[{"_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",6590418,"mediaKeyId","5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a","parentId",5561704,"title","Votes at a glance: Lavaca County Commissioners Court actions, Aug. 11, 2025","audioSeconds",3305,"startMs",1814000,"endMs",5119000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a&start=1814&end=5119","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a/thumbnail_1814000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6590418/Lavaca-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Lavaca-County-Commissioners-Court-actions-Aug-11-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590418-cfce1f3f70a01472aa0b92cc41ede0eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384043&Signature=dXwAZznwFlr8d2CmAwlAdr8xpy0d4y-piewSsKSP09dNzxGRiEN6zXLLVZMj5~FC69D~N4YFyNaY4CXfe8~E~gq35~CWVIiIk0J-kAQN5K4TUjpI0HOXR0M7k0QG-P45PX9tZLQpURJ~fSRGSvUM~3gcz-EbY-i0bz7vgltSRj6yid5SEBQi7ySeakYshIolWSLpj~XS393seun4Qe0FCl-n4fBA3Tiazd8TBso0oS4~NNH3iZVTuEXP2G-MptJZnggIZRWrXQEzPoweXNgwBEKN8mp0CDio3yRBcNc5WuL5TXr78b0sATf3~UrSLV9MlpGdRV~78DGHMV-ncQkZgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lavaca County","date","2025-08-12T04:29:15Z","article","The Lavaca County Commissioners Court took the following formal actions on Aug. 11, 2025. Where motions, makers and seconders were recorded, they are noted. Vote counts reflect the court’s verbal tallies on the record.

- Approve presentation of the 2025 certified appraisal roll values (agenda item 4). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 4; second by Commissioner, Precinct 3. Motion passed (court voice vote).

- Accept presentation of the 2025 no‑new‑revenue and voter‑approval tax rates (agenda item 5). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 2; second by Commissioner, Precinct 1. Motion passed (voice vote).

- Propose the voter‑approval tax rate (total 0.5497; M&O 0.4464; Farm‑to‑Market 0.1033) and set a public hearing for Aug. 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Motion by County Judge Keith Mudd; second by Commissioner, Precinct 2. Motion passed by unanimous show of hands (5–0).

- Declare specified County Clerk’s Office items as surplus property (agenda item 8). Motion made and seconded on the record; motion passed.

- Approve contract between Toddler Technologies and the County Clerk’s Office for hosted services and public records access (agenda item 9). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 4; second by Commissioner, Precinct 3. Motion passed.

- Approve Texas Department of Motor Vehicles optional fees for calendar year 2026 (Option A; no change) (agenda item 10). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 3; second by Commissioner, Precinct 4. Motion passed.

- Acknowledge donation receipt to Norma’s House in the amount of $14,930.18 (agenda item 11). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 1; second by Commissioner, Precinct 2. Motion passed.

- Table Democrat and Republican presiding and alternate judge appointments for 2025–2027 for further coordination (agenda item 12). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 3; second by Commissioner, Precinct 1. Motion to table passed.

- Approve Lavaca County order of election for Nov. 4, 2025 (agenda item 13). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 3; second by Commissioner, Precinct 4. Motion passed.

- Approve financing agreement (lease) to purchase a used John Deere 670G motor grader for Precinct 3 (serial number noted). Total financed amount $357,562.63. Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 3; second by Commissioner, Precinct 4. Motion passed.

- Approve memorandum of understanding between Gulf Bend Center and Lavaca County (agenda item 15). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 1; second by Commissioner, Precinct 2. Motion passed.

- Approve proposal between Tanya Glenn & Associates PA and Lavaca County EMS for first‑responder mental-health training and services; EMS training budget to cover costs (agenda item 16). Motion by County Judge Keith Mudd; second by Commissioner, Precinct 3. Motion passed. Court clarified the $10,000 retainer discussed will not be charged to the county; additional case‑by‑case fees could apply.

- Approve need for a new fence at the county poor farm and delegate Edward Prisca to assess fence lines and solicit bids; work to be coordinated with adjoining landowner and cemetery interests (agenda item 17). Motion by County Judge Keith Mudd; second by Commissioner, Precinct 1. Motion passed.

- Approve certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements (Jonathan Clay Herald, Precinct 3) (agenda item 18). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 3; second by Commissioner, Precinct 4. Motion passed.

- Approve certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements (Larry and Donna Dornyak, Precinct 1) (agenda item 19). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 1; second by Commissioner, Precinct 2. Motion passed.

- Declare items listed on Exhibit A as surplus property from the county courthouse (agenda item 20). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 3; second by Commissioner, Precinct 1. Motion passed.

- Move into and approve the consent agenda by one motion (consent items not individually recited in the minutes). Motion by Commissioner, Precinct 2; second by Commissioner, Precinct 1. Motion passed.

The court adjourned following announcement of an immediate post‑meeting tour of county annex facilities and construction sites. Several items (notably the tax‑rate proposal) will return to the court after required public notices and hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 11, 2025 Regular Called Meeting Lavaca County, Texas Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions, contract approvals and administrative actions taken by Lavaca County Commissioners Court during the Aug. 11, 2025 meeting.","taxTitle","Lavaca County, Texas","taxId",69547,"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},6590423,"Lavaca County judge proposes voter-approval tax rate of 0.5497; public hearing set for Aug. 25",1521,1658000,3179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a&start=1658&end=3179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a/thumbnail_1658000.jpg","/articles/6590423/Lavaca-County/Texas/Lavaca-County-judge-proposes-voter-approval-tax-rate-of-05497-public-hearing-set-for-Aug-25","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590423-bb972dda4d073ad835adcf0f87f18f04/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384043&Signature=hpT3HmIK6SxvJ0~T5qvYBk00AtZjdga17S2q4-4zx70yfwbhV9Y5ZqyD-BEhVvIbz9Rlu9HkoOLQ7M7y-0Qd~8dNXE~gX-PjiLZ2sMFIXGPFNolVCHq362SI5hnZqtuIiwGaA9XJp1MdbGj1hD4xBkjhxReFcDVdvuVNjviUObX8KyrqM2uQUu75a1SSXQyfOQIbRD33IB1N4EQxsR3fBC5gFVkSm3SgSWu4dVHlvFO5zwk30bcLkUckwIiIeHzGQsgIwGSlfjPqmNd50P3KndhqeHbI43aQo6wk2p8r3ujAH6EEdynyiIut4QkTV4XGQSs5Ec~-iWOiWlzLbf1N1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Judge Keith Mudd proposed on Aug. 11 that Lavaca County adopt a total tax rate of 0.5497 — the voter‑approval rate calculated by the appraisal district — and asked the Commissioner's Court to publish that proposed rate and hold a public hearing Aug. 25 at 10 a.m.

Mudd told the court the proposed rate would generate approximately $1,664,971 more in tax revenue than the prior year, driven in part by new construction and growth. He framed the increase as necessary to fund recent changes, including staffing additions in the Sheriff's Office, expanded jail and dispatch positions, countywide road paving and other county services.

Tax Assessor‑Collector Debbie (last name not specified in the record) presented certified appraisal and taxable values, reporting a modest change in overall valuations: appraised values rose about 1.9 percent year‑over‑year, and the county’s taxable value used to calculate levies is $3,895,235,860.

The tax-rate calculations presented to the court included a “no-new-revenue” total rate of 0.5124 (M&O 0.413; Farm‑to‑Market 0.0994) and a voter‑approval total rate of 0.5497 (M&O 0.4464; Farm‑to‑Market 0.1033). Mudd moved to propose the voter‑approval rate (0.5497) for publication and set the required public hearing; the motion was seconded and passed by a unanimous show of hands.

In a prepared “State of the County” address placed into the public record, Mudd listed priorities the proposed revenue would support: bolstering the Sheriff’s Office (new deputies, investigators, jailers and dispatchers), supporting a larger criminal‑justice caseload handled by the newly elected county attorney, continuing joint paving and equipment purchases, expansion or maintenance projects for the courthouse and annex, and sustaining county EMS and Meals on Wheels/Lavaca County Transit services.

Mudd said some reserve funding had been used for paving and telecommunications lease payments and warned that reserves will remain stagnant for several years as the county funds these priorities. He also noted statewide pressure from the legislature on local taxation and described the budget as a balancing act among public‑safety, infrastructure and social services.

Court members voted to accept the tax-rate presentation and to publish the proposed rate and hearing notice; the public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. The court did not adopt a final tax rate at the Aug. 11 meeting.

","County Judge Keith Mudd proposed moving the county’s tax rate to the voter-approval level of 0.5497 to fund sheriff, courts, road paving and public-safety priorities; commissioners voted unanimously to propose the rate and set a public hearing for Aug. 25.",{"_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},6590428,"SJRC Texas urges local support as 12 Lavaca County children remain in foster care",1064,570000,1634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a&start=570&end=1634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5561704-9cf6ba11d60511876e8b94f0426b793a/thumbnail_570000.jpg","/articles/6590428/Lavaca-County/Texas/SJRC-Texas-urges-local-support-as-12-Lavaca-County-children-remain-in-foster-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590428-742043389f3c1bf944861240b9520294/orig.mp4?Expires=1775384043&Signature=PFxjK41v32gseT9g4Dd~RQp2pLFbZ7Z1A9NMBYMC55PBfpd0lFn0k9XLIWUo3gjzLg8zoGapLy6ZANzTS2oOINO7lau2JRarc9vg7nJfqSqbu~TiYGnGY3VvxDqJjwNd8cbImvN1xFONf7QDJM8~a4A9Efy2S5s0z70Cz5AdoRpNkvHEIikSuDG8MPDTk~cbK2k4RrfpBt0O9YPNG2EtBOCHo2NYxkZOli68etNmHNsXdRXI0NJic0TN0E43KXW2nwAYNJSXW6UCBm7jYJbJDJsgcbj3dFGJKFC~JKLjea743HVj0nrTkc6LBTQClFfC06sLBkthJY2ZmZcUmKM~CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nicole Nguyen, regional director for SJRC Texas’s Belong community-based care network, told the Lavaca County Commissioners Court on Aug. 11 that 12 children from Lavaca County were in the state’s conservatorship as of Aug. 4 and described the agency’s services and gaps in local placement capacity.

Nguyen said SJRC Texas — a child-placing agency that took on community-based care for the South Central and Hill Country Region (Region 8B) and will include Bexar County beginning Sept. 1 — handles intake and placement after the state removes a child but does not perform CPS intake investigations. “Every child has gone through our legal case management,” Nguyen said, summarizing how the agency assigns permanency specialists, kinship workers and independent-living staff depending on each child’s needs.

The presentation explained SJRC’s range of services, from kinship supports for relatives who suddenly care for multiple children to independent-living workers who help older teens plan for post‑care life. Nguyen said the East Region reported 174 children in care in the most recent quarter; that data previously included about 20 children from Lavaca County, but placements fluctuate. As of Aug. 4, she reported 12 Lavaca County children in foster care: five placed inside the East Region, three in other parts of Region 8 and four outside the region.

Nguyen described limited local capacity for specialized residential placements: the East Region has a single emergency shelter (Legacy Ranch in Gonzales) and a smaller residential treatment center in Victoria that serves boys. For children needing intensive therapeutic placements who cannot be placed locally, SJRC must place them outside the immediate region.

Nguyen asked the court and the community to help build local capacity by supporting foster families and local services such as mental-health and counseling resources that can be difficult for rural caregivers to access without long drives. “Strong communities build strong families,” she said, adding a call for respite providers, foster parents and groups willing to host informational sessions.

Nguyen shared a recent example in which a community member and later a prospective foster parent stepped forward so a 10‑year‑old boy could remain in his home community and school instead of being placed in a larger city. She also noted statewide turnover among attorneys representing children and said counties face pressure on legal resources and staffing.

The judge and several commissioners thanked Nguyen for the overview and noted the county’s broader obligations, including budgeting for court-appointed attorneys and other public-safety and social-service needs.

Nguyen closed by reiterating community requests (diapers, car seats, beds, volunteer time and donations) and inviting local groups to host foster-care information sessions and drives to support children in care.

","Nicole Nguyen of SJRC Texas presented numbers on foster-care placements and services covering Lavaca County and the East Region, and urged community support for foster, kinship and prevention services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Lavaca County Commissioners Court actions, Aug. 11, 2025

Lavaca County judge proposes voter-approval tax rate of 0.5497; public hearing set for Aug. 25

SJRC Texas urges local support as 12 Lavaca County children remain in foster care