The Hockley County Commissioners’ Court held a meeting in the Hockley County Courthouse on Monday, approving an extension to Hockley County’s Disaster Declaration among other housekeeping items.
The Disaster Declaration from May 2024 has been extended until Nov. 30 to help with FEMA’s involvement in individually assistance for community members. It is the fourth extension and renewal.
According to the Court, FEMA has identified 49 people to provide help to. Hockley County Judge Sharla Baldridge informed the Court that more details will be forthcoming as FEMA makes them available.
Other approved agenda items included Ad Valorem tax refund for Levelland Chevrolet Buick and the Final Plat for Quail Road Estates.
Additionally, all monthly bills and claims submitted to the Court through the meeting date were approved.
The Court also held a regular meeting on Aug. 19 regarding multiple budget items, including the 2024-2025 tax rate and 2025 budget.
The Court approved a tax rate of .481462 for the 2024-2025 year, which is an increase from the 2023-2024 .473945 rate. The 2025 budget was also approved at the meeting.
According to the meeting’s minutes, the budget will raise $198,995 more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget: a 1.18% increase. Property tax revenue from new property added to the tax roll is to be $182,608.
Additionally, the minutes stated the rate will raise taxes for maintenance and operation on a $100,000 home by approximately $3.62.
Respective public hearings were held on the adoption of the 2025 budget and tax increase before both items were unanimously approved by the Court.
The approved tax rate falls below the voter-approval tax rate, which was set at .488090. The nonew revenue tax rate was .476985.
The Court also unanimously approved to set salaries, expenses and allowances of all elected officials. A $1,000 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to Hockley County employees was approved.
“Salaries are what they were, except for the $1,000 increase across the board for everyone,” said Baldridge.
Baldridge said she felt it was important to increase when they can, especially with the cost of inflation over the last couple of years.
“We like to retain the people we have, and we appreciate what they do,” Baldridge said.
During the meeting, the Judge also said the Court agreed to her request to change the courthouse bailiff position from part-time to full-time after a joint decision with District Court Judge Pat Phelan.
“It’s just a safety precaution we wanna provide for the employees, as well as having a consistent bailiff on duty for us,” Baldridge said.
Funding for the position will come out of County Judge Baldridge and District Court Judge Phelan’s budget, while the sheriff’s office carries commission. The sheriff will have to give their approval.
The Court approved the reimbursement of Investigator Troy Tillman of the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office for an out-of-state Axon Taser Instructor Course.
Baldridge said it was the closest and soonest instructor course and was done in order to provide training to officers with the Axon new tasers.
Baldridge said she felt it was a really good budget year overall.
Change over is expected to take place in January as a new Hockley County Tax Assessor Collector, Hockley County District Attorney and Hockley County Sheriff will be their terms stemming from the past years election.
With those changes, Baldridge explained that the Court felt more comfortable keeping a similar budget with out major changes.
Cost adjustments were made to budgets for increasing prices, however, the overall consensus of the group is to let the incoming individuals get a feel for their position and respective needs and then make adjustments in the following year.
“I think that the Court did their due diligence in considering every line item and looking it all over,” Baldridge said, “to make sure that we were providing what everybody needed.”