As we move forward with our infrastructure improvements, it's important to remember that infrastructure is not only buildings, roads, bridges or any other physical structures. Infrastructure is also added personnel that are needed in a growing county. So, today's article focuses on some of those jobs and how they are what we call 'budget neutral.'
Simply put, budget neutral means that the newly created jobs are self-sustaining, or in other terms, they pay for themselves. In the last few years, we've added the position of Fire Marshal and Planning and Development Coordinator; we have also added back previously removed positions such as Veteran Service Officer and Community Service Coordinator. When you look at these jobs and begin to do a little analysis on them, you realize these jobs, via the fees they charge for services and their activities throughout the Milam County community, pay for themselves and can generate additional revenue for the county helping to keep our taxes from increasing.
Prior to creating the Planning and Development Office, the functions of subdivision reviews, land variance reviews and floodplain permitting was all done as a collateral duty by one of our constables. When that added duty originally came to that constable, it only took up a small percentage of his time; however, by the time we created the Planning and Development Office nearly 100% of that constable's time was dedicated to permitting leaving very little time to complete his duties as constable. Now that we have a Planning and Development Office, the revenue that they receive from the permits for new developments and the new regulations developed due to the growth will not only cover the cost of having that office but create additional revenue for the county at the same time helping to keep our taxes from growing.
A few months ago, we created the office of the Milam County Fire Marshal, and many folks have had some concerns about this saying we didn’t need it; however, we most definitely need it as we look to the safety needs of a growing community. Currently we contract out for these services with out-of-county Fire Marshals and the revenue that could be generated by those services has been lost to those out-ofcounty service providers.
Adding the County Fire Marshall position allows us to do the permitting for new construction locally thereby keeping that revenue here. And we see a great deal of this revenue in the future. Adopting a fire code and the permitting fees that go along with that position will greatly increase county revenue, pay for the County Fire Marshal, and keep that additional revenue right here in Milam County helping to keep your county property taxes from growing. It also creates and pays for a position whose first purpose is to work with our first responders to improve the conditions that provide for the safety and security of our Milam County residents.
In 2022 the Veteran Service Office was removed from the budget, a move that quite honestly still baffles many of us. After taking office in 2023, we added back this office which has helped generate a tremendous increase in VA benefits for our Milam County Veterans, helping our local Veterans by allowing them to receive the benefi ts they greatly deserve due to their service to our country. This increase also translates into expanded revenue as these veterans spend their money throughout Milam County which in turn helps our local businesses and our local economy.
This year we added back the Community Service Coordinator position to manage our probationers as they complete their community service requirements after sentencing. This job was removed several years prior to my taking office following the retirement of the last Community Service Coordinator. This left our probation departments without adequate help to see that our probationers complete their assigned community service. The dropping of this position never made much sense as the job is self-sustaining as the probationers are required to pay, as a portion of their fine, a fee that funds this position. The community service coordinator also helps save on costs that the county might also incur by having these community service probationers complete civic and county projects as a part of their probation.
Overall growth requires infrastructure development and creation. Additional personnel are often required to fulfill those infrastructure needs, but those additions can and should also be tempered by the ability to pay for them. With each new position that we have created in Milam County we have looked for ways to make sure that these positions are Budget Neutral providing an added benefit to the county as we continue to grow by keeping our taxes as low as we can. This is one of the ways that we were able to keep county tax revenue down this year thereby reducing the strain on the taxpayer’s wallet when it comes to county services.
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