County officials are currently engaged in the critical task of budgeting, aiming to produce fiscally responsible budgets that address the needs of their constituents. The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) is committed to supporting these efforts. "If you have not seen our County Budget and Tax Rate Planning Calendar, please check it out," TAC advises, noting its usefulness during this period.

This year has seen an unusual number of weather-driven disasters. To aid counties in declaring disasters, applying for federal assistance, and managing cleanup efforts, TAC has created a series of Disaster Resource publications. Additionally, a TAC Disaster Recovery Resources page has been added to county.org. "We welcome your input on additional valuable information for this page," TAC states.

Wildfire mitigation and disaster recovery will be significant topics in the upcoming legislative session. Caroline Love, newly appointed director of the Legislative Services team at TAC, is preparing diligently for this session. This fall, TAC’s Legislative staff will travel across the state to attend Legislative Exchanges and gather information on pressing issues. Details on these meetings will soon be available on the Legislative Services page of the website.

TAC invites county officials to attend its annual Legislative Conference in Austin from Aug. 28-30. The conference offers newcomers an opportunity to learn about important county government issues and engage with peers and lawmakers under this year's theme “Stronger Together.”

To enhance understanding among constituents and lawmakers about county government’s value, TAC has revamped its Texas Counties Deliver website with new videos and educational materials. The latest video titled “Meet Your County Judge” explains a county judge's role and responsibilities.

TAC remains ready to assist counties in any way possible and encourages feedback for service improvement.

"Thank you for the important work you do," concludes TAC's message. "We are Stronger Together."