Public Notice Pursuant to the Texas Election Code 42.035, the Lavaca County Commissioners Court has adopted new county election precinct boundaries to be used beginning in 2022 and to be used permanently thereafter.  The boundary changes will reduce the number of voting precincts from 19 down to 11.  These voting boundary consolidations are as follows:

Precinct 1 combines Precinct 1 and 12

Precinct 2 remains unchanged

Precinct 8 remains unchanged

Precinct 9 remains unchanged

Precinct 11 combines Precincts 32 and 11

Precinct 16 combines Precincts 16 and 17

Precinct 19 combines Precincts 19, 20 and 27

Precinct 23 remains unchanged

Precinct 29 combines Precincts 29 and 15

Precinct 30 combines Precincts 30 and 26

Precinct 31 combines Precincts 31 and 7

Map of Combined Voting Precincts from 9 to 11

Notice of Tax Rates

This notice concerns the 2021 property tax rates for County of Lavaca. This notice concerns the 2021 property tax rates for County of Lavaca. This notice provides information about two tax rates used in adopting the current tax year's tax rate. The no-new-revenue tax rate would Impose the same amount of taxes as last year if you compare properties taxed in both years. In most cases, the voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate a taxing unit can adopt without holding an election. In each case, these rates are calculated by dividing the total amount of taxes by the current taxable value with adjustments as required by state law. The rates are given per $100 of property value.

To see the full calculations, please visit www.co.lavaca.tx.us for a copy of the Tax Rate Calculation Worksheet.

Unencumbered Fund Balance
The following estimated balances will be left in the unit's accounts at the end of the fiscal year. These balances are not encumbered by a corresponding debt obligation.

Current Year Debt Service
The following amounts are for long-term debts that are secured by property taxes. These amounts will be paid from upcoming property tax revenues (or additional sales tax revenues, if applicable).

Farm to Market/Flood Control Fund - Unencumbered Fund BalanceThe following estimated balances will be left in the unit's property tax accounts at the end of the fiscal year. These balances are not encumbered by a corresponding debt obligation.

Farm to Market/Flood Control Fund - Current Year Debt ServiceThe unit plans to pay the following amounts for long-term debts that are secured by property taxes. These amounts will be paid from property tax revenues (or additional sales tax revenues, if applicable).

This notice contains a summary of actual no-new-revenue and voter-approval calculations as certified by Deborah A Sevcik, Tax Assessor-Collector, Lavaca County on 08/04/2021.

Recognizing our best hope for tomorrow

By MARK MYERS, Lavaca County Judge

Last week your Commissioner’s Court passed some significant resolutions in support of our county’s young people. 

This week is National 4H Week, and I could not be prouder of the 4H program we have here in this county. These young citizens are our best hope for tomorrow. 

I recently met a few of them during a photo opportunity and found them all to be respectful, engaging, ambitious and interested in our county government. Thank you to Shannon DeForest, Natalie Knesek and the many parents and volunteers who make such profound differences in our community, well into the future. 

4H stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health and serves as an admirable program that provides learning experiences for the whole child. Our local leaders help build a better tomorrow for our entire county, one child at a time, by helping each become more independent, productive and contributing members of our society. 

If your child is between 8 and 19-years-old, 4H offers them a great program to become involved with because it has a program for virtually all interests. 

We also declared Oct. 6 as official Children’s Health Day in Lavaca County, which seeks to recognize the importance of good nutrition for our children. In recognition of the event, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Lavaca County and the Texas Department of State Health Services will host the 17th annual Kids’ Health Party that same day, beginning at 9 a.m.at the Hallettsville Knights of Columbus Hall.

Each year, some 300 fifth graders from across Lavaca County take part in this event, which includes a variety of hands-on activities and workshops designed to teach students the value of good nutrition and physical activity in everyday life.

Also this month, we’re planning another Trunk or Treat event from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. It was incredibly popular last year, and it provides local children with a safe place to trick or treat for Halloween. We look forward to seeing all their creative costumes once again this year, as well as visiting with our many fine families who come out each year to enjoy our beautiful Courthouse Square.  

Although still a few weeks away, the Festival of Lights will return in all its glory this year. This is one of the biggest events of the year, one that everyone looks forward to each holiday season. 

This year the Grand Lighting will feature food vendors and the many others who help make the pageantry of our live Nativity on the Courthouse Square possible each year. Some of it is made possible thanks to the cooperative efforts between the City of Hallettsville and Lavaca County, but the true magic of the evening rests entirely on all the wonderful volunteers who make this such a special time of year for all to experience.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank some of those volunteers, as well as encourage others to follow in their footsteps: Roy and Jean Schaefer, Jim Jakubek, Michelle and Michael Lanni, Mandy Newhouse, Bobbie-Rae Hines Burns, Jenny Koerth, Mindy De La Rosa and Sandy Schaefer. Thank you so much for all you have done for Lavaca County through the years, and thank you, also, to all our new volunteers who will no doubt step up to carry this project for years to come.   

The time, effort and sweat that you all put into this annual event are greatly appreciated by everyone who experiences the magic of the lights and decorations on our square each year. 

For those who may have an interest, the Festival of Lights is now taking donations to help with the costs of replacing lights, strands and decorations. They are also actively seeking volunteers to assist with decorating. For more information, please contact Michelle Lanni at Flamingo Froyo on the square.  

Your next Commissioner’s Court meeting takes place this week, starting at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8. We rescheduled this week because our regular second Monday meeting time fell on a holiday (Columbus Day). 

Please continue to pray for our nation, state and county. May God protect and keep our public safety personnel, much as He protects and keeps each of you. Please know that it is still my greatest honor to serve each of you!

County Judge Mark Myers loves to hear from the people he represents each day here in Lavaca County. Contact his courthouse office by calling (361) 798-2301 or email him atjudgemyers@co.lavaca.tx.us.