Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

Lawmakers Earmark $25 Million for Courthouse Preservation Program

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     Preservation of Texas’ historic county courthouses fared well in the 86th Legislative Session. The $25 million appropriation for the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) Round XI grant cycle was the largest in 12 years. 

     In addition, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 496 by Sen. Charles Perry and Rep. Andrew Murr. The bill amends existing law to recognize the impact of taxable property values on a county’s ability to pay the required statutory match for a THCPP grant. 

     S.B. 496 codifies a Texas Historical Commission (THC) rulemaking requested by legislators and County Judges and endorsed in 2018 by a THC advisory committee comprised largely of elected county officials. The rulemaking adds a taxable property value element to the scoring criteria for courthouse grants. 

The restored 1916 Lynn County Courthouse in Tahoka was rededicated on July 20. Seen from the northwest corner of the square, this corner had been previously isolated from the courthouse by a street cutting diagonally across the square. The street has been removed, and the “lost” corner is now reunified with the original square. Photo courtesy of the Texas Historical Committee.

     This year marks two decades since the Legislature acted to provide state grants designed to help save these architectural treasures. Statutory protections for Texas’ historic county courthouses date to 1971. 

     In creating the grant program, the Legislature strongly endorsed a county contribution toward the restoration costs and a grant preference for counties able to exceed a 15 percent match. Senate Bill 496 and the 2018 THC rule changes help level the playing field for counties that lack comparable property tax wealth.    

     Through its first decade, THCPP biennial appropriations averaged $57.4 million* and grants led to preservation of 48 historic courthouses. In the 10 years after the economic downturn of 2008, biennial appropriations averaged $17.7 million, and an additional 22 buildings have been fully restored or are in progress. 

     The 2019 appropriation of $25 million is the largest amount since the Legislature appropriated $62 million in 2007. 

     *The 2005 appropriation, $80 million of transportation enhancement funds, was disallowed by the Federal Highway Administration; absent that failed amount, THCPP appropriations in the first 10 years averaged $51.75 million.  

 Round XI Grant Cycle Timeline 

Important dates for the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program’s upcoming $25 million Round XI (FY 2020–21) grant cycle: 

  • October 28 – Round XI grant application available at thc.texas.gov/thcpp. 
  • January 29, 2020 – Grant application workshop in Austin at Real Places conference (learn more at realplaces.us). 
  • March 2, 2020 – Deadline for submitting new or revised master plans and construction documents for final approval by Texas Historical Commission. 
  • April 21, 2020 – Grant application deadline. 
  • July 2020 – Grant awards approved and announced by Texas Historical Commission. 

By Vaughn Aldredge
Government Relations Liaison
Texas Historical Commission