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Limestone County schedules Aug. 27 hearing after presentation on private financing program
Summary
Charlene Heidegger of Texas PICS Authority briefed Limestone County officials on a nonprofit-run private-financing program for energy and water upgrades, saying the county would not handle funds; commissioners set a public hearing for Aug. 27 at 9:00 a.m. to consider the program.
Charlene Heidegger, president of Texas PICS Authority, told Limestone County officials that her nonprofit runs a private-financing program designed to help businesses and nonprofits pay for energy- and water-efficiency upgrades without drawing on county funds. "You never touch money," Heidegger said during a presentation to the body.
The program would be funded by user fees and grants, she said, and Texas PICS Authority administers the program for participating local governments. Heidegger said foundation seed funding from the Meadows Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Environmental Defense Fund helped create the model, which she described as operating in multiple Texas cities, and that administration costs come from participating property owners.
Heidegger said statutory protections limit county liability if a borrower defaults: "the statute makes very clear you are not liable for any funds," she said, and collections—if needed—would be handled by a third-party collections contractor. When asked whether the county would have financial exposure, Speaker 1 asked, "We have 0 financial exposure?" and Heidegger replied, "Yes, sir."
County officials followed the presentation by adopting a resolution that sets a public hearing to consider establishing the program. The commissioners agreed to hold the hearing on Aug. 27 at 9:00 a.m. if they move forward with the next steps outlined by the presenter: publishing a report, scheduling the hearing, holding the hearing, and then voting later on a resolution to formally establish the program and, if desired, approving a services contract to permit Texas PICS Authority to administer it.
What happens next: the county will publish the report referenced in the resolution and hold the public hearing on the scheduled date. Any subsequent decision to establish the program and to contract for administration will be taken in later agenda items and require separate formal action.
