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News you can use |
TexasCounties4U.Org: New Site Helps Customer Service, EducationTAC recently established a new Web site focused specifically “If a citizen who needs to go to a county office has first watched a video that tells what documents to bring and what fees they may have to pay, they’ll be much better prepared when they show up at the service counter,” said TAC Director of Communications Jim Lewis. “They’ll be happier customers and the lines at the courthouse will be a few minutes shorter.” TAC is also working with the V.G. Young Institute of County Government at Texas A&M University to develop educational content about counties that will be useful to school students as well as the general public. TAC will be contacting county Webmasters about including a link to www.TexasCounties4U.Org on local county Web pages. BuyBoard Cooperative Gives Back to MembersThe BuyBoard Local Government Purchasing Cooperative Board is distributing approximately $1.7 million to more than 1,050 of its members as a result of continuing growth in the Cooperative’s annual purchasing volume and membership. “The return of more than a million dollars in rebates is further evidence of the power of local governments working together for the benefit of the taxpayers. Purchasing through the cooperative not only saves the taxpayer with collective purchasing power, but also provides for ease of compliance with state purchasing laws,” said Rockport Mayor Todd Pearson, who chairs the cooperative’s board of directors. The Local Government Purchasing Cooperative, known as BuyBoard, was formed in 1998 with just 40 members. The cooperative now includes more than 2,650 members — including Texas county governments, municipalities, public school districts, universities and community colleges. It boasts a total purchasing volume exceeding $500 million and has returned $3.4 million to its members in the last three years. Each entity’s rebate was based on the amount of vendor service fees generated by its purchases. “The health of the cooperative has generated more vendor service fees than needed to cover annual expenditures and the board is extremely pleased to approve the rebates. Such a step is a direct result of the confidence members have placed in the cooperative and their ongoing participation,” said Gerald Brashears, the business services director of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The cooperative is endorsed by both TAC and the Texas Municipal League (TML) and is administered and sponsored by TASB. Hundreds of vendors and thousands of items — from copier paper to road graders — are posted on the BuyBoard®, the coop’s electronic purchasing system. “The cooperative is expanding the available products and services based on member needs, realizing significant growth in purchase orders and growing interest from cities and counties. With a wide selection of vendors, great prices, convenience, and competitively procured goods and services, the cooperative will continue to provide members increased benefit each year,” Brashears said. Texas Official Earns Public Official of the Year AwardGoverning magazine recently named Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins as one of its Public Officials of the Year for 2008. The magazine stated that Watkins earned the title with the help of the Dallas County Commissioners Court. He lobbied the court for funds to create a conviction integrity unit, which reviews closed cases in which physical evidence exists that could exonerate potentially innocent but convicted criminals. The commissioners court supported the initiative, and since then the unit has reviewed more than 180 cases and exonerated or freed 19 former prisoners. Watkins was one of eight public officials from around the country who earned the designation, which can be awarded to any elected, appointed or career government official from any branch of state or local government who has made a “notable positive impact” or outstanding accomplishment in their area. The other Public Officials of the Year are:
The Public Officials of the Year are recognized in the November 2008 edition of Governing, online at www.governing.com. County Best Practices Awards Nominations Due April 15The TAC Leadership Foundation is now accepting nominations from counties that have approached common local government problems through unique and successful solutions. The County Best Practices Awards honor programs in the areas of technology, public safety and corrections, health and human services, financial and general management and community improvement. To be eligible, programs must be fully operational, have been established within 36 months, replicable in other counties and show measurable results. More information is available at the TAC Leadership Foundation Web site at www.county.org/cms/leaders/practices. Question for your Peers? Elected officials who are new to their offices and veteran officials looking for new insights may find TAC’s list-serves useful when seeking answers to questions or solutions from neighboring officials. TAC manages a variety of list-serves for county officials who seek them. A list-serve is an e-mail group whose members can seek information from others interested in a topic by sending a single message that goes to the entire group. Anyone who wishes to respond merely hits their e-mail’s “reply” button. Contact the following individuals to inquire about list-serve participation:
Please be aware that membership in some list-serves is limited to particular officials or organizations. All list-serves are free to officials and employees from TAC member counties. TAC Board Names Legislative Priorities The Texas Association of Counties Board of Directors approved its legislative policy platform for the 81st legislative session during its December meeting. TAC liaisons will be working throughout the session to track bills that may impact counties, particularly in the areas of revenue and appraisal caps, indigent criminal defense, mandates, mental health, sales price disclosure, alternative sources of revenue for local governments, transparency and the viability of constitutional offices. TAC favors the maintenance and continuance of all existing constitutionally vested county offices and positions as provided by the Texas Constitution of 1876, as well as the office of County Auditor as established by statute. The Association favors the present form of local government control, whereby the voters of the county elect their county officials to represent them and serve on their behalf. TAC opposes efforts to limit and constrict local control by lowering the existing 8 percent revenue cap or reducing the present 10 percent constitutional appraisal cap. Relating to indigent defense, TAC supports state funding to fully compensate counties for the costs of providing indigent defense services. It joins the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas in requesting that indigent defense legislation be revised to simplify administrative requirements and improve efficiency of the indigent defense program, and that formal criminal proceedings be initiated within 30 days in all criminal cases. The Association also supports the passage of legislation, including an amendment to the state’s constitution, which would prohibit the imposition of a mandatory governmental program on Texas counties unless the state has fully funded and disbursed all necessary funds to enable counties to operate the program. TAC also supports additional state funding for the establishment or enhancement of community mental health care services, as implemented by the Mental Health Crisis Redesign model in 2007, which facilitate crisis intervention and response, pre- and post-arrest jail diversion programs, and continuity-of-care programs for adults and juveniles with mental health care needs. TAC supports the passage of legislation that would require sales price disclosure of all land and improvements upon the transfer of land and property ownership. TAC supports legislation providing counties with the authority to implement additional sources of revenue that would serve to reduce the growth of future property tax levies. Finally, TAC supports concepts of open government, open records, transparency in taxation, and the free and unrestrained right of governments to communicate with each other directly and through their respective representatives and associations. County Management Institute Announces Keynote Speakers on Ethics, Leadership Each year, TAC’s County Management Institute offers attendees leadership and management training designed specifically for county officials and employees. For the 2009 conference April 15-17, the Institute selected Geoffrey R. Tumlin and Eric Greitens as keynote speakers. Tumlin is the assistant director of the Center for Ethical Leadership in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining the university’s staff, he worked as a leadership and communications consultant. The topic of Tumlin’s keynote address is ethics. Greitens is a senior fellow at the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri. He also founded the Center for Citizen Leadership, which helps wounded and disabled veterans serve their communities upon returning home. Greitens will speak on leadership and social responsibility. For more information on the 2009 County Management Institute, see the ad on page 16. TAC Boards Welcome Incoming Members At the TAC Board of Directors meeting on Dec. 5, the Board approved leadership appointments made by TAC President and Tarrant Commissioner J.D. Johnson. Colorado Auditor Raymie Kana was named the new chair of the TAC Health and Employee Benefits Pool (TAC HEBP) Board. Kana has served on the HEBP Board since its establishment in 2001. Johnson also appointed Polk Judge John Thompson as the TAC HEBP Board vice-chair. Grimes Treasurer Phillis Allen, Goliad Treasurer June Bethke, Bastrop Commissioner Lee Dildy and Childress Judge Jay Mayden will continue their TAC HEBP Board duties and are welcoming incoming members Cameron Commissioner Edna Tamayo, Cooke Commissioner Alan Smith, Gaines Auditor Rick Dollahan and Erath Treasurer Donna Kelly. The TAC Board of Directors also welcomed several officials to its membership. Hays Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, Denton Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell, Brazoria Treasurer Sharon Reynolds and Victoria County District Clerk Cathy Stuart all joined the Board. The Board presented tokens of appreciation to those passing along the torch. Outgoing Board of Directors members were Taylor County Treasurer Lesa Crosswhite, Trinity County Judge Mark Evans, Haskell County District Attorney Michael Fouts, Coryell District Clerk Janice Gray and Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon. In addition, Lubbock Commissioner Patti Jones and Midland Constable Charles Harris were reappointed as chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the TAC Unemployment Compensation Group Fund Board. Joining Harris and Jones on that board are Hidalgo Treasurer Norma Garcia, Matagorda Justice of the Peace Suzan Thompson, Kleberg Commissioner David Rosse and Johnson Auditor J.R. Kirk Kirkpatrick. For a list of the 2009 Risk Management Pool Board, see page 11. Health Pool Introduces New, Improved Nurseline Wellness Training to Offer Detailed Introduction to Healthy County Program Kicking off the beginning of its new Healthy County wellness initiative, the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool will hold its first wellness training event Feb. 5-6 in San Antonio. The event will prepare wellness coordinators and executive sponsors for their role in implementing Healthy County in their own counties. The two-day, invitation-only event has limited space and was created exclusively for designated wellness coordinators and executive sponsors who are members of the TAC Health and Employee Benefits pool. Members received their invitations in January. Wellness coordinators and executive sponsors are individuals selected by each member county to increase awareness and enthusiasm about the new program within their county. Their tasks will include promotion and communication with TAC Pool staff. The Pool will reimburse counties the cost of travel and hotel so that both the wellness coordinator and the executive sponsor can attend the training session. Members of TAC’s Health and Employee Benefits Pool now have access to a new nurseline, available by calling (866) 412-8795. While Pool members previously had access to a nurseline through Matria, the new nurseline is offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and offers callers expanded options and expertise. Members can call the nurseline anytime day or night to speak with a qualified nurse who will assess their symptoms and help them determine the best course of action. Members can also use the nurseline to speak with a health care professional about tobacco cessation, weight loss, and managing chronic health conditions like diabetes, congestive heart failure, low back pain, asthma and cancer. Pool members are encouraged to update their personal phone books with the new number. Safe Driving Materials Available OnlineCounties searching for a way to encourage their residents to practice safe driving habits —such as less driving while talking or texting on cell phones and more seat belts — can now turn to an educational materials campaign promoted by TAC, in conjunction with state and federal agencies. TAC is working with National Safety Council and Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to bring Texas counties a variety of free high-quality promotional and training materials to help curb vehicle crashes. The materials focus on three main issues: 1) impaired driving; 2) driver distractions; and 3) seat belt usage. The campaign’s Web site offers posters and flyers that can be printed on an office computer and circulated on county bulletin boards or via pay envelopes. Larger posters and other materials can also be ordered free from the Web site. The promotional campaign is known as “Our Driving Concern.” TAC Loss Control Manager Mike Strawn is serving on the Texas Employers Advisory Council to help guide the project. TAC is encouraging county officials, supervisors and those with loss prevention duties to access and use the materials. The campaign addresses driving concerns both on and off the job, he said. Visit www.txdrivingconcern.org to access the free resources. TAC Debuts Refreshed Logo for 40th BirthdayOfficials who notice something different about incoming TAC messages and communications have nothing to fear: there’s no imposter. As part of the celebrations and improvements marking TAC’s 40 years as the association made by county officials, for county officials, TAC has refreshed its signature seal to make it more sleek and modern. The new logo, at left, keeps all the recognizable elements of the former model, including the borders lining all 254 of the state’s counties. Other secondary elements have been deleted, while some opportunities for color have been added. “The TAC logo symbolizes all Texas counties and unites all Texas county offices. Our association takes pride in representing Texas county government,” said Executive Director Karen Ann Norris, adding that TAC remains committed to serving elected officials and aiding them in solutions that create strong local governments. “That won’t change.” During the next 12 months, TAC will be embarking on an organizational history project to ensure that TAC preserves its institutional knowledge from its founding years. That knowledge, as well as the history behind TAC insurance pools and other services, will be shared in future editions of County. Comptroller Begins Transparency InitiativeThe state’s Comptroller of Public Accounts Office recently recognized several counties for their online transparency efforts. Collin, Bastrop, El Paso and Webb counties are all called transparency “success stories” by Comptroller Susan Combs on her Web site. Combs recently launched her “Texas Transparency Check Up” initiative to focus on educating residents about how to view their local government budgets and other financial reports. “We put ourselves in the shoes of a typical taxpayer and went online to see how Texas local governments were providing financial transparency on the Web,” Combs said. Several counties earned high marks from Combs for their online transparency. Collin County was recognized for adding a Financial Transparency page on its Web site. The page includes check registers for the county’s general, direct deposit and healthcare accounts and also includes utility costs and a Citizen’s Report, which is a more understandable summary of the county’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The Collin County Financial Transparency Project’s Web site is http://public1.co.collin.tx.us/transparency. Bastrop County also earned high marks for its Bastrop County Budget Book, which is published online at www.co.bastrop.tx under the “County Information” menu of the site. The county’s auditor, Lisa Smith, updates the data throughout the budget process, and the budget itself contains a tax rate history from 2001 to 2007. El Paso County was complimented for adding all internally produced financial reports to its Web site, as well as for providing supporting documentation for commissioners’ court hearings and public budget hearings. It’s transparency Web site is at www.epcounty. com/auditor. Webb County received good reviews for it’s newest transparency tool, the Auditor’s Monthly Report, which shows payment dates, amounts, recipients and purchased goods or services for each transaction made by the county. The financial reports are all available through the County Auditor’s web site at www.webbcountytx.gov. Grayson and Tarrant counties were also highlighted for their online transparency. Those two counties publish each of the three key transparency components — the budget, Check Register and Financial Report — on their respective Web sites. The Comptroller’s Texas Transparency Check Up Web site also includes “step by step” advice collected from counties on how to gain online transparency. The Web site is online at www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/checkup. As part of the initiative, the Comptroller said she will also begin issuing “report cards” on local government transparency in upcoming months. It is unknown what this will mean for small counties that do not have Web sites or whether there will be forthcoming legislation that will require online transparency. Such legislation may be an unfunded mandate on counties that do not have Web sites. TACNews Surveys: Results Are InTAC’s new monthly electronic newletter, TACNews, not only provides elected officials with important and timely legislative, educational and national information, it also gives readers with some interesting tidbits of information about themselves. For instance, according to the first TACNews Reader Poll, about 93 percent of elected officials took advantage of early voting in their areas. Just 7 percent waited until Election Day to cast their ballots. In other trivia, how do most counties and their employees refer to the people who come in or contact their offices to obtain county services? According to the December Readers Poll, 40 percent of readers prefer the term “citizen,” while approximately 29 percent prefer “customers,” 23 percent prefer “the public” and the remainder prefer “clients.” That’s despite the fact that county services help non-citizens, too. Apparently, where county services don’t differentiate, neither do elected officials. Archived editions of TACNews can be viewed online at newsletter. county.org. Consolidated Risk Management Pool Now One Year Old; New Board Named The county officials who oversee TAC’s Risk Management Pool agreed in December to return $22 million in renewal credits to longstanding members with good loss histories. Renewal credits for the RMP pools and TAC’s Health and Employee Benefits Pool have totalled $46 million over the past three years. For 2009, the TAC RMP Board of Directors allocated $10 million for Workers’ Compensation coverages and $12 million for the liability coverages, using a formula that recognizes the improvements that counties have made in their loss histories. “Depending on loss history, long-term members with records reflecting few losses may be eligible for a renewal credit that, in some cases, can be up to 80 percent of the member’s computed contribution,” said Jim Jean, TAC’sDirector of Program Administration. “We are pleased that our members’ proactive loss control efforts, combined with the efficiency of pooling, have achieved this positive result for Texas counties.” Jean explained that the benefit of pooling is that when counties do a better job of avoiding claims, the resulting savings benefit the counties rather than corporate profits. TAC assists those efforts by providing custom-tailored safety and loss control programs through Field Services representatives with specific knowledge of how counties operate. TAC Risk Pool to Offer $22 Million in Renewal Credits Leadership of the TAC Risk Management Pool officially changed hands on Jan. 1. The Risk Management Pool was formed in August 2007 when three of TAC’s self-insurance pool boards voted to consolidate. The interim board combined all the members of the former Liability, Worker’s Compensation and Property and Casuality boards into one large board for one year. In January, that large board was resized to a traditional 11-member board. Nacogdoches Auditor Keith Barber, Houston Sheriff Darrel Bobbit, Taylor Treasurer Lesa Crosswhite and Cooke Judge Bill Freeman will resume their leadership responsibilities with the Risk Management Pool Board for a one-year term. Hunt Judge John Horn, Falls Sheriff Ben Kirk, Denton County Clerk Cynthia Mitchell and Brazos Judge Randy Sims were appointed to two-year terms. Burnet Auditor Kevin Smith, Erath Judge Tab Thompson and Rockwall Commissioner Jerry Wimpee will resume their duties on the RMP Board for three years. The TAC RMP Board will elect its chair and vice chair at its first meeting in 2009. |
on Texas County government and how to get county services.
Visitors to www.TexasCounties4U.Org will be able to view
a series of “how-to” videos that explain in detail how citizens
can access various county services. TAC and Travis County’s
community access television staff to are developing the videos
to address common issues citizens face, such as how to obtain
tax exemptions or work out payment plans for property taxes,
the importance of registering vehicle title transfers, the steps
necessary to get a marriage license and a variety of other county
related services.
Healthy County is a package of wellness
tools specifically tailored to
encourage Pool members to take a
proactive approach to managing their
health.
Denton County Clerk Cynthia Mitchell and Taylor County Treasurer Lesa Crosswhite cut the cake during the one-year anniversary of TAC’s Risk Management Pool. The Risk Management Pool is a successful consolidation of TAC’s former workers’ compensation, liability, and property and casualty self-insurance pools.