[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6163755,"mediaKeyId","5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9","parentId",5433184,"title","Budget workshop: commissioners review road-and-bridge tax distribution, capital projects and two options for JP pay and vehicles","audioSeconds",3682,"startMs",33000,"endMs",3715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9&start=33&end=3715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9/thumbnail_33000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6163755/Polk-County/Texas/Budget-workshop-commissioners-review-road-and-bridge-tax-distribution-capital-projects-and-two-options-for-JP-pay-and-vehicles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163755-8fe979a41af9eb8c495e1cf14199f323/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077064&Signature=ElAH-hqXJlcABuC15j5zmraGSLQ4deMASnSvfm0QjXcLdBLzsBJkFsZZUQK4BqAYgStRweKgflLJSkgyrAFglPlMICkGK7PawxtDezugxhoShcBgqbte94c9itM-Z0wmGUzM5dcrNuic3Dy6boITeEKdD5RxYjfg2UWu2qe-vmRxn2z-F3DqurHd0w-VxKLil~cuyTFkLPUBYPpxXAMhLN7du1lJ0Vwd8INDAtxnLXvhx9e9FQ4S22MSJUli-qyJvRUyoePI923RmX3-GZXgywSosSt3TAZcCLAEWnePDcsHKQRCtXiDl~rnslEG~e5grHNv3F6aLAm~348dSubN1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Polk County Commissioners Court, Texas","date","2025-07-18T04:41:50Z","article","Polk County Commissioners spent a portion of their July 17 meeting on budget development, reviewing the road-and-bridge tax distribution formula, proposed capital purchases and two options affecting elected officials’ travel and pay, including the potential provision of a county vehicle to justices of the peace.

County staff explained the current distribution formula for the road and bridge portion of the tax rate. The formula uses a base allocation and then weights for “true miles” and the number of wooden bridges. The staff presentation recorded the following components and precinct-level shares: Precinct 1 true miles 2.7 percent, Precinct 2 true miles 3.7 percent, Precinct 3 true miles 6.57 percent and Precinct 4 true miles 7.2 percent. Wooden bridges comprise a 5 percent portion of the distribution: Precinct 2 was shown with 4 wooden bridges (0.56 percent of the bridge allocation) and Precinct 3 with 13 wooden bridges (1.81 percent). Combining the factors produced the listed distribution of road-and-bridge tax receipts: Precinct 1 — 21.45 percent; Precinct 2 — 23 percent; Precinct 3 — 27.13 percent; Precinct 4 — 28.41 percent. Staff noted that as wooden bridges are replaced (for example through the state bridge replacement program), the distribution will shift.

On capital projects, staff presented a list of proposed acquisitions and estimates included in the draft budget: a flood‑gauge system (county portion estimated at $62,500, to be matched with grant funding if available), aftermarket vehicle equipment for the sheriff and constables ($313,550), a 28‑passenger bus (cost not yet provided), computer equipment and handheld radios for the jail ($35,400 for 20 radios), and office equipment and cameras ($117,333.89 for multiple items). The budget packet also listed outstanding prior tax notes from 2019–2022 and noted the county did not issue tax notes for 2023–2025 due to available surplus interest and budgeted purchases.

The workshop included a discussion prompted by a public commenter, Pat Casey of Lakefront Drive, who urged the court to provide an “adequate level of funding to roads and bridges throughout the county,” and praised the court’s acquisition of chip-and-seal equipment as a cost-saving maintenance tool.

The court also discussed two options to address elected officials’ travel allowances and pay. Staff described Option 1 as restoring a prior travel/salary increment and providing a $5,000 increase for the district clerk, county clerk, county treasurer, tax assessor-collector and sheriff; it would also provide $1,500 increases for constables and include providing vehicles for the justices of the peace (the package was characterized in the record as increasing costs by approximately $83,000). Staff said a state formula will raise County Court-at-Law Judge Brown’s pay by $43,086.16 under state law; that increase is mandatory and reflected separately in the budget calculations.

Option 2 would be a smaller across-the-board increase (staff described a $3,000 increase for the court offices) with the same proposed $5,000 adjustments for the clerks, treasurer, assessor and sheriff and the same constable increase; staff described Option 2 as increasing overall costs by about $58,000 while leaving some travel adjustments to be documented by the JPs.

Commissioners asked for documentation and for JPs to maintain travel records if the court were to consider travel restorations; staff said Judge Rasberry was among the few who had provided travel logs in the past. Commissioners debated whether providing a county vehicle to JPs would address concerns over travel and safety; staff said any GPS‑equipped county vehicle would allow tracking and quicker response if an official broke down or needed help in a remote area.

Item 5 on the agenda — the tax assessor‑collector’s 2025 no‑new-revenue and voter‑approval tax-rate calculations and verification of the collection rate — was tabled so staff and the auditor’s office can verify figures; the motion to table until Monday was made by Commissioner Purvis and seconded by Commissioner Cassidy.

Ending: Staff will work with the auditor’s office to verify revenue and collection-rate calculations, provide requested supplemental documentation on capital-project costs and vehicle proposals, and return to the court for further action in a special meeting or the next regular session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Court Workshop - July 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","In a July 17 budget workshop Polk County staff outlined the distribution formula for road-and-bridge taxes, capital purchase projections and two options for elected officials’ travel/pay (including proposals for JP vehicles); the court tabled verification of tax-assessor collector revenue and asked staff to return with more information.","taxTitle","Polk County, Texas","taxId",61122,"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},6163760,"Polk County reclassifies district clerk position and adjusts maintenance staffing",144,3636000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9&start=3636&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9/thumbnail_3636000.jpg","/articles/6163760/Polk-County/Texas/Polk-County-reclassifies-district-clerk-position-and-adjusts-maintenance-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163760-836d68b51f888e6442cd537c0cffcbde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077064&Signature=TmLiK1fz3gNZHwE-KWaW9UQuY-zotnyho-mbW4uM-tb-NtIWbSz75ZhKXRr3pPqVorPefYbJHfPLmHz-O9XyhPlklT60NYLMcCvX5Gj0~2BWqwENJArINpJ2xp5yffe1XvhBvcYluqD-12UGz2MImeLOfxtfztJRPOfOIIwfhCdzJi9McerPDGM0aTpxq6uRwoBlFjKUQyvvuIVz1Ggoa1dhYa07Vo4Bg~MJODlIsgAvcPs7AUNcmQ65WWNTgqegWFDlR3NZj7Z0cGPA5XC5k7VeUJFyIaZEuRtyeY24GWKfo67n3VUluLC8gO6IzbwiYU-XRmgfY8fYYVFqfHDCpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County Commissioners approved two personnel reclassifications on July 17: a district clerk deputy position was reclassified to a court clerk to address increased jury-trial workload, and maintenance staffing was rearranged to convert a full-time maintenance laborer to part time while upgrading a part-time custodial maintenance worker to full time.

County staff said the district clerk’s office elevated a deputy to court-clerk duties because the pace of jury trials increased and a backlog stemming from the pandemic remains; the annual pay difference between the deputy clerk and the court clerk was stated as $3,031. Staff said discretionary funds and vacant positions can cover the fiscal impact for the current year.

The court also approved a personnel adjustment in facilities: Grady Woods requested changing a vacant full-time maintenance laborer to part time and upgrading an existing part-time custodial maintenance worker to full time to meet custodial workload demands. The change was described in the meeting as resulting in net savings to the budget and made effective retroactively to July 14.

Both measures were moved and seconded on the record and passed by voice vote.

Ending: County staff will implement the reclassifications and adjust payroll to reflect the approved changes.","The commissioners approved reclassifying a district clerk deputy to a court clerk to handle increased jury-trial workload and adjusted maintenance positions to reflect current workloads, with minimal budget impact.",{"_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},6163765,"Commissioners approve lease-purchase for eight new dump trucks and authorize financing resolution",101,3472000,3573000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9&start=3472&end=3573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9/thumbnail_3472000.jpg","/articles/6163765/Polk-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-lease-purchase-for-eight-new-dump-trucks-and-authorize-financing-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163765-bfe3a35d6db2d65d6cd0fff728bb52d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077064&Signature=FfKQjFeLkz6M6RfVEBV1s0qIiTv4so0Qwc4vINt~lY9wfEiMs5cMz3czBGQaOOm3cKP-6gYSlJxLbKMIV0sy5DEkP7lskIKBpkgUlfO-Jee3MwXj36Cu-wCDUldOIqaE2eitXrxTb8-PtYEnYfqrQ1zMU8ke7E2GgLRN6zeMtmhUPaunDGcc7QPUMDYndrNeZuAxCY9yvWwiOtPPLAUqEwsY4TIQXb2UARYk1dBAHFB0jSLWtCB5TrYyTmm6RDjGMivNajKewPLbynLJ69hj~O9rwDOPx8havkCKcoYIqF69WEaYteQkK8RvT6fU~8eCcTezmp-LExqs9L0KZef2LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County Commissioners approved a lease-purchase to replace road and bridge trucks and authorized a financing resolution on July 17.

The court approved a lease-purchase for eight new 2026 Mack dump-truck chassis and bodies and authorized trade-in allowances for the current units. The court also approved a resolution authorizing execution of an agreement with Cadence Equipment Finance (a division of Cadence Bank) to arrange financing for the estimated August 2025 lease purchase.

County staff described the purchase as part of a planned equipment rotation to avoid a gap in dump-truck availability for road and bridge operations. The agenda materials included detailed pricing and trade-in assumptions. The transcript records the price as “8 new 2026 MAC p 1 6 4 r dump trucks with m m drive dump aux box units at a $198,812.24 each with a 13 month trade in allowance of a 160,000 each” and notes the purchase will be paid from Road and Bridge Capital Lease Funds. The court also referenced an alternative replacement of eight 2025 Mack units at $157,059 each for currently leased units under certain trade-in terms.

A motion to approve the lease purchase was seconded in the record; the court voted “aye” and the motion carried. The court then approved a resolution authorizing the county judge or county officials to execute financing agreements with Cadence Equipment Finance for the transaction; that resolution also passed by voice vote.

Ending: Staff will finalize trade-in terms, execute the financing agreements as authorized, and proceed with equipment acquisition under the capital lease funding plan.","Polk County Commissioners approved a lease-purchase agreement for eight 2026 Mack dump trucks and authorized execution of related lease financing with Cadence Equipment Finance, with funds to come from Road and Bridge Capital Lease Funds.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6163771,"Polk County hears presentations from five VoIP vendors as it reviews replacement for county phone system",3326,101000,3427000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9&start=101&end=3427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5433184-3550036800a87880d857154e9ecf20e9/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6163771/Polk-County/Texas/Polk-County-hears-presentations-from-five-VoIP-vendors-as-it-reviews-replacement-for-county-phone-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163771-1a53517f251260bcf4eb8ecc08865148/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077064&Signature=nIL-CgtxzaUXqhB~dmVzUtqn52GKqYhNGkYI9Z5z-eurer20-AKt87A6munKwTKYRTXpJsKlEl5ljGrN2i5YXjanTqYIwMWJuV0nfsuIut8OTHVikfRqXcKPd8JdcUO-yngjLH2xaLl-l24x7q9A81MfE9ShxELhuTB~q4kqUorLLml~V0qzfsFKeDwlsUaifxxPQuoIyNVgrTi~hgyJ9clb0pCOB-Dr87sUce~kzXVX3CsScMtp-i02DXn37QA5qCoO8QnKdsUXtdN7Z2FaOcrQ66czRpxa7vSva71jIMLJqNo-p87iVb8hInvLK4x6R7PfF-DJJeY2dvNM-IjFYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Polk County Commissioners listened to demonstrations from five voice-over-IP (VoIP) vendors on July 17 as the court considers replacing the county's telephone system. The presentations covered service models, redundancy, local support and integration with the sheriff’s call-recording system; the court did not select a vendor at the meeting.

County staff convened the workshop to receive proposals and ask technical and operational questions so the court could decide how to proceed. The presentations ran about 10–15 minutes per vendor with time for questions.

The vendors emphasized different strengths. A representative identified in the record as Debbie, with Best in Network, told the court, “we have down home customer service,” and demonstrated a direct help number that routes to a tech desk. Evan Hough, identified in the transcript as owner and CEO of a Vesta/Fast Networks offering, said the company would centralize the county’s multiple voice carriers and claimed “we have a 100% uptime. 100, not 5 nines.”

Verge Network Solutions said it owns and operates its own infrastructure and can be on site from its Houston office in roughly 80 minutes; Art Ashcroft, Verge’s vice president and cofounder, said, “It took us 80 minutes to get here this morning.” Verge also presented a plan to integrate analog devices such as alarm and elevator phones and said it had designed for power-over-Ethernet gaps.

ESI, presented by K. H. Herron (regional sales manager) with partner Amy Doran of Archom Communications, emphasized its nationwide footprint, lifetime warranty and geo-redundant data centers. Herron said ESI provides “a lifetime warranty. Period.” He described server redundancy across Dallas, New Jersey and Las Vegas and a failover device that can route calls over cellular if the county’s internet blips.

Eastex Telephone, a locally based cooperative, emphasized rapid local on-site response and said it already serves 11 counties and maintains a physical office in Polk County; the representative said Eastex can provide both telephony and the network connectivity to route calls to its data centers and highlighted past disaster response after a 2020 tornado.

Presenters answered repeated questions about training, on-site response times, integration with the sheriff’s call-recording systems and options for call-recording retention. Vendors generally said they could integrate with the sheriff’s recording platform by mirroring network ports or via analog conversion and offered configurable retention (vendors described default retention windows such as 30–90 days with extensions available).

Commissioners asked about on‑site response times and training. Vendors gave varied answers depending on office location and staffing; Verge stated it had six technicians in Houston and could reach the county in about 80 minutes, and ESI and other vendors described 24/7 U.S.-based technical support plus options for on-site training during installation.

The court’s communications budget line was discussed in the budget workshop that followed the vendor presentations; county staff told the court that adopting a new hosted phone solution is expected to reduce certain communications costs in future budget years, but the court made no decision on switching vendors at the July 17 meeting. The court staff said the presentations were for information and that selection — if any — would be decided later after reference checks and follow-up questions.

No formal procurement action was taken at the meeting. The court said staff will follow up with references, verify contractual terms and report back with recommendations.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the companies for attending and said staff would continue evaluation and return with cost comparisons and integration details for a later meeting.","Polk County Commissioners heard hourlong presentations from five voice-over-IP vendors on July 17 as part of an evaluation of a replacement county telephone system; no vendor was selected at the meeting and staff will return with follow-up information.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget workshop: commissioners review road-and-bridge tax distribution, capital projects and two options for JP pay and vehicles

Polk County reclassifies district clerk position and adjusts maintenance staffing

Commissioners approve lease-purchase for eight new dump trucks and authorize financing resolution

Polk County hears presentations from five VoIP vendors as it reviews replacement for county phone system