This Week

State and regional officials touted low unemployment figures last week, but the data shows Donley and Hall counties remains behind in job creation.

Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the fact that Texas is growing jobs at a faster rate than the rest of the nation, with the state setting records for employed individuals and the size of the labor force.

Meanwhile, the Panhandle Workforce Development Area (WDA) solidified its position as one of the state’s top performers with a low unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in July. This marks our region’s continued reign as the second-lowest unemployment rate in Texas.

The story is different in Donley County, which has a 5.0 percent unemployment rate for July, up from 4.4 percent one year ago. While the number of employed people has risen from 1,391 last July to 1,395 this year, the number of people looking for work also went up from 64 to 74. Donley County’s labor force was 1,455 in July 2023 and was 1,469 last month.

Hall County reported the highest unemployment rate in the Panhandle at 5.4 percent, up from 4.6 percent a year ago. Out of a labor force of 1,106 workers, 1,046 were employed last month. In 2023, Hall County had 1,034 people employed with a labor force of 1,084. Sixty people were looking for work in July, compared to 50 people one year ago.

Regionally, the Panhandle’s diverse economy continues to drive job creation. Education and health services remain the dominant employer in the region, accounting for 22.5 percent of total employment according to Q1 2024 data. Trade, transportation, and utilities follow closely behind at 20.5 percent. Manufacturing (14.4 percent), leisure and hospitality (10.1 percent), and natural resources and mining (8.0 percent) are also significant contributors to the job market.

“Our skilled and growing workforce is a magnet for innovative businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to expand and succeed,” said Abbott. “As a result, Texas employers added jobs at a faster rate than the nation over the last 12 months and more Texans are working than ever before. The diversity of industries growing across our great state is a testament to the resilience of Texas businesses and the Best Business Climate in America. With increasing investments in education, innovation, and workforce training, we continue to build a bigger, better Texas for all.”

The Texas unemployment rate in July of 4.1 percent was 0.2 percentage points below the national rate.

State Rep. Ken King will visit Clarendon next Tuesday, September 3, as he tours a segment of House District 88 to discuss the upcoming 89th Regular Legislative Session.

The representative will meet citizens at the Bairfield Activity Center at Clarendon College from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Rep. King will solicit feedback from constituents on issues of vital importance to them and their communities.

“Before beginning another legislative session, it is important that I received input and ideas from the constituents of District 88 to help me effectively represent and advocate for our community.” King said.

The Clarendon College Board of Regents approved the tax rate and the budget for the next fiscal year for the college district when they met last Thursday, August 15.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said the new budget totals about $13 million. Donley County taxpayers will pick up about $786,000 of that bill with the new ad valorem tax rate of $0.2549 per $100 value.

This will be the first year that CC does not tax personal property in Donley County.

The remainder of the budget will be covered by $6.930 million from state appropriations, about $1 million in maintenance taxes in Gray and Childress counties, and the balance from student tuition and fees.

Buckhaults said college staff are getting five percent raises and college faculty are getting raises of three percent or $2,000, whichever is higher.

Capital expenditures planned in the new budget includes replacing roofs on two buildings – part of a rotation plan that will see a roof or two done on all college buildings for a 15 year period – and new drapes for the stage in the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of a $1,000,000 loan from the Agricultural Water Conservation Loan Program to the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, which covers Carson, Gray, Donley, Roberts, Armstrong, Potter, Hutchinson, and Wheeler counties.

The District will use the assistance to provide financing for a loan program that funds agricultural water conservation equipment.

The District could save approximately $86,300 over the life of the loan by using the Agricultural Water Conservation Loan Program.

The District will use the funds to provide loans to area farmers to purchase irrigation systems and related equipment to improve water use efficiency.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water and flood planning, and preparing the state water and flood plans.

The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood mitigation, and agricultural water conservation projects.

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.

The Clarendon City Council accepted resignations from two people and appointed a replacement for one during its regular meeting last Thursday, August 8.

Alderman John Lockhart submitted his resignation after ten years of service to the city. The council accepted his resignation with regrets and agreed to wait until a future meeting to name a replacement for Lockhart to serve until the next election.

The council also accepted the resignation of Ken McIntosh, who had just recently been appointed to represent the city on the Greenbelt Water Authority Board. McIntosh said he was not able to attend the Greenbelt meetings since he is working at that time.

Aldermen unanimously named Cameron Word to take the city’s seat on the Greenbelt board. Word had expressed interest in the position and indicated his willingness to serve in that capacity.

In other city business, the council conducted the annual evaluation of City Administrator Brian Barboza. After meeting in executive session for about half an hour, the council returned to open session and took no action on Barboza’s contract. Mayor Jacob Fangman said the council will consider it further at a future meeting.

The council voted not to approve a request to close and vacate portions of Leroy, Ninth, and Tenth Streets in the southwest part of the city. Aldermen agreed those streets and the adjacent alleyways should remain available for future use.

The council approved a motion naming City Administrator Brian Barboza as the authorized representative for day-to-day operations for all city personnel.

Aldermen also voted to clarify Ordinance 510, which allows for city utility bills to be paid on the following business day if the due date falls on a holiday or weekend. The council added those payments are due by 5 p.m. the next business day.

Aldermen took no action on broadband services bids so that members of the council have time to review the bids received.

The employee handbook was amended regarding the incentives for employees acquiring additional certifications.

Gregory Outley was named as the city’s new animal control officer in Barboza’s administrator’s report.

The city will hold a called meeting on August 22 for a budget hearing.

Clarendon saw a slight dip in sales tax revenues for August when Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar distributed monthly allocations last week.

The city’s revenue dropped 2.68 percent to $47,425.53 compared to the same period in 2023. Despite the drop this month, Clarendon remains up 2.11 percent on the calendar year-to-date with sales tax revenues of $340,635.54.

Hedley was up 85.26 percent from $1,450.02 last August to $2,686.32 this month. That community is up 20.03 percent for the year-to-date at $10,790.33.

The City of Howardwick was up 23.54 percent from $1,784.57 a year ago to $2,204.67 this month. The lakeside city is still down 11.44 percent, however, at $12,998.31 after it lowered its sales tax rate last fall.

In neighboring communities, Claude was down 12.23 percent with an allocation of $18,128.66 this month and is down 1.27 percent for the year at $151,881.41. Memphis was down 10.73 percent this month at $38,757.97 and is down 6.76 percent for the year at $262,507.95.

Across the state, Hegar sent $1.2 billion in local sales tax allocations for August, 0.3 percent less than in August 2023.

These allocations are based on sales made in June by businesses that report tax monthly and on sales made in April, May and June by quarterly filers.

Optimum announced Tuesday that due to significant investments made to the company’s local network and infrastructure, area residents and businesses can now access internet speeds of up to 500 Mbps in Clarendon.

With this launch, customers are now able to enjoy a superior internet service that is over 33 times faster than the previous highest speed offered by the company in this market.

This network enhancement comes on the heels of the company introducing its new brand platform and marketing campaign, “Where local is big time,” to customers across its 21-state footprint earlier this year. The new platform centers on Optimum’s ability to bring customers the reach and connectivity resources of a large national provider with the localized care and support of a small business to cater to the unique connectivity needs of each community it serves.

“Optimum is excited to bring faster internet speeds to the Clarendon community, backed by our newly enhanced local network and infrastructure,” said Kathleen Preston, Vice President, General Manager of Optimum West Pacific.

“With this upgrade, our customers in this area can enjoy a superior connectivity experience for their ever-growing data and entertainment needs, and we look forward to continue investing in the strength and reliability of our services in every community we serve across the state of Texas.”

Optimum Internet comes with whole home WiFi coverage with Smart WiFi for seamless streaming, working, gaming and more, built-in security, as well as 24/7 tech support. The company’s Optimum Mobile service is delivered over America’s most awarded 5G network and offers plans starting as low as $15 per month per line.

The company says that in addition, significant savings of over $650 per year are available for residents who choose Optimum Complete, a line of Internet + Mobile bundles that start at just $55 per month for internet service with one mobile line.

For more information on Optimum’s services, local residents can call 866.9.OPTIMUM or visit optimum.com/internet.