The Austin County Commissioners Court approved changes to property tax exemptions at their June 24, 2024, meeting. They set a uniform homestead exemption rate of 2% and increased the exemption for residents over 65 and disabled individuals from $7,000 to $25,000. These changes aim to provide financial relief to homeowners, especially those on fixed incomes.
On Monday, July 8, 2024, Austin County can expect increasing wind speeds from 14 mph to 32 mph and significant rainfall totaling around 2.55 inches by 3 PM. Wind gusts will peak at 77 mph around 4 PM, and the wind direction will shift from northerly to southwesterly throughout the day. By Tuesday, July 9, wind speeds will decrease to 12 mph by midnight, with additional rainfall accumulation expected.
![Austin County Commissioners Discuss SB 22 Funding for Law Enforcement and Prosecutor’s Offices [VIDEO]](https://i2.wp.com/austincountynewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bronze-Austin-County-Seal.jpg?w=400&resize=400,250&ssl=1)
At the June 24, 2024, Austin County Commissioners Court meeting, officials discussed the allocation of $175,000 from Senate Bill 22 to supplement salaries in the District Attorney’s office. This grant, part of a state initiative to support rural law enforcement, must be fully utilized within the current fiscal year to avoid returning unused funds to the state. The county aims to ensure compliance with state guidelines while maintaining competitive salaries to retain and attract qualified personnel.
On June 24th, the Austin County Regional Special Response Team executed an operation in Columbus, Texas, resulting in the arrest of Eric Belmonte for narcotics-related charges. A search of Belmonte’s residence led to the seizure of multiple illegal substances and U.S. currency. The operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple local law enforcement agencies and the DEA.
![Disaster Resource Center Opens in Bellville for Austin County Residents [VIDEO]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sba.gov/themes/custom/sba/dist/img/social/SBASEOImage.jpg?w=400&resize=400,250&ssl=1)
In response to severe storms and flooding in Austin County from April 26, 2024, a Disaster Resource Center (DRC) will open in Bellville at the Bellville Police Department Training Center on 162 N Chesley St. Operating daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the center offers support following President Biden’s declaration of a major disaster on May 17, 2024, making Austin County eligible for federal assistance. Residents, homeowners, renters, and businesses affected by the disaster can access recovery resources, including low-interest federal disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), with application assistance available onsite or online at sba.gov/disaster.
In the early hours of Friday, June 14, 2024, Clarence Cloud, a 31-year-old fugitive wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, was apprehended in New Ulm, Texas. The arrest was carried out by the US Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force with assistance from the Austin County Regional Special Response Team and new K9 unit, Knox. Cloud was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Austin County Jail.
During a recent Commissioners Court meeting on June 10, 2024, Austin County officials discussed a proposal to gradually adjust the homestead exemption in response to rising property values, which have increased by over 20% in the past year. The focus was on finding a balanced approach to ease the financial burden on homeowners while maintaining fiscal responsibility for the county. Proposed changes include a moderate initial increase to the homestead exemption, with plans for further analysis and detailed proposals expected before the July 1 deadline.
The Westside Narcotics Task Force, comprising multiple law enforcement agencies, conducted a successful operation resulting in the apprehension of Marcus Grant and Latoya Johnson, seizing a cache of illicit substances from a motel. Marcus Grant faces an array of charges, including manufacturing and delivery of controlled substances, while Latoya Johnson faces possession charges, both promptly booked into Waller County Jail. The collaborative effort underscores the Task Force’s commitment to combatting narcotics distribution across four counties, with crucial assistance from the Waller County Sheriff’s Office.