Texas Counties 101

Program Title: 10-Month Payment Plan for Seniors, Disabled Citizens, and Disabled Veterans
County: Bexar County
Contact: Lisa Anderson, Tax Office - Chief of Administration
Phone: (210) 335-6585

Description: The county created a program allowing select residents spread their property tax payments out over 10 months.

Program Title: University of County Government
County: Comal County
Contact: Paul Anthony, Public Information Officer
Phone: (830) 221-1110

Description: The county created a weekly, nine-session course to educate the public about county government and encourage civic engagement.

Program Title: Web Mapping Application for West Nile Virus Surveillance
County: Denton County
Contact: Aldo Avina, GIS Coordinator
Phone: (940) 349-4590

Description: The county’s Health Department and its Geographic Information Systems Division worked together to expand surveillance for mosquito-borne West Nile virus in the county’s unincorporated areas and develop an online interactive map that presents county data alongside that collected by municipalities.

Program Title: Sovereign Filings
County: El Paso County
Contact: Delia Briones, County Clerk
Phone: (915) 546-2071

Description: The county created a process to address and review sovereign filings.

Program Title: Non-Disruptive Pipe Repair
County: Gregg County
Contact: Ronnie McKinney, Commissioner Precinct 1
Phone: (903) 663-0400

Description: Using an innovative method to replace metal storm culvert pipes, the county saved money and avoided having to excavate roadways and disrupt traffic.

Program Title: Executive Office: Vehicle GPS Program
County: Hidalgo County
Contact: J. Chris Trevino, County Operations Administrator
Phone: (956) 292-7007

Description: GPS trackers have been placed in county cars to monitor locations, speed, mileage, etc., effectively cutting down on fuel cost.

Program Title: Mental Health Docket
County: Potter County
Contact: County Judge Nancy Tanner
Phone: (806) 379-2251

Description: The county created a mental health docket to reduce the number of inmates with mental illness diagnoses serving time for minor offenses in the county jail.

Program Title: Honorary Jurors Program
County: Tarrant County
Contact: Sergio L. De Leon, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5
Phone: (817) 713-7920

Description: The county created this program to deliver public education to students about the justice of the peace and constable’s duties.

Program Title: Cash Balancing Standardization Project
County: Tarrant County
Contact: Anita Elsakhawy, Director of Accounting
Phone: (817) 884-1708

Description: This program improves the management of tax dollars through the use of new tools and procedures.

Program Title: Armed Forces First Initiative
County: Tarrant County
Contact: Steve Townsend, Precinct 4 Administrator
Phone: (817) 238-4400

Description: This program honors members of the U.S. military seeking in-person county services.

Program Title: Senior Fraud Prevention Program
County: Travis County
Contact: Garry Brown, Community Outreach Director
Phone: (512) 854-0171

Description: The county developed a program to deliver helpful tips and resources to seniors.

Program Title: Text 2 Register Program
County: Travis County
Contact: Amanda Katzer, Tax Office - Business Analyst
Phone: (512) 854-3991

Description: The county established a program that allows residents to text a request for a voter registration form.

Program Title: Driver's License Assistance Program
County: Travis County
Contact: Lisa Rush, Manager RMCR Law Library & Self Help Center
Phone: (512) 854-9290

Program Title: Criminal Attorney Upload/Interface
County: Travis County
Contact: Nicki Riley, Auditor
Phone: (512) 854-3227

Description: Indigent defense attorneys now use an electronic process for payments, resulting in an increase in accuracy and a decrease in processing times.

Program Title: Digital Justice Court
County: Travis County
Contact: Nathan Armentrout, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2. Executive Assistant
Phone: (512) 854-6369

Description: The county is now using electronic forms to help reduce paper consumption. The program allows items to be quickly signed, filed and emailed.

Program Title: Crossroads Area Veterans Center
County: Victoria County
Contact: Benjamin Zeller, County Judge
Phone: (361) 575-4558

Description: The county established the Crossroads Area Veterans Center to provide a one-stop shop for veterans seeking benefits assistance, mental health services and job counseling.

Program Title: Same-Day Appointment
County: Williamson
Contact: Larry Gaddes, Tax Assessor-Collector
Phone: (512) 943-1954

Description: The county created an online resource where residents may schedule same-day appointments and avoid long wait times.

Program Title: Legislative Initiative for Reactivation of Peace Officer License
County: Webb County
Contact: Anita Guerra, Grant Writer
Phone: (956) 523-4521

Description: This program helped introduce and pass legislation that allows the reactivation of retired peace officers’ licenses.

Program Title: Legislative Initiative for County Right of Way Royalty
Counties: DeWitt, Gonzales & Karnes counties
Contact: Daryl L. Fowler, DeWitt County Judge
Phone: (361) 275-0961

Description: Representatives in these counties introduced legislation that allows revenue from oil and gas leases on county rights of way be set aside for county use.

Program Title: Energy Sector Tax Equity and State Responsibility Legislative Initiative
Counties: DeWitt, Gonzales, Karnes, Live Oak & McMullen counties
Contact: Daryl L. Fowler, DeWitt County Judge
Phone: (361) 275-0961

Description: County judges and commissioners in these five counties coordinated efforts to pass legislation that provides opportunities for enhanced local revenue and state grants to fund road repairs and improve public safety for hundreds of miles of road damaged during the recent oil and gas boom.