[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6098218,"mediaKeyId","2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a","parentId",2824614,"title","Commissioners approve budget line-item changes to permit hiring two Ag Extension agents","audioSeconds",32,"startMs",1674000,"endMs",1706000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a&start=1674&end=1706","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a/thumbnail_1674000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6098218/Newton-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-budget-line-item-changes-to-permit-hiring-two-Ag-Extension-agents","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098218-56764fa2261e1479a21e1781294f15be/orig.mp4?Expires=1776120083&Signature=Nz4maJy17E9KZOykUfBcSBBGnCuCMcpJv2EY5WZb5LsKrUPQC8xl7QRHD5V2Ikcoe~HTXGp37sEVH6Zi~mAHlxATepXoksq9vrg44e0~PpM8X8e6QxNYq-M3FGrPaFh-J~yzA2uldDUqF3K9rymTaGDw5Fs3kmD-8~zE8Lr8~LPNoeB8Cxpt6My~A3OtTmyLwsN2QZs5ockobYZRB3DwbZezSU7BrsJdHNtLr~-6r4QpgcLxIqYJkWUALCfhI0pvkqc1m7CHd32K1zxNzKgOtu~SaM8lFaPo6yD0G0~qRS3-PdxRgrgMsdBCjz5RyI9cIOaOrrpuSL-lDuBCA0UZyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Newton County Commissioner's Court","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","Newton County commissioners approved a line-item transfer to allow the county to hire two agricultural extension positions this year after a state hiring freeze lifted.

The court heard that longtime Ag Extension employee Kathy Pearson retired, and the position had not been budgeted this year because the state had imposed a hiring freeze when budgets were prepared. During the meeting the auditor and other officials explained the county already has funds in the budget sufficient for one agent’s salary and associated insurance; the proposal is to reallocate existing line items now so the county can fill two positions in June and then restore full funding in the 2026 budget.

The court discussed specific figures: the actual extension agent salary cited was $14,348, insurance of $13,001.64 and travel/benefits in the range of $7,200–$7,800 (figures reported by county staff during the meeting). Commissioners described the plan as moving existing budgeted money to allow hiring now and adding the full position cost back into the 2026 budget.

Commissioner Powell moved to modify the current budget line items to allow the judge’s office to fill the two positions; Commissioner White seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

County staff said hiring and onboarding will proceed under state reporting rules for extension positions and that the hiring process is already underway.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 25, 2025 Commissioners' Court Regular Session","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners authorized a line-item transfer that allows the judge's office to fill two agricultural extension positions after a state hiring freeze lifted; the court approved dividing currently budgeted funds to hire both agents this year and restore full funding in the 2026 budget.","taxTitle","Newton County, Texas","taxId",73740,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098223,"Newton County court approves creation of purchase-order system; details to be developed with department input",204,1083000,1287000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a&start=1083&end=1287","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a/thumbnail_1083000.jpg","/articles/6098223/Newton-County/Texas/Newton-County-court-approves-creation-of-purchase-order-system-details-to-be-developed-with-department-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098223-811647ca12ee23207e0d84bfdc492a9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776120083&Signature=ZR8Nb4OLQ4EaW2YaYAEpzhX8HR8HU8eo4d7-mKgTFFXkrJ9bdC3p9jT9SAnnrboeCWuvCRDIgtNobZYtbqa98oqxcWKjPO7CCZOFJAIgThHzKVD69GecBNd-rAFWnIsXNznA9mGVQ4YmA965bX4oVuvOgpwnT3rrwxT2nGZlZcNEpBwP9iakZXGcmkc5Nd8S1QV8Nq-FBwnvzdnzz827jBm-Nbv1sWtKEILtluhgEOCKx-qk-jXuT0NiKXpTGFa1LHFtrHSuTiSySmcFHNBDOASi4hH9mPNfaAK~F9nc~jIEqxI79pDw-3uu0GmYE0QZdEABG-hD8rm1djMXoIKdug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newton County Commissioners Court voted to approve the creation of a purchase-order (PO) system intended to improve tracking of county expenditures and reduce surprise invoices.

The court’s action authorized the auditor’s office to develop a PO procedure with input from department heads, and the court directed that the final procedure be returned to commissioners for formal adoption following workshops and department review. Misty Moore of the auditor’s office (referred to in the meeting as Miss Moore) had presented earlier status updates and proposed a development process that would include workshops with department heads and clerk’s office staff.

Commissioners described recent examples the auditor cited to explain the need for a PO system: an invoice of about $22,000 that arrived in 2025 for work charged to a 2024 budget item and a roughly $17,000 generator-related invoice from May 2024. The auditor said a PO system would have identified those obligations earlier and avoided the surprise of late invoices.

Commissioner Powell moved to approve creation of the PO system with the requirement that department-head meetings be held to draft the procedure; Commissioner Hobson seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Court members emphasized the system must be user friendly and workable across departments. The auditor’s office will schedule workshops and return a proposed written procedure to the court for formal adoption.","Commissioners voted to approve creation of a countywide purchase order (PO) tracking system; the auditor's office will draft procedures and hold workshops with department heads before the court adopts a final procedure.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6098228,"Newton County approves proclamations honoring Harvest Call volunteers and BACA Heroes Weekend",197,706000,903000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a&start=706&end=903","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824614-859af8506f92038f989bd3d8225add1a/thumbnail_706000.jpg","/articles/6098228/Newton-County/Texas/Newton-County-approves-proclamations-honoring-Harvest-Call-volunteers-and-BACA-Heroes-Weekend","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098228-2334e602f5e970179a216fc3dc87b721/orig.mp4?Expires=1776120083&Signature=bVEwmyePDPAtQpLILp80Wt36aBR4AXmBtconMr4SpZnGYScpy096wrqJUNKnCvr22S9CDyZyfzKEzQsGJqqLhpHRFzbpVb04lZKpZAeq5SsBUzPz8YyZYgKMbjTyv-5ojltJ4cAQUT0jXhmC-ArJFsU~J-44vlUrsIQL0qYuoyCEmgB5dBOkjFtZeNbk2QOGocpXX0n7MewxVaOatVKLZeV1YuGIGhOKr7NbmJyQPsgcflDALqNx2QLKMQAh7EDfEnRqmIvy4hVGl950vGzjIRcnCWh1GicQUopSkASfjZfNu8HUqYUO1uoPaR~U2gcDfF6~HcwU3kGCFAj4bewORw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newton County Commissioners Court on an April meeting read and approved proclamations recognizing two volunteer groups: Harvest Call, credited with rebuilding 24 homes in Newton and Jasper counties after April 2024 flooding, and Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), designated for a BACA Heroes Weekend in the last weekend of April 2025.

The court read a proclamation for Harvest Call, noting volunteers rebuilt 24 homes and provided “emotional and spiritual support” to families affected by the April 2024 floods. Billy Jordan, introduced as representing Midnight Disaster Service (a volunteer group), spoke about long-term recovery work and the retired volunteers who had been working locally since October. Several Harvest Call representatives — Tim Slagle, Barbara, Paul and Loretta Zimmerman — stood with the group during the reading.

The court then read and approved a proclamation recognizing BACA Heroes Weekend. An unnamed speaker who identified herself as president of the local BACA chapter described the organization as an international nonprofit that supports children who have suffered abuse and works with local officials and programs. The court pledged to coordinate a photograph that would include the county judge, sheriff and district attorney when those officials are available.

Both proclamations were approved by voice vote. Commissioner White moved to approve the Harvest Call proclamation; the motion was seconded and approved. A separate motion to approve the BACA proclamation was seconded by Commissioner Hobson and approved.

The court said it will place a separate formal proclamation for Harvest Call on a future agenda so the group can receive a copy before leaving on a scheduled trip.","Newton County Commissioners Court read and approved proclamations recognizing Harvest Call volunteers for rebuilding homes after April 2024 flooding and designating the last weekend in April 2025 as BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) Heroes Weekend.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve budget line-item changes to permit hiring two Ag Extension agents

Newton County court approves creation of purchase-order system; details to be developed with department input

Newton County approves proclamations honoring Harvest Call volunteers and BACA Heroes Weekend