In December 2020, Cooke County Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) posted the following on social media: “Congratulations to EMT of the Year Adam Arendt. Adam has been serving the citizens of Cooke County for 11 years. Adam will be leaving CCEMS on Jan. 1 to continue his service to Cooke County as a County Commissioner. Good luck Adam!” Arendt started with Cooke County … [Read more...] about Cooke County Commissioner Brings Previous Experience to Court
Feature Story
Elections Administrator
KEY QUESTION: How does a county create the position of an elections administrator? REFERENCE POINTS: Texas Election Code Title 3, Election Officers and Observers. Chapter 31, Officers to Administer Elections, Subchapters B, C & D. TALKING POINTS: The County Commissioners Court creates the position of elections administrator and sets the salary by written order. … [Read more...] about Elections Administrator
Resolution Spotlight: Indigent Defense
The Texas Fair Defense Act of 2001 requires all Texas courts to establish procedures to provide court-appointed lawyers to indigent defendants. This legislation also established the Task Force on Indigent Defense, now the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC or Commission) to oversee indigent defense services and provide state grants to counties. Half of all criminal … [Read more...] about Resolution Spotlight: Indigent Defense
County Appraisal Districts
What Are They If Not County Offices?
Confusion has reigned since 1979 about exactly what Texas County (or Central) Appraisal Districts are, what they do, and who is in charge. To understand, you have to go back to “the way it used to be.” Before 1979, state law provided for each local taxing unit to do its own appraisal of properties within the unit’s boundaries. A single property would be appraised separately … [Read more...] about County Appraisal Districts
Tax Assessor-Collector Roles and Responsibilities
A primary responsibility of the tax assessor-collector is to calculate and bill property taxes to provide revenue for county and local jurisdiction budgets, unless this responsibility is contracted to another entity. Tax assessor-collectors are also agents of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, assisting citizens with registration renewals and title transfers of motor … [Read more...] about Tax Assessor-Collector Roles and Responsibilities