WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS PASS HOT BOARD BUDGET

  

After brief discussion, Washington County Commissioners approved the Hotel Occupancy Tax Board’s new budget at today’s (Tuesday) meeting.

This budget, set by the board in October, determines which local organizations receive Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds, and how much they receive. Commissioners are required to approve the budget, before funds can be released to each tourism entity.

Out of the $613,000 available to distribute, the HOT board distributed about $483,000 to the city of Brenham’s operation of the Visitor’s Center, along with advertising, staffing and promotion.

The court also approved a request from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for purchase of four night-vision goggles with Homeland Security funds. The purchase, according to Evidence Technician Donna Gomez, exceeds $56,000.  Upon approval of the purchase, Sheriff Otto Hanak commended Gomez on her work in securing grants for the county.  Hanak said that, as of January 2015, Gomez has “worked consistently” to obtain over $134,000 in grant funds.

In other items, commissioners approved an amendment to an agreement with Tyler Technologies, a financial software company. This will allow for the purchase of an electronic timekeeping and scheduling system for the county.

In addition, commissioners authorized a request from the county engineer to purchase a new tractor with a boom mower attachment, through Washington County Tractor.

Commissioners also granted the county auditor the authority to perform an audit of the asset forfeiture report from fiscal year 2018. In addition, they approved a formal notice for a temporary water line for GeoSouthern Chalk II, in right-of-way on Old Mill Creek, Boehnemann, and Hohenwalde School Roads.