The county received high praise in the audit of fiscal year 2007 accounting.

In a review of the 2007 fiscal year, Mary Rosas of the outside auditing firm of Stovall, Grandey & Allen, LLP of Fort Worth, praised both the county’s financial and budgeting processes, despite increased state-mandated practices.

“You have no deficiencies in your audit regarding internal controls or compliance,” she said.

Total county assets at the end of 2007 stood at $11.6 million, an increase of $1.7 million over fiscal year 2006.

The general fund total was $3.2 million, an increase of about $251,000.

Total revenue in 2007 was $11.526 million, including $8,320,000 from the various tax sources and interest on investments of $288,000. The latter compares to $163,208 in investment income over 2006.

Because most of the grant projects in which the county was participating had been concluded and money from grants had decreased by $641,000 compared to 2006, total income had increased just $30,000.

Expenditures in 2007 of about $10 million had decreased $523,000 from 2006.

Long-term indebtedness began at $5.156 million and, by the end of 2007, it stood at $4.71 million.

County Judge Wayne Brascom was pleased: “Our asset base has increased. Our debt has gone down and internal controls are operating well. Our budget goals were consistent with expectations.”

Brascom noted that financial successes were due, in part, to conscientious work of elected officials and department heads and, in part, to a more aggressive investment program.

“As a result, we were able to lower the tax rate from 34 cents to 30.8 cents,” he said. “It reflects good management in the past and it was a way to say, ‘Thank you. We are going to pass money back to you’.”

“We’ve worked very hard in the last few years to make every transaction transparent,” said County Auditor Cindy Lent when asked about the SG&A representative’s praise of an exceptionally clean audit. “When I started here in 1998, we didn’t have balance sheets. Every year it has taken less and less time. We have made a lot of progress.”

The court affirmed the judge’s decision March 7 to lift the ban on outdoor burning.

Although conversations outside the Llano County Commissioners Court meeting Monday ran to tales of fires that had gotten out of control in high winds during the past week, the burn ban remains lifted.

The court continued its process of developing subdivision and permit ordinances Monday. After a lengthy executive session with the county’s legal consultant Charles Kimborough of the Austin legal firm Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP, the court discontinued any requirement building permits outside the floodplain.

Requirement of septic and wastewater permits continues and any kind of construction activity will require obtaining a 911 emergency address.

Construction or building activity, including land clearing and preparation, requires filing a 911 application. That is free at the Department of Environmental & Emergency Services, 103 East Sandstone Street, and Suite B, (325) 247-2039.

Following public hearings, the court vacated one plat and approved the replat of another tract of land.

They vacated or cancelled the plat of Lot 25 and part of Lot 24 of the Diamond Cross River Acres development in Precinct 4. They approved the replat of Lots 5 and 6 in block Y of a replat of the G.J. Miller Subdivision and Tract Y of H.S. Hauck Lands in Precinct 1.

The court approved the name Stirrup Lane for a private road in Hilldale Ranchettes. The need for dedicating the road out of property owner park land came up in January when Potts & Reilly Real Estate applied for an address for Lot 42 on behalf of Advantage Homes. The road serves four lots that previously had access only through the park.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Duane Stueven brought a misunderstanding of the duties of the Animal Control Officer before the court for discussion.

“The duties of the Animal Control Officer concern public health and safety issues involved with stray and abandoned animals,” he said.

“The officer has been called to pick up puppies and kittens. That is not her job, nor is it her responsibility to pick up trapped animals.”

The county is under contract to pay for every stray or abandoned animal it delivers to the local animal shelter. Unwanted litters, as other surrendered animals, should be taken by owners to Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter and Adoption center at 9150 RR 1431 at Buchanan Dam (512 793-5463) between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. any day but Thursday or Friday.