[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",5978631,"mediaKeyId","5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca","parentId",5810681,"title","Van Zandt County proclaims October 2025 as National 4‑H Week","audioSeconds",335,"startMs",577000,"endMs",912000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca&start=577&end=912","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca/thumbnail_577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978631/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Van-Zandt-County-proclaims-October-2025-as-National-4H-Week","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978631-8662e2852b8ac8f4d68cef8e44afe049/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079182&Signature=gsQI5sMBiMBc~X4WFp4ZJA~ggmPZAgT~cq~jxppqCWUkLXStggmMVVHxh4v7AkFNiFsyHXKMJ-NhAM8XOaAf3e3hg3Luk8dhLDk46~KSRwnKlD71tZDv8ozJNoW8Vuyjepqi6w6GLR9lRKuTcyxEU4WlPZDUCVvCgiePVrjlvKQZS6MEjjk5kbgJrTeMzfxchx4fS9cIHrUap69hhacmxrRiAaD4QisRtIc4qSysl8SGkUuAnt4F~6M~MakkFILW-bGLOYVv7s8UEr64HEFXQtt4xtyABTlxQOneD3FR2E2f9EGycthlDIAYSO9IDOTA1coo0V0ApWBDl~II0MwQ1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Van Zandt, Texas","date","2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","article","Van Zandt County commissioners on Sept. 18 read and adopted a proclamation declaring October 2025 as National 4‑H Week in Van Zandt County. Harper Ellis, identified as 4‑H president, and other local 4‑H officers and adult leaders attended and read the proclamation language describing 4‑H as \"America's largest youth development organization\" and noting its connections to the Cooperative Extension system.

Commissioner Barton moved to approve the proclamation, and Commissioner Phillips seconded. Commissioners approved the proclamation by voice vote. County staff and 4‑H leaders then gathered for a group photo as commissioners signed the document.

Ending: The signed proclamation will be kept on file with county records and local 4‑H leaders will take a copy for their program's use.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Van Zandt County Special Session 9/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","On Sept. 18 the Van Zandt County commissioners proclaimed October 2025 as National 4‑H Week, accepted a reading of the proclamation from local 4‑H officers and signed the document; Commissioner Barton moved and Commissioner Phillips seconded the resolution, which passed by voice vote.","taxTitle","Van Zandt County, Texas","taxId",63777,"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},5978637,"County ratifies auditor appointments, court-reporter salary and $5,000 bond for assistant county auditor",108,1263000,1371000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca&start=1263&end=1371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca/thumbnail_1263000.jpg","/articles/5978637/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/County-ratifies-auditor-appointments-court-reporter-salary-and-5000-bond-for-assistant-county-auditor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978637-c890f9013128239b1e25358e67244ae4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079182&Signature=heNmvOh2-CcHusEgxvyP-bI4zCm0ZxHWEfWi5yPHL74m6c10ds6l5AxSEwSLiVJ1rh2fPj4mXvA6x3ZuUVxKlokjfY4Sp3uAYadRz~~9SBrGgxaYN3YfFzgG4z7PaB8RHayqAnZ48nTyUxDFeihQZf~n4R9ACjN9Y8WQ44Yh77~gjUiMwSuZZLokxPHO92SNwo9-mrLapJEA2uwGzhTK9bhCBRbokUkDIJO1A8y45sBk~ov4QsB4S69zaEAT75pMIt-LCOEJ0j0gyZlq2l3V8dHNtWUM6fg1bssl7EbCZ-Uo3lOthlEViPiaQBAQO40FYWsn7bQCV0mZI50w9Tmyjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The court considered personnel and administrative items Sept. 18 that are handled by the district judge and reflected in the FY26 budget. The commissioners acknowledged the district judge’s appointments and salary determinations for the county auditor and assistant county auditors under Local Government Code sec. 84.021; the judge’s signed documents were in the meeting binder, and the court noted those salaries are included in the posted budget.

The court also recorded the appointment and salary for the official court reporter of the 290th (referred to in the meeting as the \"2 90 fourth district court\"); the judge had made the appointment and set the salary consistent with the proposed FY26 budget. Finally, the commissioners approved a $5,000 bond for Assistant County Auditor Nicole Nicks; a motion and second were made and the court approved the bond by voice vote.

Ending: The district judge’s personnel actions will be reflected in county payroll as posted in the FY26 budget, and the $5,000 bond for Nicole Nicks was approved.","Van Zandt County commissioners acknowledged district-judge appointments for the county auditor and assistant auditors under Local Government Code sec. 84.021, approved the appointment and salary for the official court reporter of the 290th/4th district court, and approved a $5,000 bond for Assistant County Auditor Nicole Nicks.",{"_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},5978642,"Auditor briefs commissioners on new law doubling competitive-bid threshold to $100,000",154,1089000,1243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca&start=1089&end=1243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca/thumbnail_1089000.jpg","/articles/5978642/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Auditor-briefs-commissioners-on-new-law-doubling-competitive-bid-threshold-to-100000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978642-24807286fc0757ba6d69b7e61f7bdf32/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079182&Signature=ZZ4Bn5SJZ22521fK1b5aMiKxeaKcH52NboPkWwLBfmK1bcf7AmzFOPovwjBL6Ov7XnCNeG5BclEPoHG~9RyPW3dXcYI43RXiMjLvAhL8hdGCabTKVxa7JSTUOOSFnCIBHYM7ARkcgcnH1lAjOi4y9K-oKhiz7aA5gkPvWylkQncbsGCxa1eoH5UYLjLrRQVmq3F6QsV3zkFA-4-uW3cA6fz9ywrsDa6VItwHQ-0UNp16uDAK-yKblaay3KEK1pNBqPlVJpyXRvr9~DLkRx0VYWphwH-b9lYm-VrMQsLSxU-AzoDXrljgP2ZIpjljFuSzMocOEBOlTp5dhVeYKfcpNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County auditor staff briefed the Van Zandt County commissioners on Senate Bill 1173 and its effect on Local Government Code sec. 262.023, which raised the competitive-bid threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 effective Sept. 1, 2025. The auditor’s office said the change affects when formal competitive-bidding procedures are required for purchases without existing contracts.

Staff clarified that purchases under existing contracts or through recognized cooperative purchasing arrangements (for example, BuyBoard) are still governed by their contract terms and do not require additional county bids. Commissioners asked whether common purchases—such as rock or road materials when a prior bid had not been filed that year—could now be procured up to the $100,000 threshold without a new competitive process; staff confirmed yes for purchases not covered by an existing contract.

The briefing was informational; no policy change was adopted at the meeting. The auditor’s office will update county purchasing policies to reflect the statutory change.

Ending: The county will revise its purchasing policy language to conform to Senate Bill 1173 and Local Government Code sec. 262.023.","County staff informed the Van Zandt commissioners about Senate Bill 1173, which raised the competitive bidding threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 effective Sept. 1, 2025; staff said existing contracts remain governed by their terms and that purchases through cooperative purchasing networks remain unchanged.",{"_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},5978645,"Commissioners authorize amendment to jail health contract to expand nursing hours and raise per-diem by 3%",27,1035000,1062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca&start=1035&end=1062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca/thumbnail_1035000.jpg","/articles/5978645/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Commissioners-authorize-amendment-to-jail-health-contract-to-expand-nursing-hours-and-raise-per-diem-by-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978645-f2c4a42f8a3e2e9f5c9b4c21dc5ccb8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079182&Signature=QsQJrePVhvMnflsA~RCnJe9zW41nDWBpKt~ixPtDVmj5U1kLf898a8BosJxJTv~~BAVaYJ7vZ1jWBfxewMVuNuPpfss64nxOuJHDCkvsRRdOE7ohIJ3glDPiqccwqXciNnBl9k4-sJ5L1NBmHwOocyoKUN2eNScnUR-5SqYZEu9FaucPzZr7VlMbQNIK0nlU1l5lgwdskowCRD21o7IjJAv2m4B4nkNdw-nN~GdNOwqjJDnSi9iO4E5zTQIRzOaNnheprHD93h4bGbYBdN4RyyjlxjZ6~xB6N4oIzB0lquacBmvy50witSZqkn7nl2YbGSd3EVyc1sm1JN1jBoKIOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Zandt County commissioners voted Sept. 18 to authorize the county judge to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Southern Health Partners contract for inmate care. The amendment extends nursing hours to 10 hours per day, seven days a week, and implements a fixed 3% increase in the base fee and per-diem rate for Dec. 25, 2025, through Nov. 2026.

A commissioner asked whether the increased cost is already reflected in the draft budget; county staff confirmed the amendment is included in the posted FY26 figures. A motion to approve the fixed increase and authorize the county judge to sign the amendment was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote.

Ending: The county judge and county staff will sign the amendment and implement the updated nursing schedule and rates as stated in Amendment No. 2.","Van Zandt County approved Amendment No. 2 to the Southern Health Partners contract, extending nursing coverage to 10 hours per day, seven days a week, and adding a fixed 3% fee increase for Dec. 25, 2025–Nov. 2026; officials said the change is reflected in the posted budget.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978650,"Van Zandt County commissioners narrow FY26 budget; $310,000 shortfall remains",1426,1419000,2845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca&start=1419&end=2845","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810681-d1a1dc8efb7a86b69ac38e64076f4dca/thumbnail_1419000.jpg","/articles/5978650/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Van-Zandt-County-commissioners-narrow-FY26-budget-310000-shortfall-remains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978650-1e0655ff546b6b2218434ba140a991d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079182&Signature=QEqD8psYBiIACZSr2NFkZY3VwrVAi4oN7WsXrpFnufMcNWSBxpnP1YiA7xxeAisBvM4B~4Yr5Gmuf7nZ8CpO9fcnu2ctvXRudfHRdvSYOQ71LQ3OEz21K36A-sqwrguksN9x~EMVhpJqhZYo85sPjNJ--GHbXok8wpj-9HIsPqcsFQqrd9TE0BYVkRlYh~XNYN77KED-UpwVgsDe76NY~dlQOXKykoQf41vSUJg4KMuJKjixSNWYsNM8oCupNR2UBj5vFQDjcPqHxvupliI3irVMCT1~wR1R85lQqDY6R3qRkNj9uxrRWZJ5ZLMeFXyGxokMq-q48dNS3yOi4je0-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Zandt County commissioners held a budget workshop Sept. 18 and reviewed an updated FY26 draft (version 9/16) that the county judge said currently shows a $310,000 shortfall. The court heard department-by-department estimates of unspent funds and discussed how those amounts could affect the final budget.

The county judge told the court that the budget work by departments and commissioners reduced the shortfall to “negative, 310,000.” Sheriff Bridger reported an estimated $377,489 in salary savings coming back to the county and said he would ask commissioners next year to allow a small portion of returned salary funds to buy tasers for deputies. A commissioner urged seeking grants before purchasing equipment, noting grants often take a year to secure.

Commissioners stressed they would not allocate returned funds or authorize purchases until the auditor’s closeout work is complete; the auditor’s office indicated final figures and fund balances likely will be known in December. The judge said he plans to include a permanent-improvement line of about $4.2 million and a contingency line of $4 million in the budget so those amounts would be legally available if the court chooses to spend them. The judge also described a separate $6 million fund balance that would be reflected as contingency rather than daily operating revenue.

The court discussed pay changes already reflected in the draft: a 3% across-the-board raise is in the posted budget, with higher adjustments for specific under-market positions (the judge has requested pay changes for court reporters and IT staff). Commissioners asked staff to verify classifications and confirm whether some part-time positions converted to full-time had raises calculated on the correct base.

No formal budget adoption occurred at the workshop. The judge said he would correct a keying error discovered that morning, accept additional proposed cuts from department heads, and release a new final draft on Monday for review before formal adoption proceedings.

Ending: Commissioners asked the auditor’s office to produce a final cash/fund-balance report before the court makes any discretionary allocations from returned funds; until then, purchases tied to returned salary dollars—such as tasers—were to be deferred.","At a Sept. 18 workshop, Van Zandt County officials reviewed an updated FY26 budget that shows a $310,000 deficit, discussed returned department funds (including an estimated $377,489 from the sheriff's office), and agreed not to authorize new purchases until year-end closeout figures are final.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Van Zandt County proclaims October 2025 as National 4‑H Week

County ratifies auditor appointments, court-reporter salary and $5,000 bond for assistant county auditor

Auditor briefs commissioners on new law doubling competitive-bid threshold to $100,000

Commissioners authorize amendment to jail health contract to expand nursing hours and raise per-diem by 3%

Van Zandt County commissioners narrow FY26 budget; $310,000 shortfall remains