Tough Times Call for Unity, Communication

I have had the honor of serving Precinct 4 on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for almost 19 years. During my tenure I have also served as president of the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association as well as a six-year term on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. I now have the opportunity to serve as second vice president of our statewide County Judges and Commissioners Association. I look forward to the challenge.
Before election to the commissioners court, I mixed a business career with public service. I worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone for more than 30 years. Fortunately, Bell was very supportive of employees serving in the community, so I spent three years as a city council member in Saginaw and then served six years as the mayor. While serving the city of Saginaw, I learned the importance of county government and eventually decided to run for commissioner.
A low property tax rate and our “AAA” bond rating from both Moodys and Standard and Poors are among the Tarrant County accomplishments I have fought to achieve. Additionally, I am proud to have provided leadership in the formation of the Tarrant County Fire Prevention District, the operational overhaul of our Tarrant County Hospital District, and the expansion of our 5,000-inmate county jail system.
Of course, the challenges are never ending. As the New Year rapidly approaches, we local government officials find ourselves in an interesting position…we have successfully defended against unnecessary state government intrusion and micromanagement of our financial affairs (proposed revenue, tax, and appraisal caps), but we know the fight is not over. In fact, it might be just the beginning.
I, for one, am not interested in the state micromanaging county government. We do just fine at handling our local affairs. And we all know that the voters will let us know quickly and loudly if we mishandle our business.
My voters and constituents are very clear about their homeowner property taxes. They don’t want the county tax rate increased. I hear them loud and clear and have responded by leading the charge to maintain or lower the county property tax rate year after year for more than a decade. No doubt most of our elected county colleagues throughout Texas have done the same, and we haven’t needed the state’s guidance on these decisions.
So where do we go from here in the fight over caps? To me, the answer is simple: We hang together and continue to communicate with our state representatives and senators so they understand the negative implications of caps and why caps aren’t needed.
In Tarrant County, our commissioners court has communicated non-stop with our legislative delegation. We have had honest and frank discussions about the cap proposals. Because of these discussions, an overwhelming majority of our delegation has opposed the notion that we can’t handle our local business locally. They have taken a stand in favor of local control. Our communication has worked.
It is important that every commissioners court spend time educating and re-educating their legislators about our opposition to the caps that some in Austin would place us under. Honest and firm communication is the only way we can win. Without your best efforts, our voice will not be heard.
History is on our side. Fifteen years ago, counties wrestled with the state over state-ready inmates overcrowding county jails and costing us millions in uncompensated services. After several legislative standoffs (and the filing of a major lawsuit), the Legislature realized the counties were not going away. Eventually, after a lot of hard work and communication with the Legislature, the counties prevailed, and the state began compensating us for housing state-ready inmates longer than 45 days.
Back then, the counties hung together and never gave up. That’s exactly what we must do again to prevail. As I have said, it’s the only way we can win.
I look forward to working with each of you. If I can be of assistance, please call me … my phone is always on.
By Tarrant County Commissioner J.D. Johnson, Second Vice President, County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas