Only five of 21 positions were approved for a higher classification by the Commissioners Court Tuesday.  Commissioners David Dubose and John Banken wanted to approve all 21 for reclassification, but were defeated by the other members of the Court.  All 21 were then considered separately with those being approved all but one was unanimous.  Of the 16 that were denied a higher reclassification the vote was 3-2 on all except one which was the Administrative Assistant to the County Judge which died for a lack of a second to Judge Brint Carlton’s motion for reclassification. The Court approved a … [Read more...] about Reclassifications Approved

The Texas Comptroller's Office is sending money to the local entities covering sales tax money collected in June. The allocations include purchases during June or from some businesses who pay quarterly to cover April, May and June sales. Bridge City was the only one of the larger Orange County cities seeing a decrease in the year-to-date sales tax collections. The county as a whole is also down. Bridge City, Orange, Pinehurst, Vidor and the Orange County Emergency Services District No. 3 collect a 1.5 percent sales tax. West Orange has a 1.25 percent sales tax. Orange County has a half … [Read more...] about Sales Tax Numbers

The City Council in Pinehurst approved Tuesday keeping the same tax rate for next year.  The proposed tax rate of 69.799 cents per 100 dollars value has not been changed in four years and actually represents a 1¾ percent decrease in the effective tax rate.  Because there is not an increase in the effective tax rate no public hearing is necessary.  The date of a public hearing on the budget will be September 13 during the next City Council meeting. Rates for Pinehurst city services such as solid waste disposal, brush and limb removal, and commercial container service will go up by 3 … [Read more...] about Pinehurst Keeps Same Tax Rate

Orange Public Works Director Jim Wolf said an equipment break-down has halted the repaving of a section of Meeks Drive. The city is using a contractor for the work. The contractor began work on August 2 and tore up 100 yards of the road south of Allie Payne. At the time, Wolf estimated the repaving southward from Allie Payne to near International Drive would take a week. Wolf said the road is thicker than was estimated; so the contractor brought in another piece of machinery, which broke. The contractor, while waiting for the parts to fix the heavy equipment needed on Meeks Drive, … [Read more...] about Second St. Finished; Meeks On Hold

Lawyer Leslie Barras told Orange City Council members Tuesday they should have consulted with taxpayers before changing the city manager's contract. The manager will now get two year's salary if his contract is terminated. Barras is a frequent critic of the city council and sued the city earlier in this year. She contends the council broke the city charter by buying the First Financial Bank building on 16th Street and moving city hall. A local state district judge ruled in favor of the city but the case is pending before a state court of appeals. On July 26, the council met in … [Read more...] about Council Ups CM’s Severance Package