Court approves TCDRS cost of living adjustment for 2024
The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in a regular meeting Monday morning and approved the Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS) 2024 assessment for Lavaca County regarding the required contribution rate and cost of living adjustment for county retirees.
Lavaca County auditor, Shana Opela, said the required rate for 2024 is calculated at 15.47% and currently the elective rate is 17%, which is 1.53% higher than what is required.
"Fourteen years ago was the last time the Lavaca County gave a cost of living (COLA) adjustment to its retirees,” Opela said. “I believe it’s time for them to get an increase.”
Opela recommended a 10% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase for the retirees. She said the increase is based on the retirees original benefit payment and how much inflation has occurred since a retiree had started receiving their benefits.
“This type of COLA provides an increase to the retiree’s benefit payments by a percentage based on the increase of the CPI,” Opela said. “It helps restore the buying power of each retiree based on the retiree’s original benefit payment and how much inflation has occurred since a retiree first started receiving their benefits.”
Opela said the good news is the county has an elected rate of 17% and the 10% CPI increase would change the required rate to 16.21%, which is below the current 17% elective rate.
After hearing the explanation of figures in the retirement system and how the county would be affected, the court voted to approve the 10% CPI rate and keep the 17% elective rate.
Water for County Road Construction
The court discussed a matter submitted by Pct. 2 commissioner Wayne Faircloth regarding the lack of water for building roads in his precinct.
“We need water to build roads and constituents in the county don’t know this,” Faircloth said. “It’s not like we can just go to somebody’s house and hook up a truck to get water to apply to the roads.”
He said the water is vital for road building because it has to be applied to the road, then packed before it can be topped with a chip and seal.
“It is an issue because right now we do not have a reliable water source,” Faircloth said. “It is my understanding that in the past we could just go to somebody’s pond and they would allow us to take water. But now people don’t feel that way because of the lack of rain.”
Faircloth said when it rains, there may be a lot, but it will not stay due to run-off.
“We need to find a source of water we can have access to and be able to provide us with water to build roads,” Faircloth said.
Subdivision Certificates of Exemption
The court approved certificate of exemptions from subdivision requirements to three county landowners.
The certificate of exemptions from subdivision requirements were granted to Glen Bludau, Donald Kocurek, and Cheryl and Charles Pavliska.
Order to Vacate County Roads
The court approved an order to vacate CR 346 A, which composes Strauss Street in Shiner as well as CR 346 C, which makes up Eleventh and Dickson Streets in Shiner.
Reports
The court heard from Texas Department of State Health Services Region 8 public nurse in Hallettsville, Lauren Werner, who presented the health region annual report.
In addition, Region 8 Zoonosis control veterinarian, Dr. Amanda Kieffer, informed the court that recently there have been three cases of rabies found in skunks in Lavaca County
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children representative, Nicole Nguyen, presented a Phase 2 Community Based Care Update.
A third report was given by Lavaca County Extension Agent – Family and Community Health, Natalie Knesek, who reported on the Moulton Elementary School receiving the commendation of a Healthy South Texas Recognized campus.
In other action taken by the court:
• Discussed and approved a Governor’s proclamation renewal and also approved a resolution for additional measures to secure the border, stop the invasion at the border, and protect our communities. (Due to publication deadlines a separate article on this topic will appear in next week’s papers).
• Approved adopting a Lavaca County EMS Charity Care policy.
• Set a budget workshop to be held on July 12 at 9 a.m. and a second, if needed, on July 13
• Approved all consent agenda items.
County Judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with Commissioners Edward Pustka, Wayne Faircloth, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian present for the meeting.