WASHINGTON CO. SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE REVENUE FROM TOM GREEN CO. SCHOOL LAND

Brenham and Burton ISDs are set to receive considerably more revenue this year from Washington County school land in Tom Green County.
This (Tuesday) morning, Washington County Commissioners approved the 2021-22 school lands report and disbursed funding to the two school districts. Commissioners annually distribute revenue from mineral rights, farming leases and hunting leases in Tom Green County based on the schools’ average daily attendance.
Brenham ISD is receiving $1,145,137, while Burton ISD is getting $134,345. In comparison to last year, Brenham ISD received $255,498 and Burton ISD received $24,591.
County Judge John Durrenberger said the county is thrilled to be able to utilize this land to support local school systems.
Durrenberger said the reason for the large increase is because for the past two years, the county has been negotiating a right of way easement on its school land in Tom Green County with a solar farm. He stated the solar farm originally wanted to be stationed on Washington County’s school land, but Washington County would not allow that, so they instead moved to the property adjacent to Washington County’s. In the process, they had to have right of way in order to get to an electrical substation so they could sell the power generated from the solar farm.
Washington County, with the help of San Angelo attorney Keith Davis, negotiated easements for the solar farm and for the substation. Funds are coming from the easements for the right of way for the transmission lines from the solar farm to the substation, as well as a lease for the substation itself and an easement to get to the substation. Durrenberger said this “will keep generating money year after year” in the long-term.
Also on Tuesday, commissioners:
- Adopted a burn ban for Washington County effective Wednesday at 8 a.m.
- Read a proclamation declaring the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Washington County.
- Read a proclamation recognizing the 75th anniversary of Grace Lutheran School.
- Received a presentation of a preliminary plat of the Washington Meadows subdivision, a 54.584 acre residential development with 20 lots and one road, fronting Bosse Road in Precinct 1.
- Received a presentation of a preliminary plat of Washington Heights at Chappell Hill, a residential development of 104.712 acres fronting FM 1371 in Precinct 2.