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TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners 10/21

Monday, October 20, 2014 by Mark Richardson

The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website.

Items of interest for Commissioners Court include:

8. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $15,100,000 TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM BONDS, SERIES 2014-A (LIMITED TAX), AND MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO.
(Backup)

Monitor’s take:  The “matters pertaining thereto” involve Travis County issuing State Highway System Bonds in order to reimburse itself for the $15,100 it has contributed toward construction of the contentious State Highway 45 Southwest project.  The county has already cut checks to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and Hays County for $2,500 and $12,500, and will now issue bonds for that amount plus a $100,000 insurance premium to refill its coffers.

9. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS LIMITED TAX REFUNDING BONDS (TO DECREASE THE INTEREST RATE ON OUTSTANDING DEBT) IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $82,470,000; LEVYING A TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR THE AWARD OF THE SALE THEREOF IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFIED PARAMETERS; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND ESCROW AGREEMENT; APPROVING THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING THERETO.
(Backup)

Monitor’s take: The Commissioners will consider authorizing what is essentially an accounting move to buy down the cost of interest on a portion of its outstanding debt. The measure would authorize a bit over $82 million to buy down current bonds and cut the rate by about 5 percent. In 2012, Travis County used a similar finance mechanism and saved about $19 million in bond interest.

13. PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 263.152(A)(1), DECLARE CERTAIN ITEMS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION.
(Backup)

Monitor’s take: Travis County officials are cleaning out all the stuff they no longer need in the justice system’s evidence locker. Some 300 items are on the list, with everything from big screen TVs to car stereos to poker chips to quite a number of bicycles. You could even buy a slightly used breathalyzer.  Doesn’t say when or where the auction will be.

23. REVISED LANGUAGE. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT FOR THE NOVEMBER 4, 2014 JOINT GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AND 23 PARTICIPATING ENTITIES.
(Backup)

Monitor’s take: Commissioners will ratify the agreement between the county and all the participating entities for the county Elections Office to manage the upcoming Nov. 4 election.

25. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON TRAVIS COUNTY APPOINTMENTS TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH BOARD OF MANAGERS.
(Late Backup)

Monitor’s Take: Commissioners will consider and approve the process and timetable to appoint two new members to the Central Health Board of Managers. Board Chair Brenda Coleman-Beattie’s term ends Dec. 31 and member Rebecca Lightsey has resigned her seat effective  Dec. 31.

 

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Key Players & Topics In This Article

Travis County Commissioners Court: The legislative body for Travis County. It includes representatives from the four Travis County Precincts, as well as the County Judge. The County Judge serves as the chair of the Court.

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