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Hood County tables inclusion in DFW Foreign‑Trade Zone amid tax and infrastructure concerns
Summary
Hood County commissioners on July 8 voted 3–1 to table a request to allow the county judge to sign a letter seeking inclusion in DFW Foreign‑Trade Zone No. 39. Proponents said inclusion is nonbinding and could help local manufacturers; critics warned of possible inventory‑tax exemptions that could reduce school and county revenue and asked for more study.
Hood County commissioners on July 8 voted to table a proposal that would let the county judge sign a letter asking to include Hood County in DFW Foreign‑Trade Zone No. 39.
Shay Hopkins, speaking for county economic development staff, told the court the inclusion request is not a commitment to any single company but would allow local firms and prospective relocations to apply for foreign‑trade‑zone benefits — mainly delaying duties and certain tariffs until goods are sold. "This kind of puts us ahead of the game," Hopkins said, adding that the inclusion would allow the county to review and approve any company before it receives FTZ benefits.
Several commissioners said they needed more time to evaluate potential impacts, especially on local tax collections and infrastructure. One commissioner cited the U.S. Foreign‑Trade Zones Act and warned that inventory and business‑personal‑property exemptions could lower the taxable base used by schools and counties. Commissioners asked whether the local school district (GISD) and the county chief appraiser had been briefed and requested additional analysis before deciding.
Supporters argued inclusion is nonbinding and preserves the county's ability to weigh individual applications case‑by‑case. Hopkins said adjoining counties — Parker, Palo Pinto and Wise — were coordinating joint letters and that a joint application would strengthen the petition to DFW Foreign Trade Zone administrators.
A motion to table the item until the next commissioner's court prevailed by a 3–1 vote. The court directed staff to gather more information, including fiscal impacts and stakeholder outreach, before revisiting the matter.
