Montgomery County Commission approves tax levies, contracts, leases and appropriations in February session

The Montgomery County Commission on an otherwise brief February session approved the county's tax levies, extended and awarded several contracts, authorized district office leases for two U.S. representatives, and approved multiple appropriations to local charities and schools.

The commission voted to adopt county tax levies for the tax year commencing Oct. 1, 2024; approved salary legislation for the county sheriff; and authorized district office leases for the offices of U.S. Representative Terry Sewell and U.S. Representative Shamari Figures. The board also approved contract amendments to extend existing service agreements, awarded procurement bids for road projects and sheriff's polo shirts, and approved a software contract for a county fuel management system.

Why it matters: the tax-levy vote establishes the county's fiscal baseline for property taxation for the coming tax year; the contract extensions and procurement awards affect county operations and road maintenance; and the appropriations directed modest county funds to local events, charities and school programs.

Key approvals and amounts included a $3,500 appropriation from Chairman Singleton to MMS Charities for the Montgomery half marathon; $1,100 from Chairman Singleton to Flatline Church for a men's conference; $1,000 from Commissioner Sankey and $1,025 from Commissioner Moore Ziegler to neighborhood services offices for the mayor's banquet; a $5,000 appropriation to a local feeding program (referred to in the meeting as "Hateless"); and education appropriations including $2,000 for Vaughn Road Elementary principal discretionary funds, $5,000 to Carver High School band and $3,000 for the Park Crossing soccer team from Commissioner Sankey.

The board approved a yearly contract between Montgomery County Appraisal and Tripp Incorporated to provide income and expense data; an amendment to extend the contract with Client Service Incorporated through Jan. 31, 2026; and a second amendment to extend Martin Environmental Services Incorporated through Jan. 13, 2026. The commission awarded a bid to Galls LLC to furnish polo shirts for the sheriff's office and awarded various county road projects to Wiregrass Construction Company Incorporated. The commission also approved a software contract with ECOS for a fuel management system.

Several routine items were approved without extended discussion, including minutes from the Jan. 28, 2025 regular meeting, accounts payable and payroll checks, and county employee programs such as the 2025 county employee blood drives and approval of the county employee handbook.

Votes at a glance: the items listed below are the motions recorded in the meeting transcript and the outcomes noted by the commission ("Motion carries"). Where a mover or seconder was not identified in the transcript, those fields are not specified.

- Public hearing (earlier in session): alcohol license application for special events by Veil Cervanteso del Prozio LLC for Festival Latino — public hearing declared open and then closed; no public testimony recorded.

- Item 1 — Consider minutes of the regular meeting of 01/28/2025: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 2 — Consider accounts payable checks and payroll checks: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 3 — Consider alcohol license application for special events (retail) to Rancho El Pari Paraiso, LLC for Festival Latino at 7625 Jesse Reed Lane for Sept. 15, 2025: Motion carried (approved).

- Agreement — Montgomery County Appraisal and Tripp Incorporated (yearly contract for income and expense data): Motion carried (approved).

- Consider county tax levies for the tax year commencing 10/01/2024 and for each tax year thereafter: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 6 — Consider county sheriff's salary legislation: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 7 — District office lease for the office of U.S. Representative Terry Sewell: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 8 — District office lease for the office of U.S. Representative Shamari Figures: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 9 — Consider 2025 county employee blood drives: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 10 — Consider Montgomery County employee handbook: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 11 — Software contract with ECOS for a fuel management system: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 12 — Amendment No. 1 to contract with Client Service Incorporated to extend the contract until 01/31/2026: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 13 — Amendment No. 2 to contract with Martin Environmental Services Incorporated to extend the contract until 01/13/2026: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 14 — Bid award to Galls LLC to furnish polo shirts for the sheriff's office: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 15 — Bid award to Wiregrass Construction Company Incorporated for various county road projects: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 16 — Miscellaneous appropriations to agencies, including specified commissioner contributions (see clarifying details): Motion carried (approved).

- Item 17 — Miscellaneous appropriations to education (including $2,000 from Commissioner Harris to Vaughn Road Elementary principal discretionary, $5,000 from Commissioner Harris to Carver High School band, and $3,000 from Commissioner Sankey for Park Crossing soccer team): Motion carried (approved).

- Item 18 — Miscellaneous appropriation from designated revenue: Motion carried (approved).

- Item 19 — Consider ?bridal and trainer? request for appraisal and the sheriff's office (transcript text): Motion carried (approved).

After the formal business, several commissioners thanked county staff and administrators and described a recent visit by seventh graders from Montgomery Catholic School to the commission chambers, courthouse and archives; commissioners also praised HR consultants and county employees for recruitment and operations. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.