ORDER NO.30562
RATIFY MOTION TO APPROVE THE LANGUAGE IN HOUSE BILL 3195
Came to be heard this the 8th day of October, 2007, with a motion made by
Commissioner Letz, seconded by Commissioner Williams. The Court
unanimously approved by vote of 3-0-0 to:
Ratify, as a separate Motion, to approve the language in House Bill 3195, which
states Commissioners' Court adopted a budget on September 28, 2007, that raised
more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year.
3osb a-
J.9
COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST
PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND TEN (10) COPIES OF THIS
REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO ~E REVIEWED BY THE COURT
MADE BY: Jeannie Hargis
MEETING DATE: October 8, 2007
normal presentation time
OFFICE: Auditor's Office
TIME PREFERRED: During my
SUBJECT: Motion to Ratify motion to approve the language in House Bill 3195
which states that the Commissioner's Court adopted a budget on September 28, 2007 that
raised more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year.
The motion was made at the September 28, 2007 meeting, but it was included in the
motion to adopt the budget. It has to be a separate motion.
EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON)
NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT:
ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION:
IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE:
Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in
accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows:
Meeting scheduled for Mondays:
THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY:
THIS RQUEST RECEIVED ON:
5:00 PM previous Tuesday
@ .M.
All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate
information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court
Meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards your request being
addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners'
Court.
~wr
Analysis of Significant Bills
apolitical subdivision who responds to an incident in which a vehicle causes damage to a fence would then be required to
contact the property owner. Effective 9-1-07.
~"" HB 2967 by Hartnett -Relating to a performance bond required of a statutory probate court judge. The bill requires a statutory
probate court judge, prior to taking office, to execute a $500,000 bond conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties
of the office and removes conflicting statutory provisions. It allows a county to obtain insurance in lieu of the bond and
requires a county to pay the premium for the bond or insurance out of general funds. Effective 10-1-07.
HB 2984 by Creighton -Relating to the qualification of supervisors of a fresh water supply district. The bill changes
qualifications for serving as a director of a freshwater supply district from having to be a registered voter of the district to
being at least 18 years of age, a resident of the state and the owner of taxable property in the district (with the exception of
Denton County, where a supervisor must still be a registered voter in the district). Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3024 by Frost -Relating to the weight accorded in a taxpayer protest hearing to the determination by a certified appraiser of
appraised value of real property. When a property owner submits a proper, recent and certified appraisal of property value in
an Appraisal Review Board (ARB) hearing, the appraisal district must now provide evidence which clearly refutes the
independent appraisal. Otherwise, the protest must be determined in favor of the property owner. In addition, the bill creates
a Class B misdemeanor offense for a person who has an interest in the outcome of a protest hearing to mislead the ARB
with a written appraisal. Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3038 by Rose -Relating to the appointment of a taxpayer liaison officer for certain appraisal districts. Counties that have a
population greater than 125,000 are required to hire a taxpayer liaison officer. This bill would prohibit the chief appraiser of
an appraisal district from being the district's taxpayer liaison officer in order to avoid real, or perceived, conflict of interest.
Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3060 by Pena -Relating to issuance by a court of a capias, a capias pro fine or an arrest warrant. The bill authorizes all
courts to issue a capias pro fine, which is an arrest warrant for unpaid fines and costs in criminal cases. Presently, only
justice and municipal courts have this express statutory authority. It allows all capias or capias pro fines to be issued in
electronic form and expands the $50 fee for executing or processing an issued arrest warrant or capias to include a capias
pro fine. Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3105 by Anchia -Relating to a program allowing for countywide voting locations in certain elections. HB 758, enacted by
vl~` the 79`h Legislature, created a pilot program to allow for countywide polling places and expired on January 2, 2007. HB
3105 re-establishes the countywide polling places pilot program until June 1, 2009. To participate in the pilot program, a
county is required to file an application with the Secretary of State and must meet certain criteria. Effective 6-15-07.
HB 3135 by Hughes -Relating to the compensation paid to retired and former judges or justices while assigned as visiting
judges in certain courts. This bill increases the amount a visiting judge will be compensated by the state from 85 percent of a
regular district judge's salary to 100 percent. Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3154 by Laubenberg -Relating to the creation of a review committee to study the potential for a regional health care system
in certain counties. This bill creates a regional health care systems review committee to conduct public hearings regarding
the study of implementing a regional health care service to the indigent in Public Health Region Three (Dallas, Collin
County area). Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3195 by Hill -Relating to the requirements of a municipal or county budget that raises more property taxes than in the
previous year's budget. This bill requires a county to post public notice and to include as a cover page notice when a
proposed budget will require raising more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year. The cover page must
contain the following statement in 18-point or larger type: "This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year's
budget by (insert total dollar amount of increase and percentage increase), and of that amount (insert amount computed by
multiplying the proposed tax rate by the value of new property added to the roll) is tax revenue to be raised from new
property added to the tax roll this year."
Adoption of a budget that raises more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year requires a separate vote of the
governing body to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget.
If the county maintains an Internet Website, the county's proposed budget must be posted on the Website. The provisions of
the bill would apply to a budget adopted on or after the effective date of the bill. Effective 9-1-07.
HB 3410 by Gattis -Relating to alternative procedures for plat revision of residential areas by a county. This bill allows an
i~r alternative procedure for revising a plat, allowing a county, without the otherwise applicable notice and hearing
49