holstein said preliminary revenue estimates don’t match projected expenses and the Commissioners Court needs to make some hard decisions about where the funds will be used. The general fund revenue projection is just over $24,342,012 million, Holstein said. That figure could change when Henderson County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Bill Jackson turns in the final property valuations later this month.

“The revenues for 2010 are going to be less than ‘09 and we’re really going to have to work hard to tighten up the budget,” Holstein said.

With the completion of the jail expansion project, the Sheriff’s office will see the largest increase in expenses. Although the county has contracted to receive $38 per inmate to house the out-of-county prisoners, the added number increases expenses. Right now Commissioners can only guess what the total number of prisoners will be in 2010.

“We are ramping up. We now have about 30 out-of-county inmates in,” Holstein said. “The number is increasing. No one expected that we were going to get 150 inmates the day we opened.”

Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt said the jail now has inmates from Smith and Freestone Counties.

“The number changes a little from day to day,” Nutt said.

The county also faces a 7.9 percent increase in health insurance premiums for employees and 7.7 percent for retirees. The increase will be offset somewhat by a $220,258 rebate from the insurer.

The county contracts for health insurance through the Texas Association of Counties Health and Benefits Pool.

Electrical service is another area due to increase. Although across the board consumption is down three percent, but increased fees will drive costs up about 30 percent, Holstein said.

He said the county will meet several times between July 13 and July 17 to complete the major work on the budget.

Department heads will be invited to meet with Commissioners during that time.

Text Only
Local News
  • Mia Orosco wins.jpg 19-year-old wins in competition against best fiddlers

    Mia Orosco wasn’t born with a fiddle in her hand playing a breakdown, but to the crowd at the Athens Old Fiddler’s Reunion it seemed as easy for her as drawing a breath.
    Orosco turned 19 on Wednesday, taking her out of the youth division to compete against the best. She’s only been using her violin in the fiddlin’ style for about five years.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Parking lot altercation leads to arrest

    Athens police, acting on a 911 call, drove up on a an altercation at 505 S. Palestine St. at the Save-a-Dollar parking lot just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

    May 25, 2012

  • One arrested, two released after cocaine discovery

    It probably wasn't the best place to hang out — the Henderson County Judicial Center parking lot on West Corsicana Street — not with a quanity of cocaine inside the console of the car.

    May 25, 2012

  • Primary voting Tuesday

    Ready, set, vote.
    The polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. in the Democratic and Republican Primaries. Henderson County candidates run the gamut from first-timers to long-time incumbents.
    Some county voters will be traveling to new polling places for this round of balloting, after the much-debated redistricting process.

    May 25, 2012

  • Henderson County communities participate in Click It or Ticket

    It's not a good weekend to get out on the state highways without buckling up.
    In fact, that's probably true every weekend.
    But the 11th annual Click It or Ticket Seat Belt Mobilization Campaign is under way, now through June 3, 2012.

    May 25, 2012

  • martha & mary pic.jpg ‘Martha and Mary’

    The Henderson County Performing Arts Center, in conjunction with Elite Barrel Racing, announces the World Premiere of local Playwright R.G. Haynie’s newest play, “Martha and Mary,” on May 31  at 7:30 p.m., with additional shows on June 2, June 7, June 8 and June 9  at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 3 and Sunday, June 10  at the theatre complex, located at 400 Gibson Road in Athens.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • DSC_0043.JPG Slide Show- Old Fiddlers Reunion The Fiddlers Reunion is in full swing around the Athens Courthouse. Final winners and street dance Friday night. Photos by Kathi Nailling

    May 25, 2012

  • Fiddler's1.JPG Fiddlers firing up

    You can get on out of that bed now, and get yourselves down to the courthouse square.
    The fiddlers are firing up, and they'll be going until the clock strikes 12 with the street dance, as the 81st Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion gets into high gear.

    May 24, 2012 2 Photos

  • Rachaelle Browning.jpg Valedictorian & Salutatorian

    The Athens High School Valedictorian of 2012 is Rachaelle Browning. She is the daughter of Wes and Jan Browning. Rachaelle will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2012 and plans to major in Aerospace Engineering.
    Rachaelle has participated in various extracurricular activities throughout high school in preparation for a career in engineering.

    May 24, 2012 2 Photos

  • At the start.JPG 3rd annual Hornet Fun Run continues through today

    Fourth graders participated Thursday in the 3rd Annual Hornet Fun Run at the Cain Center.  Above is the beginning, when the children would run one mile.  At left, Isaac Garcia is shown taking overall first place.  Second place honors for boys went to Armondo Garcia, and Third place Case Friedrich.  Girls first place was Taylor Stiles, second place Veronica Campa and third place honors went to Semia Brazier. See those that placed, both boys and girls, on Page 14. The fifth grade will run today.

    May 24, 2012 4 Photos