[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6494782,"mediaKeyId","5682400-e1228e835da1a67cf3c7773d1819b9af","parentId",5682400,"title","Grayson County Health Department fee changes approved to align with state rule; food-establishment fees move to risk-based schedule","audioSeconds",293,"startMs",853000,"endMs",1146000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682400-e1228e835da1a67cf3c7773d1819b9af&start=853&end=1146","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682400-e1228e835da1a67cf3c7773d1819b9af/thumbnail_853000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6494782/Grayson-County/Texas/Grayson-County-Health-Department-fee-changes-approved-to-align-with-state-rule-food-establishment-fees-move-to-risk-based-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494782-4db53fafd47d8041aab55399722a2d7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583576&Signature=TPG1paSZtP3arFQEh53bI7O3KEvf3ZWwuciLc6-rhr4~3F-Lo4TG2zKSOR6vjlj3rTvmndd7iMZ6kDdLtEHBHW4lAf0ByJWNZW5WNikP3vaL1ZI98-NP60cjyw8hDMDVpWSJt83-8BcCFM7~2cL8qzO0AKMtmFRomLZk11x4RGfFmoy6-VjnOnxchh4ivCLtm2o~yoIs-2njZZ-LWq--Xdv53t9blhBf-aplbadCqHEy3z0x8A~TOWKqGxAWjTgfyxBPugw4VlHxFtMajwCVqy3kIDW7lmzYAkd-oeXjkxPJPvxeTfTCm-JY5A57bPvxt3YfjQYqtBEepjyAYf9YDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grayson","date","2025-08-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Grayson County Commissioners Court on Aug. 26 approved revisions to the Grayson County Health Department's environmental health fee schedule for food-establishment permits, shifting the local fee structure from an employee-count basis to a risk-based inspection fee aligned with the Texas Department of State Health Services schedule.

Jeff Willis, identified in the meeting as the department manager for the Grayson County Health Department, told the court the changes respond to \"a senate bill\" referenced in the discussion and to the state fee schedule. Willis said the county's current fees have not been increased since 02/2007 and that the proposed changes \"move us as an environmental health division closer to cost recovery for what it takes to run the program and all the cost associated with the inspection division.\"

Officials said the county's proposed fees would not reach the maximum state fee in most cases. Willis explained that many local establishments will fall in a mid-range of risk-based fees; the transcript records a lowest category fee of $2.50 for a risk-1 establishment and describes a mid-range risk-3 figure spoken as \"$5.50\" in the county discussion, while noting the state's maximum annual fee (as referenced in the meeting) of $7.73 for optional separate permits such as department-level supermarket permits. The health-department staff present said childcare facilities remain subject to inspection requirements but that the terminology and fee classification have changed under the state guidance.

Why it matters: Food-safety inspections and associated fees affect local restaurants, grocery departments and childcare facilities. Changing the county fee structure both updates operations to state guidance and slightly increases charges to many food establishments for inspection services after nearly two decades without a fee increase.

Details from the meeting

- The Health Department presentation: The item was presented by Grayson County Health Department staff, who identified Jeff Willis as department manager and named colleagues Katie Osborne and Heather Dunkel as registered sanitarians on the environmental health team.

- State reference: The staff described the change as driven by recent state legislative action and the Texas Department of State Health Services fee schedule; in the meeting staff referred to that state change as \"senate bill thousand and 8\" (as spoken in the transcript).

- Fee structure: Staff said fees would move to a risk-based inspection fee. The transcript records a lowest risk category fee of $2.50, a commonly cited mid-range near $5.50 for typical risk-3 establishments, and the state maximum of $7.73 for optional multiple-department permits (supermarkets that request separate permits for departments). Staff also said even with the increase the fees would not fully cover program costs but would move the division closer to cost recovery.

- Childcare facilities: Staff stated childcare facilities remain regulated and will continue to receive inspections; the fee terminology has changed but inspections remain required under state oversight.

Action and vote

The court approved the proposed environmental health fee revisions by motion (mover recorded as Commissioner Arthur; second by Commissioner Hardenberg in the meeting record) and the motion carried.

Ending

Commissioners recognized the health-department staff in attendance and approved the revised fee schedule. The meeting record shows staff will monitor further state changes that could affect local fees and operations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Grayson - Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The county approved revisions to environmental health fees for food establishment permits to align with changes referenced in state law and the Texas Department of State Health Services fee schedule. County staff said fees had not been increased since 2007 and that the changes move the program closer to cost recovery.","taxTitle","Grayson County, Texas","taxId",12454,"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},6494788,"Grayson County adopts fiscal 2026 budget, keeps tax rate at 0.3051; multiple routine contracts approved",195,325000,520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682400-e1228e835da1a67cf3c7773d1819b9af&start=325&end=520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682400-e1228e835da1a67cf3c7773d1819b9af/thumbnail_325000.jpg","/articles/6494788/Grayson-County/Texas/Grayson-County-adopts-fiscal-2026-budget-keeps-tax-rate-at-03051-multiple-routine-contracts-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494788-5e715d74cadbd08a53925c7d9e42cd52/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583576&Signature=GdFfIaV6YuIUR027w~7lBEGgO8JEQSJHuzGLbDFs3TL70JRRlwEapvD-aw~xQxAJsLUh2D5fZLG4ILpLXh2K8mzjZu7h3M15Sfn5VFVLf7edbRRJveAP8xv1MsKNufF6HP5X4NCYWoQAVoax4acmtmbKyg0UL7trFMJninX7ihnSOQNK4jxZN~~A2cj5LJMOc-awlTx84LzKApKdqhbPZkd4Olpffrkbr~U-OX3XcEzs8dTpG4ysoZkEHSnrE-tDZhTGkmtq98AwfNq-czN1M9WYYuqOPo8HKQUyNvhviK9~7Uq8O~ExUFpKjIW-1XgqyeVsHxT7ZWwvDzD83P6KVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grayson County Commissioners Court on Aug. 26 adopted the county's fiscal 2026 budget and approved a set of tax-rate measures while also signing off on several routine contracts and purchases.

County Judge (name not specified) told the court, \"This budget shows a $1,300,000 deficit to the general fund,\" and said the budget keeps the same tax rate used the past three years, 0.3051 per $100 of valuation. \"The tax rate was reduced over 30% over the last 7, year period,\" the judge added while summarizing comparisons to other Texas counties.

The budget approved by motion of Commissioner Arthur, seconded by Commissioner Wright, includes a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for county employees, an approximate 9% increase in employee and retiree health insurance costs, and several new or upgraded positions countywide including a magistrate judge, an auditor for the tax office, additional jail medical staff and other personnel changes. The judge said the budget assumes the county will add personnel \"absolutely necessary for the jail expansion\" if the jail project finishes and requires new hires.

Why it matters: The budget sets county spending priorities and affects local services, personnel and contracts for the coming fiscal year. The court's decision to hold the rate steady at 0.3051 means the county is not adopting a higher rate per $100 valuation, but the court also found the budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year because of increased property values on the rolls.

Key facts and context

- Adopted fiscal 2026 budget: motion by Commissioner Arthur; second by Commissioner Wright; motion passed. The judge reported a projected $1,300,000 deficit to the general fund in the budget document and noted historical underspending often improves the results. The budget keeps the county tax rate at 0.3051 per $100 of valuation.

- Property-tax change reflected in budget: the court approved a property-tax change that will raise $1,098,413 more revenue than last year (reported as 1.68% of the total property-tax amount). The judge also said $4,103,735 of the tax revenue would be from new property added to the tax roll this year.

- Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate: the court adopted the M&O rate of 0.286903 per $100 of valuation.

- Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate: the court adopted the I&S rate of 0.018197 per $100 of valuation.

- Total tax rate and resolution: the court adopted the total tax rate 0.3051 and approved the 2025-26 tax-rate resolution.

Other approvals recorded at the meeting (votes noted as approved unless otherwise stated)

- Approval of minutes from the Aug. 19 meeting.
- Consent-item approval: June 2025 monthly report from the tax assessor-collector.
- Payment of bills and vendor authorizations listed on the agenda, including multiple equipment purchases (RDO Equipment payments and Atmax equipment) and a large pass-through payment to the State Comptroller for the Health Department Local Provider Participation Fund (the transcript lists $7,073,049.34).
- Authorization for the county judge to sign juvenile-services contracts with multiple counties to permit use of Grayson County juvenile facilities.
- Appointment of election judges and alternates for the Sept. 1, 2025'Aug. 31, 2026 term based on party-submitted lists.
- Award of a bid for a security fence for the Community Supervision and Corrections Department to Allied Fence.
- Several subdivision actions: replat approvals (Heritage Estates Lots 15R & 16R; Boot Hill Estates phase 2 lots; Short Plunkett Cedar Road addition Phase 4) and approval of a developer's contract and right-of-way permit for two 48-inch culverts along Old Sanborn Ranch Road.

What was not decided: The court entered executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 to consult with counsel and, on returning to open session, announced there was no action to be taken on items discussed in executive session.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded in the meeting)

- Adopt fiscal 2026 budget: Approved (motion by Commissioner Arthur; second by Commissioner Wright).
- Approve property tax increase reflected in the budget (amount reported as $1,098,413; 1.68%): Approved (motion by Commissioner Arthur; second by Commissioner Hartenberg).
- Adopt proposed tax rates: M&O 0.286903, I&S 0.018197, total 0.3051 per $100 valuation: Approved.
- Approve 2025-26 tax-rate resolution: Approved.
- Authorize juvenile-services intercounty contracts: Approved.
- Approve environmental health fee updates for the Health Department: Approved (see separate article).
- Award bid 20205-16 for security fence (Allied Fence, $96,487): Approved.
- Developer contract and right-of-way permit for two 48-inch culverts (Old Sanborn Ranch Road): Approved.
- Replat and short-plat approvals listed on the agenda: Approved.

Ending

Court members thanked staff for the work on a large budget packet and noted continuing county priorities including jail expansion planning and road work. The court adjourned after confirming no action was required following executive session.","Grayson County Commissioners Court approved the fiscal 2026 budget with a projected $1.3 million general fund deficit, kept the tax rate at 0.3051 per $100 valuation and approved related tax-rate resolutions. The court also approved a series of routine items including bills, equipment purchases and intercounty juvenile services contracts.","actionData","errors"]

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Grayson County Health Department fee changes approved to align with state rule; food-establishment fees move to risk-based schedule

Grayson County adopts fiscal 2026 budget, keeps tax rate at 0.3051; multiple routine contracts approved