Brown County commissioners joined other local organizations by unanimously approving to contribute $5000 to retain Bob Turner as a legislative liason for the area.
With great concern of just what job cuts and closings the State of Texas will enact during the current legistlative session, Brown County joined with the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Brownwood, and the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation in fighting to keep as many positions and offices as possible the area.
This consultant would be the “eyes and ears” for the area in case something is proposed in Austin that would have a negative impact on the Brownwood area. This would better enable local officials to take action to help protect local interests and jobs.
Former Mayor Bert Massey made the request for the county to join the effort on behalf of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Brownwood Chamber.
The proposed state budget was described by Massey as “Draconian and horrible, to say the least”.
“We here in Brown County, perhaps more so than any other rural county in the state of Texas, have an extremely vested interest in terms of jobs,” stated Massey.
The main topic of concern for local officials is the estimated $16 to $28 billion dollar deficit facing lawmakers and the cuts in services that will be necessary to balance the state’s budget.
Local officials believe that many agencies and departments in Brown County could be affected negatively by the coming cuts including TxDOT, TYC, Texas Department of Public Safety, Family and Protective Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas National Guard, and others totaling more than 1000 full-time jobs in the area. Many of these jobs may be at risk as a result of the state’s budget situation. The first draft of the budget from the Texas House already calls for the de-funding of Ranger College.
The city of Brownwood is expected to approve a similar request at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
