County leaves THC grant out of proposed budget

Donley County Commissioners filed a proposed $4.2 million budget this week for fiscal year 2025, and Judge John Howard says it does not include money for a Texas Historical Commission grant for courthouse work.

The proposed budget does continue to set aside $50,000 for preservation of the 1890 Courthouse, but in their regular meeting on Monday, commissioners tabled action on a grant received last week from the THC because it was not the grant the county had applied for.

Donley County was ready to put up about $820,000 as an 18 percent match for a grant that would have funded $4.6 million in continuing restoration and preservation work to the Courthouse. THC instead approved the county for a 50-50 matching grant, which meant the county would have to provide $2.3 million for the project.

Howard says the county cannot do that, and talks are continuing with the state agency about how to move forward.

Howard says the county matching funds are in the bank ready to go if the state and county officials can figure out a way to proceed. A budget amendment could be passed later in the fiscal year if needed to cover that.

The proposed budget does see several increases in expenditures, but the county’s tax rate is actually going down slightly. County employees will see varying raises in the budget, but the most significant raises are those in the Donley County Sheriff’s Department, which are funded by a grant through Senate Bill 22.

Another grant program in the proposed budget includes money from FEMA that will help buy generators for several locations in the county for use during emergencies.

A third grant funded program will employee a second highway safety officer for the county to help patrol highways since the DPS presence here has been reduced.

Howard said the county is also proposing funding for a new road hand position that will be shared between all four precincts. The new employee will be charged with clearing and maintaining all the rights of way along county roads. Trees and other vegetation growing into the rights of way has become a problem over time, Howard said.

Commissioners will hold public hearings on its proposed budget as well as the tax rate on August 26 at 9 a.m.
See the public notice in this week’s Enterprise for more information.