The Commissioners Court met in its weekly session Tuesday. The tax exemptions for tax year 2019 were approved by the Commissioners.
The Court made no changes to the exemptions used last fiscal year. The local homestead exemption remains 20 percent. The exemption for senior citizens age 65 and older and the exemption for disabled citizens will continue to be $25,000. Citizens eligible for the senior citizen and disabled citizen exemptions may only claim one of them with the Orange County Appraisal District.
The application by the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce for Hotel Occupancy Tax funds was amended. The Chamber will be sponsoring another fishing tournament in the coming year. The application originally indicated it would be a national tournament which has been changed now to a regional tournament. The tournament will occur in August and should bring about 200 teams to Orange in addition to numerous fans.
The Marsh Estates subdivision in Bridge City was approved previously by the Court, but has received further discussion on its drainage. The Commissioners approved the revisions to the plat for the subdivision to account for changes in the drainage and the moving of at least one road.
An executive session was held with Jessica Hill the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation and a business prospect who is considering possibly moving to Orange County. The closed door meeting lasted about an hour. The Commissioners Court took no action after the meeting.
Earlier in the meeting the Court approved support for a House Resolution filed by East Texas Congressman Brian Babin. The resolution is backing the Naskila Gaming operation of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Tribes. Yolanda Poncho with the tribes stated the gaming operation has had a $139.6 million impact in Polk and Tyler counties where the reservation is located.
The week of April 28 to May 5 was proclaimed National Soil Stewardship Week by the Commissioners Court.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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