Resolution
Appreciation to Hosts and Sponsors
WHEREAS, the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association semi-annual meeting was held on September 30, 2021; and,
WHEREAS, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association in the most efficient and hospitable manner; and
WHEREAS, the law firm of Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott sponsored the catered lunch for the conference attendees and guests; and
WHEREAS, the Panhandle Chapters of the professional associations of County Extension Agents, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and Warren CAT sponsored the breaks for conference attendees and guests; and
WHEREAS, the businesses PurpleWave Auction, iDocket, Jones Enterprises, Computer Transition Services, and American National Leasing Company provided sponsorships for the conference; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association thanks all the hosts, professional associations, sponsors, and vendors cited above for their support and sponsorship of this conference.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Appreciation to Support Organizations
WHEREAS, conducting the business of county government has become so complicated, affecting multi-million-dollar budgets, that it has become imperative that we, as elected officials, have sound, knowledgeable advice and assistance to navigate through the complex maze of state and federal laws, rules and regulations; and,
WHEREAS, the members of the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association wish to acknowledge the expertise of, and thank the staff of, the Texas Association of Counties and its Executive Director, Susan Redford; Mr. Jim Allison, of Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP; the V. G. Young Institute of County Government; the Texas Association of Extension Agents; and, our local Extension Agents who have all been most helpful to county government;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association thanks these individuals and their staffs for their past, present and future help on behalf of county government.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Securing Borders
WHEREAS, illegal immigration poses a threat to security,
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association supports that the highest priority is to secure the borders from all foreign countries; and, urges the state and federal governments to make it a priority to secure the borders from all foreign countries.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
MEMORIAL TO DECEASED OFFICIALS AND FRIENDS
PANHANDLE COUNTY JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION
Whereas, the following highly regarded members and friends of the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association are deceased; and,
Whereas, the association desires to pay appropriate respect to these members and friends; and,
Whereas, since our last conference, Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners have mourned the passing of:
| NAME | OFFICE |
| Jerry Dan Hefley | Wheeler County Judge |
| Buddy Logsdon | Former Hall County Commissioner |
| Larry Don “Shorty” Maddox | Former Hall County Commissioner |
| Ray Allen Ratliff | Former Moore County Judge |
| Billie Faye Schumacher | Former Moore County Judge |
Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association pause for a moment of silence and meditation to honor the memory of these respected individuals.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
RESOLUTION REGARDING MENTALLY ILL DEFENDANTS
WHEREAS, Texas county jails, and especially rural county jails, are not equipped or staffed to handle mentally ill defendants; and,
WHEREAS, the burden of housing mentally ill defendants has caused a hardship on county jail personnel and resulted in a budget strain on rural counties; and,
WHEREAS, the constitutional duty to house and provide services to mentally ill defendants is the responsibility of the State of Texas; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association requests that the State of Texas expeditiously handle cases where defendants have been deemed mentally ill to reduce the financial burden to the county and to provide needed services to mentally ill defendants; and, further requests that the State of Texas reimburse counties and their taxpayers for the costs incurred to provide services for mentally ill defendants.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Resolution Opposing Encroachment on Local Decision Making
WHEREAS, it is detrimental to local county governments when the state or federal government, or any action group or organization, attempts to encroach on local decision making;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association opposes any attempt by the state or federal government, or any action group or organization, to encroach on local decision making.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Resolution Opposing Unfunded and Under-Funded Mandates
WHEREAS, state mandates without funding either increase property taxes or require a county to decrease services;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association supports a state constitutional amendment allowing a state mandate imposed on a county to have effect only if the state provides for payment to the county for the cost of the mandate.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Opposition to Revenue Caps
WHEREAS, 60 percent of the average taxpayer’s property tax burden is due to school taxes while only 14 percent is due to county taxes; and
WHEREAS, revenue caps diminish local decision making and tie the hands of county officials and limit their ability to provide essential services to address the needs and emergencies of their citizens; and
WHEREAS, county government is already struggling to meet the demands of under-funded and unfunded state mandates such as indigent health care, indigent defense and federal mandates such as the Help America Vote Act and the Clean Air Act; and
WHEREAS, the demands on county budgets continue to increase including health care, motor fuel, road materials, and all other products and services purchased by counties; and
WHEREAS, artificial revenue caps result in a shift of taxes from fluctuating properties, such as oil and gas, to those remaining relatively stable in value, such as residential properties; and
WHEREAS, revenue caps will result in a severe impact on county services; and
WHEREAS, revenue cap legislation contains many provisions that will undermine a property tax system based upon fair market value and will result in a distorted, inequitable appraisal scheme under which higher value properties will avoid their fair share of the tax burden; and
WHEREAS, it is inequitable for the Texas Legislature to impose additional revenue caps on local governments without funding, repealing and prohibiting state under-funded and unfunded mandates;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association does hereby express its opposition to revenue cap legislation and its efforts to limit local decision making and does hereby oppose additional revenue caps upon Texas counties, and the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association expresses its deep appreciation to all legislators who oppose these unsound measures.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Support of Increased Funding for Indigent Defense and CPS Cases from the State of Texas
WHEREAS, the U.S. and Texas Constitution require that legal counsel be provided to indigent defendants and CPS cases; and,
WHEREAS, the state has failed to meet its obligation required by the U.S. and Texas Constitution and has mandated that county taxpayers absorb proportionately 88% of the state’s responsibility for indigent defendants and 100% of CPS cases; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association supports the Texas Indigent Defense Commission’s efforts to increase the current funding levels by the State of Texas for indigent defense and provide funding for CPS cases.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Support of Law Enforcement Officials
WHEREAS, our law enforcement community is under attack across the nation; and,
WHEREAS, the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association wants to acknowledge our support for all law enforcement agencies (including Border Patrol and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials); and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association wants to pay our respect to these dedicated public servants, and to express our respect and support as they put their lives in danger to uphold the laws of The State of Texas and the United States Constitution.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Support of Military Troops
WHEREAS, our nation is presently embroiled in a war on terrorism and the security of our nation is a high priority; and,
WHEREAS, it appears that the Biden Administration is supportive of our military troops; and,
WHEREAS, the world is continuing to be a dangerous place; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association, supports our troops in all conflicts in the war on terrorism;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association supports the Biden Administration in its effort to strengthen our military efforts in defending our country and borders.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
Resolution
Resolution in Support of County Local Option Revenue Sources
WHEREAS, county revenue sources are extremely limited; and,
WHEREAS, under current statutes, counties are forced to rely upon property taxes to fund necessary services; and,
WHEREAS, county taxpayers should have the option to adopt a local sales tax, a local severance tax, a local motor fuel tax, an increase in local vehicle registration fees, and other revenue sources to reduce property taxes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas requests that the Legislature amend the tax statutes to allow the adoption of a county local option sales tax, a local option severance tax, a local option motor fuel tax, an increase in local vehicle registration fees, and other revenue sources for the reduction of property taxes without imposing any additional revenue caps.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.
RESOLUTION
Opposition to SB234/HB749 Efforts to Silence County Officials
WHEREAS, S.B. 234/H.B. 749 filed in the 87th Texas Legislature would prohibit county funds from being used to join and support nonprofit county associations that provide collective communication to state legislators; and
WHEREAS, most Texas counties do not engage private lobbyists and only provide a minimal portion of membership dues to nonprofit county associations for legislative communication; and
WHEREAS, “taxpayer funded” lobbying by local governments accounts for less than 10% of total lobbying activity, while corporate and special interest lobbying interests make up 90% of total lobbying activity; and
WHEREAS, the State of Texas, the Texas Legislature, and state agencies actively employ large numbers of taxpayer funded lobbyists to analyze and monitor the thousands of bills filed each legislative session and to advocate for its interests in Washington, yet these bills would deny local communities this same ability while continuing public support of state agency lobbying; and
WHEREAS, prohibiting Texas counties from retaining experienced representation before federal and state legislative bodies and agencies would place our communities at a disadvantage in efforts to obtain and retain federal and state projects and military bases; and
WHEREAS, county officials require the ability to express our positions and information through associations, form a unified voice on the issues important to our communities, and share the associated costs among all counties; and
WHEREAS, it is a false claim that taxpayer funded lobbying works against the interest of taxpayers. Indeed, a priority of county government and its “lobbying” effort is focused on ending the state and federal practice of passing unfunded mandates, which impose billions of dollars in increased taxes upon local property taxpayers annually; and
WHEREAS, smaller counties especially need to be able to combine their resources through their associations to monitor the thousands of bills filed each legislative session and effectively present their unique issues to the state and federal government; and
WHEREAS, the prohibition in S.B. 234/H.B 749 would violate the basic principle of open and robust discussion and turn the halls of the Texas capitol into a one-sided conversation dominated by special interests.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges and Commissioners Association do hereby express their opposition to S.B. 234/H.B. 749 and its attempt to silence the combined voices of the county officials and local communities of this state.
ADOPTED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2021 BY THE PANHANDLE COUNTY JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS ASSOCIATION.
Resolution
Resolution in Support of Proposition 2 for County Transportation Projects
WHEREAS, on November 2, 2021, the voters will have an opportunity to approve Proposition 2, a constitutional amendment authorizing county financing for transportation projects; and,
WHEREAS, Proposition 2 will enable counties to participate in needed transportation projects without increasing property taxes; and,
WHEREAS, under Proposition 2, counties will be authorized to pledge the revenues from increased values of properties that benefit from a transportation project to fund the cost of the project; and,
WHEREAS, this financing method will equitably allocate the cost of such projects to the improved properties, rather than all county taxpayers; and,
WHEREAS, this financing method has been successfully implemented by Texas cities to finance essential transportation improvements;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Panhandle County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas does hereby support the passage of Proposition 2 to authorize county financing for transportation projects and requests the approval of Proposition 2 by Texas voters on November 2, 2021.
PASSED on September 30, 2021.