WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE REAPPRAISAL

  

Certain Washington County land owners will have their property reappraised as a result of the May flooding.

The Washington County Commissioners Court met today (Tuesday) and approved a disaster reappraisal of property sustaining major damage during the flood.

Washington County Chief Appraiser, Willy Dilworth, says the reappraisal will only pertain to 165 properties that FEMA has listed as majorly damaged in the storm. Furthermore, the reappraisal applies only to things above ground (buildings, barns etc.), and does not apply to damaged caused to ponds and underground property.

Dilworth says they will be mailing out applications to the FEMA specified properties at the end of the week.

The County Commissioners also approved a resolution authorizing the 2017 Indigent Defense Formula Grant Program. The Commissioners say that while the grant is for approximately $30,000, it doesn’t come close to covering the costs of the state mandated Indigent Criminal Defense Program. Since the Texas Fair Defense Act was adopted in 2001, the county expenditures for indigent criminal defense has increased over 100 percent. The State has only provided 12 percent of the indigent criminal defense costs each year for the past 10 years.

The Washington County Commissioner also heard monthly reports from Washington County 911, EMS, Information Technology and Veterans Services.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office's monthly report showed a spike in the daily population of the Washington County Jail. Captain Jerry Green says the jail is feeling the effects of the Austin State Hospital reducing down the number of mentally ill people it is able to keep at its facility. Furthermore, Captain Green says caring for mentally ill people in the Washington County Jail ultimately costs tax payers a tremendous amount of money. The County Commissioners acknowledged that change needs to be made at the Texas Legislature level.