News

Clarendon College Regents will consider a $10.2 million budget for fiscal year 2023 following a public hearing this Thursday, August 18.

CC President Tex Buckhaults says the proposed budget is slightly higher than the current $9.95 million budget and is supported by a proposed tax rate of $0.252535, which will generate about $57,000 in new revenue.

The college tax levy in Donley County is expected to collect about $705,000. The remainder of the budget is funded by the state, student tuition and fees, and other sources.

The new tax money raised in Donley County will go into physical improvements on the Clarendon campus, Buckhaults said.

The new budget includes a three percent raise for most college employees and a $1 per hour raise for any employees not making at least $15 per hour. The new budget does not raise tuition or fees since regents already approved raise those revenue items earlier this year.

In other recent college news, the CC Board of Regents met June 24 for a regular meeting. Among the agenda items at that meeting, the board evaluated the performance of the board itself and of President Buckhaults. Following his evaluation, the president’s contract was extended through June 2024.

In July, Brittney Word was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of regents, and the board heard a presentation from Gordian regarding development of a master plan for campus improvements.

Buckhaults said regents approved a three-year agreement totaling $68,000 with the company to help prioritize needed campus improvements. The company would also help the college develop funding solutions or financing for those improvements.

Regents also accepted a bid on atheletic insurance at a savings of about $17,000 over last year.

Local taxing units continue to announce public hearings for their tax rates and budgets for the coming fiscal year.

Among the public notices in this week’s Enterprise, the City of Clarendon will hold a hearing on tax increase with a proposed rate of $0.607285 per $100 valuation. The hearing will be September 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Clarendon CISD will also hold a public meeting August 29 at 6:30 p.m. on its proposed budget and a possible tax rate of $0.9901.

Previously advertised hearings included the county, the city, the appraisal district, and the college district.

Donley County is holding public hearings on its tax rate and its proposed budget on Monday, August 29, at 1 p.m. in the Courthouse. The county is proposing a tax rate of $0.595644 per $100 valuation.

The City of Clarendon will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget for the coming year on Thursday, August 25, at 7 p.m.

The Donley County Appraisal District will take public comments on its proposed budget August 24 at 7 p.m.

Clarendon College Regents will meet for a hearing on its proposed tax rate of $0.252535 on August 18 at 5:45 p.m. and will also have a budget hearing on August 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Read more about these hearings in the Public Notices throughout the Enterprise. The public is invited and encouraged to attend these meetings.

The Donley County Community Fund is now accepting applications from qualified non-profit organizations for up to $1,500 grant to be awarded this fall.

Those eligible to apply for the grants include local governments, schools, and non-profit organizations holding a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service. All grant applicants must be from Donley County.

Grant applications for any amount up to $1,500 must be received by Friday, September 30, at 5 p.m., and the grant recipient will be selected in October.
To receive a grant application and determine your organization’s eligibility to apply, contact Jacob Fangman 806-206-5737 or jacobfangman@yahoo.com. Applications are available from Fangman at Herring Bank or at the Clarendon Visitor Center.

The Donley County Community Fund is an affiliate fund of the Amarillo Area Foundation (AAF) with the focus of building an Endowed Legacy for the entire county for the benefit of future generations.

Donley County Commissioners are proposing a $4.37 million budget for fiscal year 2023, an increase of about $880,441 compared to the current budget, but a large portion of that increase will not come from local tax dollars.

A public hearing on the budget and on the tax rate to support that budget will be August 29 at 1:00 p.m.

The proposed budget includes more than $636,000 in ARPA (federal COVID relief) funds with most of that money being directed toward courthouse repairs and other government services. Donley County Judge John Howard said the county is budgeting with the possibility of receiving a large preservation grant from the state. The county officials were notified recently that their application for additional courthouse restoration funds from the state had been turned down, but Howard there may still be a chance of getting some partial funding.

Regardless of whether the county receives a grant, the judge says officials will proceed with soliciting bids to repair windows in the 1890 courthouse at an expected cost of more than $100,000.

New this coming fiscal year, Howard says county employees will be required to cover 20 percent of their health insurance premiums. To ease the transition to that, most county employees will see their salaries increase by $2,400 in the new budget.

The 2023 budget is supported by a proposed total tax rate of $0.595644 per $100 valuation, which is almost two cents lower than the current tax rate. The proposed tax rate brings in about $32,334 more in property taxes than last year.

Two new items in the budget are $500 to support Snack Pak 4 Kids and $1,000 to support the Tralee Crisis Center.

The budget also includes $85,000 to match grant funds that would purchase and install emergency generators at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center, the Donley County Activity Center, and the Red Cross emergency shelter at the First United Methodist Church. Funds are also available to make improvements to the former tax appraisal building for the sheriff’s office to use as a training location and to improve the Precinct 3 barn in Hedley.

The county will receive its sixth of ten annual payments from the wind farm in the next fiscal year, an amount of $200,000.

A copy of the proposed budget will be on file at the county clerk’s office August 15 and be vailable on the county website.

Commissioners formally proposed the budget and the tax rate during their regular meeting Monday, August 8.

The City of Clarendon has approved more than $300,000 in street improvements to be completed in the coming months.

City Administrator David Dockery said work is expected to begin between August 27 and 29 on Seventh Street between Koogle and Ellerbe, a stretch of roadway that as suffered for years from heavy storm damage.

The $186,000 project, which will last about 40 days, will install concrete curbs and gutters and lay down hot mix asphalt for the road surface. Concrete driveway approaches will also be installed at existing driveways, Dockery said.

Residents in the area will have to alternative parking for the duration of the project.

“We apologize ahead of time for any inconvenience to the residents in the area, but we hope they are very happy with the project upon its completion,” Dockery said.

In September, the city will spend about $125,000 on its annual resurfacing program to protect some of Clarendon’s better streets. The chip seal project will be carried out on East Fourth Street between Gorst and Carhart, on South Carhart from US 287 to Montgomery, on Clarendon Avenue from Bugbee Avenue to the west side of the college campus, the 600 and 700 blocks of South Bugbee, and the 400 and 500 blocks of South Allen.

Dockery said other blocks may be included in the fall project depending on how the bid comes in. During the project, cars will have to be moved off the street and avoid the area while work is being done.

The fall project will take three days or less to complete and hopefully be a minimal inconvenience, Dockery said.

City officials will notify affect residents of the paving projects as they get closer.

Ongoing dry conditions have prompted the City of Clarendon to remind residents that a Stage 3 drought condition does still exist and to ask everyone to be conservation minded when it comes to water.

“We know the residents of Clarendon have already reduced their water use, and the city appreciates the conservative nature of our community,” City Administrator David Dockery said. “People know what ‘dry’ is.”

Stage 3 drought condition guidelines encourage water conservation with certain requests of local citizens.

Limit outside watering to twice-a-week, and then before 10:00 am and after 7:00 pm.

Residential customers with odd-numbered street addresses water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Residential customers with even-numbered street addresses water on Thursdays and Sundays. Commercial customers water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Limit washing of motor vehicles, motorbikes, boats, and other vehicles at home to before 10:00 am or after 7:00 pm on your designated watering day, and then use a bucket and/or a hand-held hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle. Commercial car washes are excepted.

Avoid filling swimming pools except during the above watering hours.

Avoid operating ornamental fountains unless necessary to support aquatic life or if equipped with a recirculation system.

Do not water-wash driveways, sidewalks, and other hard-surfaced areas. Do not wash down buildings or structures except for immediate fire protection.

Repair all leaks as soon as possible, and report any leaks or unauthorized usage to City Hall. Night and weekend emergency leaks should be reported to the Donley County Sheriff’s Office at 806.874.3533.