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Newton County approves multiple administrative actions: mileage rate change, budget amendments, equipment sales and office moves
Summary
The county approved numerous administrative items including raising the standard mileage rate to 70 cents, several budget amendments (including a $20,000 emergency generator allocation), authorization to sell surplus equipment, approval of a citizen-participation plan for CDBG, relocation of the treasurer's office and extension of a cold-weather disaster declaration.
Newton County Commissioners carried a package of administrative motions that covered travel reimbursement, budget amendments, surplus equipment sales and several routine governance items.
Among the actions the court approved: raising the county's standard mileage reimbursement to 70 cents per mile for 2025 to align with the IRS rate; authorizing the auditor to advertise for bids to sell a surplus mechanics truck; approving the sale or auction of a 2015 John Deere motor grader (Precinct 4); and accepting a $20,000 budget amendment to purchase an emergency generator for a county office that experienced repeated power loss. Commissioner Hopson moved the mileage change; other motions were moved and approved by voice vote.
The court discussed a $10,000 donation from Venture Global Pipeline intended for Deweyville community-park projects; commissioners agreed the funds were not general-tax revenue but tabled a motion to allocate the money until county attorneys and auditors could review the account placement. Commissioners also approved a set of larger budget amendments to allow Precinct 3 to acquire equipment and road materials, describing the package as addressing an operating shortfall in maintenance funding.
Administrative approvals also included a citizen-participation plan that standardizes posting to online county pages (satisfying both the Texas General Land Office and Texas Department of Agriculture requirements), a relocation of the County Treasurer's Office to the Davidson Street building to accommodate a staff member undergoing chemotherapy, appointment of Commissioner White as judge pro tem for 2025, extension of a county cold-weather disaster declaration and approval of payment of bills across multiple funds.
What's next: The donation allocation remains tabled pending financial review; staff were asked to report moving costs for the treasurer's relocation and auditors will process advertisements and sales for surplus equipment.
