Miscellaneous

Comptroller Raises Revenue Estimate by More than $2.8 Billion

September 19, 2018 by Emily Lomax

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar has revised the Certification Revenue Estimate (CRE). In a July 11 letter to state leadership, Hegar said the state will have $110.17 billion in General Revenue-Related (GR-R) funds available for general purpose spending for the 2018-19 biennium, resulting in a projected fiscal 2019 ending balance of $2.67 billion, an increase from the $94 million ending balance projected in the October 2017 CRE. The ending balance does not account for any 2018-19 supplemental appropriations the Legislature may make.

“An economic expansion exceeding our expectations from last year has resulted in revenue collections this fiscal year outpacing CRE projections,” Hegar said. “Texas in particular benefited from rising oil prices and production and the consequent increase in economic activity. The best ongoing indicator of the robust Texas economy is the state’s rate of job growth. Texas added more than 350,000 new jobs in the 12 months ending in May 2018, and the state’s unemployment rate has been at or near historic lows in recent months.”

Through June of fiscal 2018, sales and use tax collections, Texas’ largest source of state tax revenue, are up 10 percent from June of fiscal 2017. The Comptroller increased the sales tax revenue projection for fiscal 2018 by more than $1.2 billion.

Total tax collections through June, buoyed in part by oil and natural gas production tax collections exceeding last year’s totals by more than 50 percent, are up 11.8 percent compared to a year ago. Total GR-R collections are up 9.8 percent compared to last year.

Proposition 7, an amendment to the Texas Constitution approved by Texas voters in 2015, provides that the first $2.5 billion in sales tax collections exceeding $28 billion in any fiscal year be deposited to the State Highway Fund (SHF). Sales tax collections in fiscal 2018 are likely to exceed $30.5 billion, meaning that Hegar will allocate the full $2.5 billion to the SHF from fiscal 2018 collections.

The Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF; the state’s “Rainy Day Fund”) and the SHF both receive funding from oil and natural gas severance taxes. In November 2017, Hegar deposited $734 million in each of those funds. Hegar estimates a deposit of $1.37 billion in each fund in November 2018, up from the October CRE estimate of $777 million. The ESF will have a balance of $11.85 billion at the end of fiscal 2019, the largest ending balance in the fund’s history.

“Though nearly all current economic indicators remain positive and revenue collections have exceeded our previous expectations, there are significant risks to the forecast,” Hegar said. “A trade war, a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement or a significant downturn in the price of oil would reduce our potential economic growth. The current outlook, however, is for continued growth through fiscal 2019 for both the economy and state revenue.”

For more information, please visit the Comptroller’s website at http://bit.ly/2nqDnXB.

Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court

January 8, 2018 by admin

All Regular, Special, Emergency and Executive Session Meetings of the __________ County Commissioners Court will be called and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code.

Regular, Special and Emergency Meetings of the _________ County Commissioners Court are open to the public and to representatives of the press and media. Executive Sessions of the Commissioners Court are not open to the public, the press or the media and only those individuals expressly requested or ordered to be present are allowed to attend Executive Sessions.

The ______________ County Commissioners Court meets in Regular Session on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. In order for a matter or issue to appear as an agenda item on the Agenda of any Regular Meeting of the Commissioners Court, a request must be filed with and approved by at least one member of the Commissioners Court and/or the County Judge by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the Wednesday immediately preceding the next Regular Meeting of the Commissioners Court.

The business of __________ County is conducted by and between the members of the ___________ County Commissioners Court and by those members of the county staff, elected officials, department heads, consultants, experts and/or members of the public requested to be present and participate. While the public is invited to attend all meetings of the Commissioners Court (except Executive Sessions) the public’s participation therein is limited to that of observees unless a member (or members) of the public is requested to address the Commissioners Court on a particular issue (or issues) or unless the member (or members) of the public completes a Public Participation Form and submits same to the county clerk prior to the time the agenda item (or items) is addressed by the Court. A sample of the _______________ County Commissioners Court Public Participation Form is attached hereto as Exhibit “A.”

Each member of the public who appears before the Commissioners Court shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) minutes to make his/her remarks. Time for each speaker shall be maintained by the County Clerk or such other designated representative of the Commissioners Court.

Maximum discussion on any agenda item, regardless of the number of members of the public wishing to address the Commissioners Court on such agenda item (or items) shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes. In the event that more than six (6) members of the public wish to address a particular agenda item (or items), then only the first six (6) members of the public recognized to speak shall be divided equally between those members of the public wishing to speak for the agenda item (or items) and those members of the public wishing to speak against the agenda item (or items).

In matters of exceptional interest, the Court may, by the majority vote of the members of the Court in attendance at the meeting, either shorten or lengthen the time allocated for a particular member of the public, all members of the public and/or the amount of time allocated for all agenda items and/or a specific agenda item.

It is the intention of the Court to provide an open access to the citizens of __________ County to address the Commissioners Court and to express themselves on issues of county government. Members of the public are reminded that the ________________ County Commissioners Court is a Constitutional Court, with both judicial and legislative powers, created under Article V, Section 1 and Section 18 of the Texas Constitution. As a Constitutional Court, the ______________ County Commissioners Court also possesses the power to issue a Contempt of Court Citation under Section 81.024 of the Texas Local Government Code. Accordingly, all members of the public in attendance at any Regular, Special and/or Emergency meeting of the Court shall conduct themselves with proper respect and decorum in speaking to, and/or addressing the Court; in participating in public discussions before the Court; and in all actions in the presence of the Court. Proper attire for men, women and children is mandatory. Those members of the public who are inappropriately attired and/or who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered to leave the meeting. Refusal to abide by the Court’s order and/or continued disruption of the meeting may result in a Contempt of Court Citation.

It is not the intention of the ________________ County Commissioners Court to provide a public forum for the demeaning of any individual or group. Neither is it the intention of the Court to allow a member (or members) of the public to insult the honesty and/or integrity of the Court, as a body, or any member or members of the Court, individually or collectively. Accordingly, profane, insulting or threatening language directed toward the Court and/or any person in the Court’s presence and/or racial, ethnic, or gender slurs or epithets will not be tolerated. Violation of these rules may result in the following sanctions:

cancellation of a speaker’s remaining time;
removal from the Commissioners Courtroom;
a Contempt Citation; and/or
such other civil and/or criminal sanctions as may be authorized under the Constitution, Statutes and Codes of the State of Texas.

The County Judge is the presiding officer of the _____________ County Commissioners Court and is a fully participating member thereof. In the event of the absence of the County Judge, the senior member of the Commissioners Court (in terms of total number of years as an elected representative) present at the Regular, Special, Emergency meeting or Executive Session, shall serve as the Judge Pro-Tem of the Court. However, nothing herein shall prevent the senior member of this Commissioners Court from delegating this duty to another member of the Commissioners Court.

The County Judge (or the designated Judge Pro-Tem of the Commissioners Court), as presiding officer of the Commissioners Court, is responsible for conducting all meetings and members of the public who have properly completed a Public Participation Form and submitted same to the County Clerk must wait to be recognized before they will be allowed to address the Court.

Special rules for the press and media:

No media personnel or equipment, including lights, cameras or microphones will be located on the Commissioners Court bench nor closer than five (5′) feet in front of the Commissioners Court bench.

Reporters and media technicians are required to structure their movements, equipment setup and take-down and adjustments, etc., in such a manner as to not disrupt the Commissioners Court deliberations or the ability of the public to see, hear, and participate in the proceedings.

Interview shall not be conducted inside the Commissioners Courtroom during the time the Court is in session.

Media interviews which are conducted outside the Commissioners Courtroom should be conducted in such a manner that the interview does not disturb, impede or disrupt the proceedings of any regular, special, or emergency and/or executive session of the court.

The Sheriff of ______________ County, Texas, or his designated deputy, shall serve as the bailiff at all regular, special, and emergency meetings of the Court. However, in the event of the absence of the sheriff, or in the event that there exists a conflict of interest between the sheriff, any member of the sheriff’s department, and the Commissioners Court, or in the event of an Executive session of the Court in which the Sheriff is not an authorized participant, then in such event, the Court shall appoint such other commissioned peace officers to serve as bailiff as may be necessary.
From time to time, the Commissioners Court shall conduct town meetings and public hearings. These rules of procedure, conduct and decorum shall also apply to such town meetings and public hearings; however, the Commissioners Court may adopt such additional and supplemental rules for such meetings as may be necessary and appropriate to conduct such meetings in an orderly, efficient and proper manner.

These Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the _____________ County Commissioners Court shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the Court and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by a majority vote of the Commissioners Court.

2015-16 County Improvement Project Report

December 8, 2016 by Emily Lomax

The County Improvement Project is a fellowship program meant to stimulate ideas and encourage thoughtful answers to shared challenges. The program is sponsored by the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas in partnership with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s V.G. Young Institute of County Government. Project findings are presented at the CJCAT Annual State Conference.

Project Title: Social Media & Smart Communities – A County Perspective

Project Leader: Richard Michael Yawn, Director of the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics at Sam Houston State University

Richard Michael Yawn presents his County Improvement Project Report on Social Media at the Opening General Session of the State Conference in Galveston.

I. Summary:

Despite extensive use by the general public, county governments have been slow to adopt social media and smart technologies designed for local government. Currently, for example, only about a third of county governments in Texas have adopted a Facebook page, and fewer counties have adopted other forms of social media for communicating with constituents. Over the course of more than a year, I met with or presented to the following for the purpose of learning about or promoting the use of technology at the county level:

More than 100 city and county officials;
More than a dozen Councils of Government Officials (COGs) from seven separate COGs as well as the Texas Conference of Urban Counties and the Texas Association of Counties;
More than 100 state legislative staff and state legislators.

Consistent with research showing that earlier innovations – even if limited in scope – produce far-reaching consequences, this research assesses the current usage of social media and smart technologies by county government; provides a guide for implementing social media policy; and offers a glimpse of smart technologies currently used by local governments in Texas and the United States.

II.Current Use of Social Media (Facebook):

At least 123 different federal government entities use social media as part of their communication efforts. The seven statewide executive offices in Texas government also use social media. The most widely used of these social media is Facebook, which is used by almost 70 percent of the American public. But only 13 percent of Texas counties have general Facebook accounts, and only 33 percent of Texas counties have any presence on the nation’s most popular social media network.

Although counties may not be expected to have the same presence on social media as state or federal level offices, it is worth noting that 72 percent and 95 percent of Oklahoma and Arkansas counties, respectively, have some presence on Facebook.

Figure 1. Percentage of Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Counties with a Facebook Page.

Such a presence is not only important to reinforce the “county brand,” facilitate communications with constituents, and promote transparency, but a county’s use of Facebook also paves the way for additional technologies that can greatly enhance service efficiencies.

In discussions with government officials, the two most commonly cited reasons for the lack of county engagement with social media included: (1) a lack of knowledge of media technology and (2) a perceived lack of relevance to county functions and responsibilities. The following sections provide information on implementing a social media policy and offer examples of how more advanced technology can be used at the local level.

III. Determining a Social Media Strategy

In the process of adopting social media tools for official business, agencies need to address the issues of utilizing social media in a governmental context. A strategy that includes policies and procedures governing the use – and users – of existing and emerging technologies can benefit government organizations in multiple ways. The following sections provide further guidance for those just getting started with the discussion and decision-making part of developing a social media strategy.

A well-designed social media strategy should:

Be simple – complicated programs are hard to implement and manage;
Address requirements for records retention and responses to external requests for information;
Use existing or current capabilities (tools, people, etc.);
Allow connection to the community in a straightforward and efficient manner; and
Answer the following questions:
- Why do you want to establish a social media program?
- What are your goals and objectives?
- Who is your audience?
- How will you interact with your audience?

IV. Drafting a Social Media Policy

Once you’ve determined your agency’s social media strategy, the next step is to create clear documentation outlining the rules of social media interaction internal and external to the organization. Below is a list of “best practices” to guide you in such a policy:

Begin with a Social Media Inventory:

What sites are currently being used by your organizations? What policies are currently in place to guide users? Are the sites and the policies consistent across offices? In the plural-executive world of county government, it may not be feasible to create a single brand for all county-wide offices, but a discussion of common objectives and user-policies is desirable.

Even if no agreement can be reached on common policies for all county offices, legal counsel may prohibit practices that can create liabilities for the county. In a best-case scenario, offices may agree on broad practices that can provide a more consistent “brand” and format for the entire organization, promoting a more user-friendly experience for constituents.

Employee Access to Internet and Social Media Sites:

In reviewing the organization’s policy, two questions should be asked: (1) are there any restrictions on which Internet sites employees should access while at work; and (2) are there any restrictions on what content employees can post, even if they are posting such content as an individual rather than as a government employee?

While governing employees’ use of social media and the Internet is not directly related to the county organization’s use of social media for branding and other official purposes, the two are topically related, and counties may wish to include the former policy into the latter. Also, it is important to note that the lines between personal and professional social media sites overlap considerably, making hard-and-fast distinctions difficult. If you choose a policy including restrictions on personal use of the Internet, you should develop penalties associated with violations of the policy.

Managing the Official County’s Social Media Account(s):

Creating a social media account generally grants the user a range of tools and capabilities for that site (e.g., posting information). Without clearly-defined account management policy, agency leaders may lose touch with the number or type of social media accounts being created by the organization’s personnel, so it is critical to outline roles and permissions with respect to social media accounts created on behalf of the agency or one of its departments. Questions to ask include:

Which social media sites fit into the county’s strategy?
Who are authorized users of each of these sites?
Do authorized users need permission prior to posting specific information?
What is the policy for changing passwords when users are “de-authorized” (such as when they are no longer employed by the county or when their roles change)?

Beyond authorized users, an effective social media policy allows for regular updates, as well as for policies for interacting with citizens. Although there is no minimum requirement for posting on social media sites, studies show that consistent and regular postings are most effective at creating followers and interaction. Additionally, S.M. Zavattaro suggests these four tips for social media posts and management:

Maintain a consistent identity and voice;
Develop and maintain a positive tone;
Post strategically, with an eye toward the audience you wish to target; and
Evaluate social media performance.

Security:

Although all government offices should have security policies in place for software accounts, social media may require additional security efforts. County governments should consider issues such as how often passwords should be changed, the complexity of the passwords, rules for downloading documents from social media sites, and the like.

Retention & Archiving:

Because social media providers are owned by third-parties and because their content can be deleted, government agencies are also challenged to formulate procedures for capturing and archiving records as required by law. While many possibilities exist for capture and retention (including screenshots or printing hard copies), third-party vendors can capture web material and archive it in a searchable database. Indeed, Austin uses such a system to allow constituents to search through all social media records! (http://www.austintexas.gov/page/social-media-archive).

V. Exploring and Developing Mobile Apps & Technologies

Even as the technology involved in online and mobile government services moves at a break-neck speed, some basic principles about the quality of that service have held up well.

The mobile application development tips included in the Government Technology article by Brian Heaton (posted online August 7, 2012) were written seemingly light-years ago in technology-years, but they still pertain to public servants hoping to adopt new technologies.

http://www.govtech.com/e-government/7-Mobile-App-Development-Tips.html

Depending on your County’s goals, the specific mobile application solution may vary from something off-the-shelf to a custom design. Whatever you choose, these seven rules should help keep your implementation on track:

“Keep it simple.” Many people think that one application can do everything; this isn’t necessarily the case. Sometimes, you may need multiple solutions or separate systems to handle the different items on your list.
“Be open to ideas.” Open dialogue with other departments, citizens and other potential users to help drive the function and form of the application.
“Know your audience.” Mobile solutions are used more heavily by people below the poverty line, and also by the younger generations. Be sure to keep your various constituent groups in mind.
“Make it relevant.” What are the issues your community is facing? Be sure to match the response or solution to the actual issue, not just a symptom.
“Location, location, location.” It’s not just a mantra for selecting real estate. Don’t lose out on potentially valuable GIS location information.
“Data integration.” Systems that work together seamlessly make everyone happier, from the citizen users to the programmers to the customer service providers to administrators. Design an application that works – and works well – with your existing systems.
“Cross-platform support.” Again, be sure to keep your constituent groups in mind. Maybe one solution won’t solve all problems.

With these guidelines in mind, I’ve highlighted a few of the “smart technologies” being used across the country. While these apps may not be appropriate for your jurisdiction (indeed, some were selected for inclusion simply because of their novelty), they may provide examples of the diverse and innovative solutions available to governments in 2016.

SeeClickFix
- Android, iOS
- San Mateo County, CA; Pinellas County, FL; Howard County, MD (TellHoCO); Houston, TX (Houston 311)
- Used by both cities and counties, this app allows people to instantly communicate problems, such as potholes, graffiti, or cracks in the sidewalk, directly to the right person in the local government.
- See video/ad: https://gov.seeclickfix.com/
- See the TellHoCo story: https://gov.seeclickfix.com/solutions/howard-county-md/

CCSO Tips
- iOS
- Collin County, TX
- The CCSO Tips app provides citizens the ability to submit anonymous tips to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, even allowing for anonymous two-way communication. A submitter can also upload photos.

Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court Election Results
- Touch Studios, LLC
- Android, Blackberry, iOS
- Jefferson Parish, LA
- Allows citizens to access election results of Jefferson Parish, LA in real-time, with data searchable by election date, candidate, office or proposition.
iCitizen
- This app is a “nonpartisan civic engagement app that facilitates open communication and collaboration between citizens and their elected leaders to shape the policies that affect their lives.” Track trends; communicate; raise the flag on pressing issues; gather support; stay in touch with your local government.
- See: https://www.icitizen.com/

Street Bump
- iOS
- Only in Boston MA
- This clever app allows its users to simply lay their phone in their cars and drive around their neighborhoods. Any time their car “bumps,” such as when going over a pothole, the app recognizes the jarring. Using GPS, it puts a marker on the bump, which is then sent to the city of Boston. Once enough data has been collected to verify that it is in fact a problem in need of fixing, workers are sent to fix the bump. Those who report bumps earn “street cred” as well, again, making a game out of civic involvement.
- http://www.streetbump.org/

VI. Conclusion

Texas counties currently lag behind adjacent states in adopting popular social media. The purpose of this research is to:

Encourage counties to assess and inventory the usage of such media by their employees and elected officials. Even if a county-wide adoption is not imminent for specific counties, ensuring consistent (and legal) usage for those employees within the county who do use such media is imperative.
Provide a guidebook for county adoption, implementation, management and retention of social media.
Offer examples of technological applications (apps) that can be used by local governments to promote (1) citizen engagement, (2) safety, (3) election management, (4) communication, and (5) transportation.

The complete report to the V.G. Young Institute may be accessed at:

http://vgyi.tamu.edu/county-improvement-project-vgyi-fellowship/.

Precious Perspective

July 15, 2016 by Emily Lomax

During the writing of this article in mid-June, the town of Wimberley in Hays County was once again under a flash flood watch, which included the following warning: “Very saturated soils will further enhance the possibility for flash flooding and increase the likelihood of rapid flooding.”

RAPID FLOODING. The first-year anniversary of the catastrophic Blanco River Memorial Day 2015 weekend flood has just passed, and to some the words RAPID FLOODING still elicit a physiological response.

One can only imagine the tears and chills still felt by those directly affected by tragic loss. Last year the eyes of the nation turned toward Hays County during the heartbreaking search for the missing, including eight weekenders who vanished into the bulging river after roaring waters pulled their vacation home off its pilings and into the river, where it eventually crashed into a bridge. The lone survivor, Jonathan McComb, lost his wife, Laura Schultz McComb, 6-year-old son Andrew and 4-year-old daughter Leighton in the floods. Jonathan’s father, former Nueces County Commissioner Joe McComb, was by his son’s hospital bedside during the search for his daughter-in-law and grandchildren and provided periodic updates to the media. While Laura and Andrew were eventually found, Leighton’s body was never recovered.

One Year Later

Over 12 months have passed, and the following statistic is still difficult to believe: The Blanco River at Wimberley rose more than 30 feet in less than three hours and set a new record high crest of 40-plus feet before floodwaters disabled the flood gauge.

Jackson County Judge Dennis Simons’ vacation home sits up on a bluff some 2 miles downriver from the home that plunged into the waters. There were 10 sleeping in the Simons’ home that same evening: Dennis and his wife, Kay; their daughter Ann, her husband and their two daughters, ages 8 and 11; and another couple with two small children. The Simons’ other daughter and family were set to arrive the next day.

Rain had been falling on and off most of the afternoon that Saturday, May 23, Judge Simons recalled, but the drops didn’t put a damper on the group’s outdoor activities.

“In fact, Wimberley just received between 3 inches and 4 inches of rain that day,” Simons detailed. As night fell, the rain fell harder, “but not at an alarming rate.

“After dark we began receiving flood alerts on our cell phones and were cautiously watching the river, but it was barely out of its banks and was not rising that fast,” Simons shared. “We had no idea of the wall of water that was coming toward us.”

The couple and their houseguests retired about 11 p.m., but Simons woke up about midnight when the electricity went out. At first, everything was calm and quiet.

“As I was trying to go back to sleep, I started hearing strange banging noises outside and could not figure out what it was,” Simons remembered. “When I got up, I discovered that our dog houses were floating and banging against the side of the house. I knew the water was higher than I had ever seen it before and thought that the worst was over and it would begin receding. The rain had stopped, and nobody thought it would rise any higher. At that point it had about 5 more feet to rise and get into the house.”

About 1 a.m. Dennis and Kay noticed that the water was continuing to rise very rapidly.

“Kay and I got everyone up, and they were outside and in the cars in a matter of minutes. Kay went back to the bedroom to get her purse. At that point, the water was a few inches deep in the house,” Simons recounted. “She got disoriented in the dark and couldn’t find the door to get out. The water rushing in had closed it behind her. I managed to get the door open and lodged a piece of furniture in it to keep it open. By the time we both got out of the house, the water was up to our knees and still rising.”

Sights and Sounds

The Simons household along with some 15-20 other families in the area along with their pets evacuated to a ranch across the road from their homes. They also drove their vehicles to higher ground, some 250 yards behind the row of homes.

“After we got settled in everyone got very quiet. You could hear the roar of the river, but you also could hear loud creaking and popping sounds, along with the sound of breaking glass. We could only imagine what was happening.”

The group sat in collective shock in the pitch black while sleep eluded them.

“There was nothing to do but wait,” Simons recalled, “and we had no idea what was waiting for us. Our family was all together, and that’s all that mattered.”

Sometime between 3:30 or 4 a.m., the water began to recede, and Dennis Simons, his daughter and son-in-law walked back to the home with flashlights. Still, they were not able to accurately survey the damage until about 6:15 a.m. when the sun began to rise.

Evacuees started driving slowly back toward their homes; while the river continued to roar, the waters had receded well below their homes.

“Everyone drove up to the flooded houses and stood in silence to take it all in,” Simons recounted. “It was hard to comprehend what we were seeing. Houses were either severely damaged or completely gone. Trees down or uprooted.”

Specifically, the Simons’ home was still standing and structurally sound, but all of the windows were knocked out, and 6 feet of rushing water had gone through their home. Many of their belongings had washed out of the windows into the river, and what remained was destroyed.

However, most importantly, no one was hurt.

The Simons are now in the process of rebuilding their home, which had to be stripped down to the studs on the inside and will require new electricity, air, appliances, cabinets, etc.

“Fortunately, this was a weekend house and not our home,” Simons indicated. “We have been inconvenienced, but that is nothing compared to some neighbors that have been living in campers while their rebuild is being completed. Our project is coming to an end and should be completed within the next month.”

In the weeks and months following Memorial Day, Dennis and Kay Simons realized just how close they came to being trapped in the home.

“The more time we have had to reflect on it, the more thankful we are that our family was safe and uninjured,” Simons declared.

The family was also thankful and touched by the outpouring of help from volunteers throughout the state.

“They showed by the busload for several weeks after the flood to help with cleanup,” Simons detailed. “They helped remove all of the personal items from the house, shoveled mud, removed carpet, sheetrock, appliances. – basically they were there to do whatever was necessary.”

Other groups provided both the flood victims and volunteers with hot meals, water and cleaning supplies.

“It restored our faith in humanity to know that so many people cared and were willing to sacrifice their time and energy to help strangers in a time of need,” Simons remarked.

When it comes to lessons learned, Simons said he “will never take flood warnings lightly again and will always have an evacuation plan in mind.”

During the hours leading up to the historic flood, the Simons received warnings of flooding and calls for evacuations on both their cell phones and landlines.

However, like the majority along the banks that night, the Simons were confident that their home would be safe.

“Nobody envisioned the magnitude of the flood, since it was a historical flood,” Simons stated. “All of the people along the river had seen the Blanco flood over the years and felt confident that the river would never rise that additional 10 or 15 feet that it did.”

While their weekend home was lost and their belongings – including pictures and family keepsakes – were destroyed, Dennis and Kay Simons are incredibly thankful. Ten people were sleeping in the Simons home that night, and all 10 survived.

“Events like this make you realize how precious family is,” Simons shared, “and how family should never be taken for granted.

Rain Drops Keep Falling…

December 1, 2015 by Emily Lomax

Rain Drops Keep Falling…

Does This Mean the Drought is Over?

An Update From the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)

As of Nov. 9, the State of Texas reported drought conditions in 4 percent of the state, down from the previous week when slightly less than 16 of the state experienced drought conditions. Every Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor posts the most updated conditions for the state, available at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?TX.

For years, water has been cited as a top concern in the Lone Star State. But in light of the recent rains and flooding, is water still a problem? According to the TWDB, the answer is “both yes and no.” Parts of Texas received little to no rainfall in the last few weeks. As of press time, there were reservoirs in the San Angelo area that were very low.

Even when Texas is drought free, the next drought is usually right around the corner. That is why at the TWDB, “we plan for the drought of record, which took place from 1950-1957.”

How Can Counties Help?

Interested parties within each county are encouraged to contact their regional planning group to get involved in the planning process. There are 16 regional planning groups around the state that are made up of about 20 members representing interests groups such as agriculture, industry, environment, water utilities and others. The 16 regional planning groups each create a regional water plan that they submit to the TWDB every five years. The regional water plans are then compiled to create the Texas State Water Plan. The next round of regional plans are due to the TWDB by Dec. 1, and the new Texas State Water Plan will be published in 2017. You can read more about the planning process at the following link: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/waterplanning/rwp/index.asp

In addition to participating in the regional planning process, officials should encourage residents to continue to conserve water and to make good water habits a daily part of their life. This includes simple tasks such as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, not taking long showers, and minimizing the use of outdoor sprinklers. It’s also important to continue to educate people on the importance of water conservation. At the TWDB, we are exploring many innovative water technologies, such as desalination and reuse, to continue to create new water sources for the people of Texas.

What is the Latest Information on the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT)?

The Texas Legislature created SWIFT to provide affordable, ongoing state financial assistance for projects in the state water plan. Passed by the Legislature and approved by Texas voters through a constitutional amendment, SWIFT helps communities develop and optimize water supplies at cost-effective rates. The program provides low-interest loans, extended repayment terms, deferral of loan repayments, and incremental repurchase terms for projects with state ownership aspects. The TWDB approved the first round of SWIFT projects earlier this year. This first round will finance 30 projects, which are being sponsored by 20 different entities. The total amount of financial assistance for the first round is approximately $900 million. The TWDB will open the 2016 funding cycle for SWIFT on Dec. 1, 2015.

You can view the 2015 SWIFT commitments at the following link:

http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/SWIFT/doc/SWIFT_Commitments.pdf.

Back for Seconds: SWIFT Applications Open Dec. 1

By Bech Bruun, Chairman, Texas Water Development Board

Follow Bech @twdb_bech

Earlier this year, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved its first-ever round of financial assistance for water projects from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program. The total amount of financial assistance for SWIFT projects in 2015 is approximately $900 million, which surpassed our projection of an initial funding cycle of $800 million. The TWDB estimates the 20 project sponsors will save more than $106 million on their 30 projects through the SWIFT program’s cost-effective financing.

Now we’re ready to approve more financial assistance for even more water projects across the state. On Dec. 1, 2015, the application period for the second round of financial assistance through the SWIFT program will open. Entities will have until Feb. 5, 2016, to submit the preliminary, two-page application.

The SWIFT program was created in 2013 when the Texas Legislature authorized a one-time transfer of $2 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to create a financial tool for financing projects in the Texas state water plan. The voters of Texas overwhelmingly approved the creation of the SWIFT program in November of that year.

Once the SWIFT program was approved, the next step was for the TWDB to develop rules on how projects would be prioritized and how the funds would be administered. Board members and staff traveled the state meeting with stakeholders and water user groups and soliciting public comment through Board meetings and work sessions. In November 2014, the TWDB adopted the rules for implementing the SWIFT program and opened the first-ever SWIFT application period.

In our first round of SWIFT program funding, we approved projects for transmission lines, wells, land acquisition, seawater desalination, brackish groundwater desalination, canal linings, reservoirs, and metering systems. The sponsors for these projects serve 40 counties in West, North, East, South, and Central Texas.

Now we want to make an even bigger impact. Our State Water Plan tells us by the year 2060, water demand will increase by 22 percent, but our existing supply of water will decrease by about 10 percent. Without implementing new water management strategies, we will not have enough water during times of drought, which, in Texas, tends to be more often than not. This past summer and fall illustrates the wild swings of Texas’ drought conditions. The state went from experiencing two brief, drought-free weeks this summer, to 50 percent of the state back in drought in mid-October, and then down to 16 percent in drought as of Oct. 29, 2015.

To meet our growing water demand, we need to develop water projects that will increase or maximize our existing water supply. The 2012 State Water Plan identifies hundreds of projects with a total capital cost of $53 billion. Water providers will need nearly $27 billion of that total capital cost in state financial assistance, hence the importance of SWIFT. The $2 billion from the SWIFT program will be leveraged with revenue bonds over the next 50 years to finance approximately $27 billion in water supply projects.

Voter support for the SWIFT program demonstrates Texans know how critical water is to our future. Investing in our state’s water infrastructure over the next 50 years will ensure that Texas remains the country’s most influential economic force.

Without water, we lose the ability to power our businesses, homes, and communities. With water, we continue to attract talented industry leaders, families, tourists, businesses, and employees.

As Texas continues to grow, our expanding population continues to need more and more water. It is vital that we take steps now, like utilizing the funding available from the TWDB through SWIFT and our other financial assistance programs, to make sure the demands of the future aren’t limited by our current water infrastructure.

Of the 9 million acre-feet in additional water supplies that would be provided by the water projects recommended in the 2012 State Water Plan, about 34 percent would come from conservation and reuse, another 34 percent from providing additional infrastructure for existing water supplies, and about 32 percent from developing new water supplies.

As chairman of the TWDB, I travel across the state talking to representatives of counties, cities, towns, utilities, authorities, districts, and other water providers about the financing options we can provide. My fellow TWDB Board member Kathleen Jackson meets with countless community leaders and citizens of this state who are concerned about the future of water. Our hope is that every square inch of Texas will benefit from these historic water development efforts. Tis the season for low-interest financial assistance, and as the saying goes, the more the merrier!

To apply for funding from the SWIFT program or the TWDB’s other financial assistance programs, please visit the TWDB’s financial assistance page at www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/index.asp or contact the TWDB at 512-463-0991 or Financial_Assistance@twdb.texas.gov. HH

Bech Bruun was appointed chairman of the Texas Water Development Board by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 10, 2015. He has served as a board member of the TWDB since Sept. 1, 2013. The TWDB mission is to provide leadership, information, education, and support for planning, financial assistance, and outreach for the conservation and responsible development of water for Texas.

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