Hopkins County Court-at-Law Judge Appointed to Mental Health Task Force
Hon. Clay Harrison Clay Harrison, who took office on January 1, 2019, as the Hopkins County Court-at-Law Judge, was recently appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas to serve on a task force created by Senate Bill 362 to address emergency mental health issues across the state. The order appointing Judge Harrison was signed on October 1, 2019, by the nine justices of the state’s highest court. “Our county works hard in these tough...
Newsom Speaks at PJC Class
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom, right, spoke to Instructor Kelly Payne’s Texas Government class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Tuesday. He gave the students a first hand account of how the state’s government works.
5 Percent Cost Of Living Increase Approved For All Full-Time County Employees
Hopkins County Commissioners Court All full-time Hopkins County employees and elected officials will benefit from a 5 percent cost of living increase in pay in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The pay increase was factored into the 2019-2020 county budget, which was approved by Hopkins County Commissioner Court at their regular meeting Monday morning. Commissioners first approved the 5 percent increase for elected officials, then the budget...
County Budget Includes Cost Of Living Increase For County Employees
Fire department shift officers to receive small bump in pay to get scale closer to that of starting deputies Hopkins County Courthouse Hopkins County Commissioners Court is expected to approve the county budget and tax rates as proposed. The proposed tax rate will remain the same for the third consecutive year, and the budget will be very similar to last year’s thanks to conservative planning, according to Hopkins County Judge...
Newsom, Other County Officials From Across Texas ‘Focus On the Future’ At 2019 TAC Conference
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom was among more than 700 county officials, county staff and legislators from across the state attending the Sept. 4-6 for the Texas Association of Counties 2019 Legislative Conference in Austin. The three-day event was a chance to discuss new legislation that affects counties and local taxpayers following the 86th legislative session. “As a result of the last...
Debbie Mitchell: Proposed County Property Tax Rate To Remain Same for 2019-2020
State officials urge agencies to take ‘aggressive action’ to stop FM 71 flooding The regular portion of Tuesday’s Hopkins County Commissioners Court meeting took only about 10 minutes, just long enough to hold a brief public hearing for the county property tax rate, and for commissioners to approve one line item transfer and acknowledge a resolution made by Sen. Bob Hall. The commissioners court then entered into an...
Officials Proposing No Change To County Tax Rate
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning gave approval for the county tax rate to remain the same, at the recommendation of Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell. She reported officials from her office and those of the appraisal district and auditor’s office met last week to go over tax rolls. Work proceeded to calculate a tax rate to propose to commissioners court. Recent legislative changes regarding tax caps...
Access Physicals To Provide Telemedicine System, Services At County Jail
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved three health-related items Monday: health insurance, an incentive program and telemedicine service for the county jail. Employee insurance, incentive program County employees who use the insurance made available through work shouldn’t expect any surprises this year in the rates offered. The plan is “the same thing that we already have right now, which is the same co-pay, same...
County 2019-2020 Holiday Calendar Approved
Hopkins County employees will enjoy 12 days off during the 2019-2020 year, thanks to the calendar approved this week by Hopkins County Commissioners Court. The county courthouse will be closed on the approved holiday dates. The calendar fairly mirrors the past year’s calendar, with one exception, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom. Veterans Day will no longer be a county holiday. With so many events scheduled on...
Commissioners Court Renews Inmate Housing Agreement With Rockwall County, Internet Contract
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning deeded their portion of an Oak Avenue property to the city, signed an agreement with Rockwall County to house inmates, and approved a new contract for internet and telephone service. Hopkins County Commissioner Court Monday morning signed over the county’s portion of ownership in the old Oak Avenue nursing home, so the property can be used by the city to construct a new senior...
