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Commissioners discuss calling November election for county assistance district; public hearings planned
Summary
Commissioners discussed whether to put a county assistance district (sales‑tax based) for unincorporated areas on the November ballot, with deadlines in August; commissioners agreed to schedule public hearings in early August and to work with GIS and elections on district boundaries and statutory constraints.
The Commissioners Court discussed a possible order to call an election to establish one or more county assistance districts covering unincorporated areas of Guadalupe County.
Commissioner Carpenter outlined that a county assistance district would be a sales‑tax mechanism (not a property tax) and could fund services such as roads, law enforcement, detention or firefighting. He recommended placing a countywide measure for the unincorporated areas on the November ballot, noting the August 18 deadline to call the election. The elections administrator and GIS staff were asked to prepare shading maps and voter lists to define district boundaries for any order calling the election.
Commissioners emphasized the need for public hearings and clear communication: the court discussed holding hearings in early August (possible dates Aug. 5 and Aug. 12) and returning on Aug. 12 to decide whether to place the order on the ballot. The county attorney and elections administrator will research statutory limits on ballot language and whether commissioners, as the governing body, may advocate publicly after an election is called.
