By Lindsay Starr Platt
Correspondent

Bell County’s Proposed 2016-2017 Budget was presented for a public hearing at the commissioner’s court meeting on Aug. 22. Also presented was a second Public Hearing on the Proposed Tax Rates. Highlights from the presentation mentioned: Bell County is among the lowest ad valorem tax rate in the region and the state, and is in excellent financial condition.
“Bell County is very strong financially,” said Judge Jon Burrows.
Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, stated, “We view the county’s management as very strong, with strong financial policies and practices.”
Following the presentation, the meeting was open to public comments. No public comments were presented to the court. The FY 2017 Budget and Tax Rates will be adopted on August 29 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Courtroom. The proposed tax rate for Bell County will be 45.11¢ per $100.00 valuation for FY 2017 and the proposed budget in General Fund is $39,276,637.00 for FY 2017.
The Order Restricting Outdoor Burning (Burn Ban) was reevaluated on Monday. The commissioners agreed that current conditions will safely allow for outdoor burning in the county.
Burrows said, “No change is needed when you have to walk in the mud to get to the courthouse.”
Commissioner John Fisher mentioned that the burn ban signs around the county cause confusion.
The appointment of Sandra H. Wicker, Salado resident, to the Bell County Historical Commission was considered and approved.
Also approved was the consideration to approve the Cooperative Agreement between the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the State of Texas and Bell County with renewal options for the term of September 1, 2016, to August 31, 2018.
County Judge Jon Burrows issued Order of General Election ordering the General Election to be held on November 8, 2016, in Bell County. The election will be for electing of County and Precinct Officers.
Considerations were approved for the adoption of a District Court Record Archive fee of $10.00 which will become effective on October 1 and to be collected on January 1, 2017.
The county commissioners met for a workshop following the regular meeting.