By Mark Archibald
Henderson County Commissioners agreed to set a proposed total 2026 Tax Rate at $0.03434650 per $100 of taxable valuation for the 2027 County Budget, during Tuesday’s regular meeting of Commissioner’s Court.
Commissioners and County Judge Wade McKinney thanked department heads for their diligence and hard work needed to prepare the budget throughout the process.
The cumulative tax rate includes a General Fund rate of $0.284576.
The proposed Road and Bridge tax rate was set at $0.0176870.
The Farm to Market Flood Control proposed rate will be $0.041202. This is the voter approval rate.
A public hearing to discuss the proposed 2026 Tax Rate for Henderson County will be held on Sept. 8.
Commissioners also set a public hearing for Sept. 8 to consider the 2027 County Budget.
Commissioners approved an Interlocal Cooperation between Henderson and Harrison Counties, pertaining to juvenile detention before and after adjudication.
This agreement allows Harrison County to house Henderson County juveniles before and after a trial.
The Court approved an Interlocal Cooperation City-County PLAT Approval Agreement with the City of Murchison.
The agreement will allow the City of Murchison to use County regulations for permits and other regulations within Murchison’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction.
The County has similar agreements with two additional cities in the County, said McKinney.
The County agreed to sell 12 Unication G4 pagers from the surplus pager inventory to Eustace Fire Department, for a cost of $500 per pager.
The sale of six Unication G4 pagers from the surplus pager inventory was also approved at the same price for Payne Springs VFD.
Henderson County is left with twenty-one pagers remaining in surplus, following the recent sale of 16 pagers to Tool and the 18 sold to Eustace and Payne Springs.
The sale of two properties valued at $5,500, located in the Eustace Independent School District, in Pct. 2 was approved.
The agreement was previously approved by Eustance ISD.
Commissioners also agreed to a 54-month fixed-rate electricity services contract between Henderson County and Gexa Energy.
The contract will take effect Jan 1, 2030.
“It’s hoped that this agreement will allow future Commissioners to have some stability in future budgets,” said Judge McKinney.
The Court approved a professional Engineering/Architecture Design Services Agreement with GLS Architecture for interior renovation project for the Henderson County Annex Seven Points building.
Commissioners approved the sale of Dura Patcher equipment to Anderson County Road & Bridge Pct 3, model number for $10,000.
The equipment, which is not currently being used, was previously purchased by Pct. 2 Road and Bridge.
The transfer of a Ford F150 and Chevy Silverado from Road & Bridge Precinct 3 to Henderson County Maintenance Department was approved.
The Court approved a Special Road Use Indemnity Agreement with permits with Oncor to cross CR 3718 and 3720, in Pct. 3.
Commissioners approved a Special Road Use Indemnity Agreement with permits for Solex Ridge, LLP. The agreement concerns the county-maintained portions of County Roads 4304, 4305 South, 4319, and 4325, all located in Pct. 4.
Commissioners had no financial reports, payroll distributions, accounts cash sheets, contracts, or bids to consider Tuesday.
Several Right-of-Way permits in Pct. 1 were approved, for fiber optic cable installation. The continued work pertains to the state’s initiative to provide high speed internet access to rural counties through grants.
Permits for utility work were also approved in Pct. 3, and Pct. 4.
Various budget amendments were accepted as presented.
A motion to pay 2026 budget year bills in the amount of $195,020 was also approved.
Commissioners approved a plat of Town side Meadows South Subdivision, located in Pct. 1
The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Tuley dissenting, removes language from the agreement deleting Henderson County’s designation in the Right of Way.
The minutes of the Aug. 18 Commissioners’ Court meeting were also approved prior commissioners convening an Executive Session.
Following that Executive Session, commissioners voted to accept September 4 as a date the company has agreed to complete and activate as many locations as possible.
Agreement on that date was reached in accordance with Bright Speed Fiber Optic Services.
Commissioners also approved the $466.15 rate per premise contingent upon all documentation of completion be presented by Sept. 25, 2026.
The Henderson County Commissioners’ Court meets at 9 a.m. Every Tuesday unless otherwise noted inside the Annex Building, 125 N. Prairieville Street in Athens.