Freestone County Commissioners approved the 2027-2028 Fiscal Year Budget and adopted a new .301625% Tax Rate at the August 19, 2026, Commissioner’s Court Meeting.

Following a lengthy discussion, Commissioners voted to ratify a new tax rate of .301625%, which is lower than last year’s rate of .3335%, but still over the No-New-Revenue rate in the amount of .3299%

“This year’s budget will produce more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by about $1,863,863.44; which is a 3.3% increase in revenue from last year’s budget,” explained County Judge Lloyd Lane. “Property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $747,874.77.”

Within the budget, several positions received raises to make salaries fairer compared to counties that are roughly the same size as Freestone.

Also approved at this meeting were:
–Budge Transfers & Amendments
–Bill Pay
–Payroll
–Report from Fairfield Library and Final Report on Cybersecurity and AI Training from Dane McBroom
–Bonds & Education Certificates
–Acceptance of Special Road Use Agreement & Bond
–Awarding bids for Bulk Fuel, Road Base Materials, and Solid Waste
–Acceptance of $500 from Community National Bank & Trust of Texas to Senior Services
–Acceptance of the County Clerk’s Archive Fund
–Acceptance of the County Clerk’s Record Management & Preservation Plan for 2026-2027
–Acceptance of new salary grades for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year

Following the meeting, Commissioners addressed two recent open records requests

The first was regarding information on a Non-Disclosure agreement between the County and the CyrusOne Data Center. According to Judge Lane, there is nothing to release as there was never a Non-Disclosure Agreement signed between the two entities.

The second was regarding Flock Cameras. Judge Lane explained that Freestone County does not own or operate any Flock Cameras. “If there are any along I-45 located within the county, those would belong to the State. If there are any owned and operated by any of the cities within the county, we have not been made aware.”

Freestone County Commissioners include Andy Bonner (Pct. 1), Will McSwane (Pct. 2), Richard McGowan (Pct. 3), Clyde Ridge, Jr. (Pct. 4), and Lloyd Lane (County Judge).

Their regularly scheduled meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the 2nd-floor courtroom.

Meeting dates and agendas can be found online at www.co.freestone.tx.us/page/freestone.PublicNotices.

You can view their meetings on YouTube at www.youtube.com/channel/CbIetX9uPjTFiTnXLrHpzfA.