[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6666543,"mediaKeyId","2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1","parentId",2324234,"title","Residents urge county support for rural fire protection as ESD petition looms; county to discuss next week","audioSeconds",353,"startMs",1519000,"endMs",1872000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1&start=1519&end=1872","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1/thumbnail_1519000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6666543/Collin-County/Texas/Residents-urge-county-support-for-rural-fire-protection-as-ESD-petition-looms-county-to-discuss-next-week","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666543-b934b96e247648ef2ed906205b7fa3e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135306&Signature=gG0FoEIsdepGu3Z7cr3kouJDAARD6E9OpaWU0ADp9mgrBgoPri0-TJZQdLCiQPRi7u2S5y~IZ4fl3gScTG3aH5DgRlJdhiKY5pAVUNS0Nst8dornLpgYgjNii1UvS~JxcI1QjE700WeXfUmm~4XFJfY0i048Jhi05MFLi1wovipuo9CWyf08ZPKqQpu6tiiPuZQbKDgmhfpkgHaeKcT6m5qf4nMbM~GZwjaQIMG-3GFR3qzgJSSSgTcSfs9sG~Ffvjm~qmnaUxQYHs8E~xnIdMmD-Dg71zKbZjSdhX3O~-X8aeVKU1WwbccyueGqDNGs-m6qCQScGmP6MVB4tO44Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Collin","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","Two residents urged Collin County commissioners to consider additional support for rural fire protection and to review alternatives to forming or expanding an Emergency Services District (ESD).

Kevin Rohrer, who said he lives in unincorporated Farmersville, described a gap in fire protection for unincorporated areas and asked the county to consider funding or other solutions instead of creating ESDs that levy property taxes. Rohrer said Farmersville covers about 75 square miles and asked the county to consider distributing funds to support local departments rather than letting ESD taxation shift costs to homeowners; he noted that a $0.10-per-$100 valuation tax on a $600,000 home would amount to roughly $600 in his example.

Dan Schmoll, who described living near Branch/Princeton, said volunteer coverage had been reduced as municipal departments expanded into previously unincorporated areas and urged the county to seek efficient alternatives, such as programs for fire-prevention equipment or discounted extinguisher refills, and to look for funding sources.

Judge (presiding) told speakers that the ESD topic was not on the current meeting’s agenda for policy debate but said the county would place the ESD petition on next week’s agenda so commissioners can have a full discussion of statutory requirements and options. Commissioners did not take action at today’s meeting; the comments were received for consideration and the county indicated it will treat the matter as a forthcoming agenda item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Collin - Health Care Foundation - Feb 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two residents urged county assistance for rural fire protection and questioned ESD taxation; commissioners said the petition will be on next week’s agenda for fuller policy discussion.","taxTitle","Collin County, Texas","taxId",2696,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666547,"Regional Transportation Council narrowly votes to remain neutral on DART's 1¢ tax-rate dispute",146,1113000,1259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1&start=1113&end=1259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1/thumbnail_1113000.jpg","/articles/6666547/Collin-County/Texas/Regional-Transportation-Council-narrowly-votes-to-remain-neutral-on-DARTs-1-tax-rate-dispute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666547-10bbf83744ae8e3064393982f17c6b18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135306&Signature=FX1we9mWeXPUQzD3LwgcxP4XQ-T2gnsjYT6dy1KnrcTsGS9k-9hcuR4umJY9BgkmI77K5oxookYgE5ryeBPvUM1VTBPrFVAKd7o2LwM2foF4aTFcVHb37FmAvy0enGQXExvaRhel5kUN2DjOdnyiP8nE1lpae7rynvY1UUicGRwFNZ3-uVYTqSPaoSUobqbwxu4WyVR~uZa6ambisFCVWv51-ManrsNLP~6tAW5gfqDp4uTnaCZEWpOcxM4Hy-TVe~iBiDSjNzGE~ygIPTl9zsfJ25EDqHdjfHpBZ6fKnHR1dWhWDHMauM~lUU0394H1-rykYpNUQ-~btSMNSDp~eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Collin County Commissioner Jeff Webb reported to the court that the Dallas–Fort Worth Regional Transportation Council (RTC) debated a proposal related to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) 1-cent sales-tax allocation and ultimately voted 16–17 to remain neutral.

Webb said the RTC meeting ran well over its usual time and focused on whether to keep a neutral stance on proposed legislative changes to how one cent of sales tax is apportioned to transit (the DART 1¢). Webb had offered a compromise proposal in October and described a February deadline the RTC set for a resolution. With that deadline approaching, Thursday’s meeting considered whether to continue neutrality on the issue or to formally advocate keeping the 1¢ dedicated to transit; the council’s vote to remain neutral was the narrowest Webb said he’d seen and left the question unresolved.

No formal action by Collin County was taken at today’s court; Webb’s report served as an informational update and staff and commissioners said they would continue to watch legislative and regional developments.","Commissioner Webb reported the Dallas-area Regional Transportation Council took a close 16-17 vote to remain neutral on member cities' attempts to change the 1¢ transit tax rate; Collin County will monitor developments.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666551,"County staff flags bills that could affect nuisance litigation and property-appraisal appeals",199,868000,1067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1&start=868&end=1067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1/thumbnail_868000.jpg","/articles/6666551/Collin-County/Texas/County-staff-flags-bills-that-could-affect-nuisance-litigation-and-property-appraisal-appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666551-ae40911ec2f4627a4241eca5104891bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135306&Signature=oFrtaJB~uWiQ0rLZ70e1TYzvpm8FvgSr4lrf80zO9gAl8iY2ILMmt1ba3303DWJ6V0xKW29gu5LMxNaruwrSwWsG8JvLBCerAR20HOVyJaIIyvnxU9XDu5PbMUnWfZWTA9wWMZiwitLi-STtQeQqoEOz7mpRJE8OJVFKZXW~ErSlSALS8F1JcXSQjm9SM7zylrxMq5rXVzuARgI7u5p0DqHyK~E4Zhd3k4KGZJAp1LaW6DGniPJBVv1AAb00wHocxLMLYeMKcf1-R6t-v8OoQhaaKDVEzubCsXFUzE7mDBBNyShjMCo~0AzDhnNw~jh1qlqc6YFY9Mhx85262l3fjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy County Administrator Russell Schauffner briefed the court on two bills from the 89th Texas Legislature that staff said could affect Collin County’s litigation options and appraisal-appeals workload.

Schauffner described SB 779 as legislation intended to limit the definition of \"public nuisance\" in a way that would constrain large-scale public-nuisance litigation, specifically noting that settlements like those in opioid litigation likely would not have been possible under the bill’s proposed changes. He said the attorney general's office has been involved in similar efforts in recent sessions and that counties should monitor the bill.

Schauffner also discussed SB 982, which would permit a property owner dissatisfied with an appraisal-review-board (ARB) decision to appeal to a justice court (JP) rather than to district court when the value in dispute is less than $20,000. He said county staff and the budget office are analyzing how many ARB appeals might be affected and whether the change could create a higher volume for justice courts or require additional justice-court capacity.

No formal action was taken; staff said they will continue to track the bills and report back on potential fiscal and procedural impacts.","Deputy administrator Russell Schauffner briefed commissioners on SB 779, which would narrow public-nuisance litigation, and SB 982, which would allow appeals of ARB decisions under $20,000 to justice courts; county staff will assess potential impacts.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666556,"Commissioners approve $112,000 in overtime budget adjustments for animal shelter and jail operations",286,578000,864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1&start=578&end=864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1/thumbnail_578000.jpg","/articles/6666556/Collin-County/Texas/Commissioners-approve-112000-in-overtime-budget-adjustments-for-animal-shelter-and-jail-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666556-59496fddd0d7ff9f574684e4d3520965/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135306&Signature=CCfrK6Fc3WzdfSH~q23D99tDuCd0TzwBFd-jjE-51y3vb1yglY6KJk2KfODJGC7iiRv7TzFCH-pBI5bvFl-iOnAD-Xb2kCE6sshjJJTtySoJxcG2Ax400y8MRahzp5-CUfT3qIvBXU4Bf-1glIs77Zytv-gj6hDwiLFtSNb2PlvcmUjxKYqv3OA6NkWZoHmfPOpUunPGJlTaM5wuYjxFrzb5PEyOtScsOn7bQbqK1Dilan7CzIHMBNPsDDGlFTcAEdUxpEmZuFV8-Y~Id-qdaDBDTe2E1qmbxdyRCpWyDZ2W81-XC9bMe9RBqipCY2HjcqrM0aa2-cIN9gZ9~LmC6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Collin County Commissioners Court approved budget amendments reallocating funds for overtime in the animal shelter and the sheriff’s jail operations, voting 4-0 to authorize the changes.

County Administrator Yoon Kim requested two amendments under the county’s overtime policy (order referenced in the meeting). The court approved a $46,100 amendment for animal-shelter overtime to be funded from the animal shelter fund balance. For the sheriff’s office, staff requested moving $31,823 from jail-operations salary savings into the jail-operations overtime line; staff described that move as part of a broader request to allow retroactive sweeps of salary savings from other sheriff’s office general-fund salary and fringe lines into jail-operations overtime. Kim said the request would bring the jail-operations overtime line to roughly $118,424.02, citing FY2024 actuals and recent pay-period declines in overtime as rationale.

Deputy County Administrator Russell Schauffner (who provided a draft court order) and the county budget office said the moves are intended to ensure overtime lines remain funded while the sheriff continues efforts to reduce overtime usage. The sheriff’s office had experienced reported overtime expenditures of $144,729 for the pay period ending Dec. 8, 2024, and $61,901 for the pay period ending Feb. 2, 2025; staff said the requested amendments should be sufficient for the rest of the fiscal year.

A commissioner moved to approve the amendments and a second followed; the court voted 4 to 0 to carry the budget changes. No additional personnel actions were authorized in open session; staff also asked the court to authorize the budget department to sweep salary savings retroactively after pay periods close.

No legal or policy changes to the overtime policy were enacted; the court’s action was limited to the budget amendments described in the request.","Court approved two budget moves: $46,100 for animal-shelter overtime from the shelter fund balance and a transfer to increase jail operations overtime to about $118,424 via salary-savings sweep; vote was 4-0.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6666561,"Collin County approves historical tax-abatement list, adds two properties after on-site fixes",1420,77000,1497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1&start=77&end=1497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2324234-5667d096e98259af683f204bc7e83bc1/thumbnail_77000.jpg","/articles/6666561/Collin-County/Texas/Collin-County-approves-historical-tax-abatement-list-adds-two-properties-after-on-site-fixes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666561-3a80c825b4e2a0b7006ab794f38067c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135306&Signature=gIp~f-Ppx~tRP~KvCrTbhDvo7j9qDNOQYx9Fo9VnhT3ZAZY79NCRwpSJN6Nsr~tU10uxaRWkkv4BIY7ovYcy2zrZlDhi532-TXpsb24OnxsPU3dm0tEL7DQAA54QaCO5D6qNpGN9ObGGahrRfrcb2RGI8BUFmwhGp5SR4mRVdgf1uW9JN0a4TzM1IHJb7mPWB9dKwF2SsxtX7tNKfub-JNFVq6Wga4a9AFp6g54wQtVku8SVh4RBf7-28ERPVoYjbNrfHLd2KUOR8Q6l-9jepZsFdRmQ66EqbB3zJcds~ssurwGrpH-gY99UDo4fsv1X8s6ACQavFWJ-AC1kPwjVWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Collin County Commissioners Court approved the historical commission’s list of recommended tax abatements, adding two properties after staff verification and owner demonstrations of recent repairs.

The court approved the packet recommendations and added 1207 West Louisiana and 408 Heard Street to the approved list by a 4-0 vote. Staff member Judy Moody told the court both properties had completed required repairs or were primed and ready for paint; Moody recommended approval contingent on the repairs shown to staff.

The measures originated from the county’s historical-commission review of properties eligible for tax abatements. Two property owners — identified in court as Linda Schiefel (408 Heard Street) and Jackie Weinberg (1207 West Louisiana) — spoke to the court with photographs and descriptions of repairs they said were completed after receiving abatement-denial notices. Moody told commissioners the historical commission had lacked a quorum in December, shortening the usual remediation window and creating a compressed timeline that required approval that day to meet the tax office deadline.

After the owners met privately with staff and Moody confirmed the repairs, a commissioner moved and a second was called; the court voted 4 to 0 to approve the packet recommendations plus the two properties discussed in public comment.

The court instructed staff to continue routine verification on properties and Moody said staff would conduct follow-up inspections in the coming year. No changes to county abatement policy were proposed during the discussion.

The vote concluded the item and returned the court to the remainder of its agenda.","Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the historical-commission tax abatement recommendations, including two properties (1207 W. Louisiana and 408 Heard St.) that owners said had completed or nearly completed required repairs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge county support for rural fire protection as ESD petition looms; county to discuss next week

Regional Transportation Council narrowly votes to remain neutral on DART's 1¢ tax-rate dispute

County staff flags bills that could affect nuisance litigation and property-appraisal appeals

Commissioners approve $112,000 in overtime budget adjustments for animal shelter and jail operations

Collin County approves historical tax-abatement list, adds two properties after on-site fixes