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Bell County Commissioner Louie Minor provides an in-depth look at the upcoming Commissioner's Court agenda and discusses the county's proposed budget, tax rates, and ongoing animal shelter controversy.

• Detailed walkthrough of the August 18th Commissioner's Court agenda including consent items, departmental submissions, and workshop items
• Update on the failed motion to fund an outreach coordinator position at the Bell County Animal Shelter despite high euthanasia rates
• Overview of the proposed FY 2025-2026 budget with a decrease in property tax rate to the "no new revenue" rate of $33.27 per $100 valuation
• Explanation of state-imposed unfunded mandates, particularly the 100% disabled veterans property tax exemption
• Insights from Commissioner Minor's visit to Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and their successful animal welfare programs
• Information about the upcoming PAW (Public Accountability for Animal Welfare) rally on August 20th at 5pm followed by the tax rate public hearing at 6pm
• Discussion of the county's capital improvement projects including jail expansion and mental health unit

Join us at the upcoming public hearings on August 20th and 25th to make your voice heard on these important county issues.

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A crisis is unfolding at the Bell County Animal Shelter. With over 621 animals euthanized since January and the live release rate plummeting from 80% to just 46%, Rescue groups are sounding the alarm and pushing for meaningful reform.

At the heart of this issue lies a fundamental mission conflict. The Sheriff's Department, which currently oversees the animal shelter, is primarily focused on animal control for public safety—managing rabies concerns, handling loose livestock, and investigating animal cruelty cases. However, this mission doesn't necessarily prioritize animal adoption or welfare. As County Judge Blackburn noted during budget discussions, the current facility "was never intended to operate like what I would consider a shelter."

The stark numbers tell a troubling story. In June alone, 60 dogs were euthanized while 67 were adopted. For cats, the situation was even more dire: 126 euthanized compared to just 43 adopted. According to animal advocates, this dramatic increase in euthanasia stems from a new policy requiring a certain number of kennels to remain empty at all times—creating a devastating choice between adoption or euthanasia when space runs short.

Commissioner Minor has gathered input from rescue organizations, shelter volunteers, and concerned citizens to develop solutions. The most promising immediate step is the creation of an Outreach Coordinator position—someone dedicated to working with rescue groups, developing foster programs, and increasing adoption rates. This position would report directly to the Commissioner's Court rather than the Sheriff's Department, allowing for focused attention on adoption outcomes.

Longer-term discussions include potentially separating shelter operations from animal control entirely, a model that has proven successful in other counties. However, facility limitations present immediate challenges, as the current building wasn't designed with proper separation for sick and healthy animals.

Your voice matters in this crucial debate. The next Commissioner's Court meeting on August 11th at 9am will address budget allocations, including funding for this vital position. Whether you attend in person at the Bell County Historic Courthouse or register to participate virtually, your support can help transform Bell County into a community that values and protects its most vulnerable animals.

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The political landscape is shifting dramatically at the federal level, with profound implications for Latino communities and local governments nationwide. In this revealing episode, Bell County Commissioner Louie Minor takes us inside a pivotal session from the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) conference where experts dissect recent federal policy changes affecting everything from healthcare to education to immigration.

Through candid presentations from the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National League of Cities, and education policy experts, we witness a sobering assessment of what's at stake. The discussion lays bare how budget reconciliation cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will ripple through state budgets to impact local services, how executive orders eliminating diversity initiatives affect Latino students, and how immigration enforcement tactics are disrupting communities and businesses.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is the raw, unfiltered audience discussion that follows. Latino elected officials from across the country voice frustration about lack of coordinated resistance, share strategies for advocacy, and grapple with how to protect their communities from policies they view as harmful. The tension is palpable as participants debate whether traditional non-partisan approaches are adequate in today's political climate.

Beyond policy analysis, this episode offers a window into the Latino political experience in America today. As one speaker notes, "We are too many, we are unstoppable" - highlighting the growing demographic and economic power of Latino communities despite current challenges. By sharing this session in its entirety, Commissioner Minor provides a rare opportunity to understand both the mechanics of federal policy and the human response from those tasked with implementing it.

Have you considered how federal policy changes might be affecting your local community? Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and questions about these critical issues facing our democracy.

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We're back from the National Association of Counties annual conference in Philadelphia, where we successfully passed several key resolutions including a non-discrimination resolution I helped spearhead.

• Reports of unnecessary euthanasia at Bell County Animal Shelter have caused public outcry
• Proposing Bell County become a no-kill shelter with 90% live placement rate
• Workshop scheduled for July 28th to discuss animal shelter reforms
• Commissioner Woodson made controversial comments about JP courts in Precinct 4
• Judge Coleman requested additional clerk to handle heavy caseload in Precinct 2 JP Court
• Police departments choosing to take cases to Precinct 2 instead of their local JP courts
• Workload disparities exist between JP precincts with uneven population distribution
• First day of special legislative session tomorrow addressing flood mitigation, redistricting, and property taxes
• New tentative redistricting map shows Bell County unified in one congressional district

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Commissioner Louie Minor provides a comprehensive look at Bell County's budget planning process and critical decisions affecting taxpayer dollars. He examines major capital projects, emergency services funding, and potential solutions for rising healthcare costs through a proposed hospital district.

• Overview of upcoming Commissioner's Court meetings and agenda items including budget discussions
• Details on the $101 million jail expansion adding 600 beds while facing 52% increase in medical costs
• Examination of the new $9.8 million Killeen Annex opening fall 2026 and plans for a new Temple Annex
• Discussion of Bell County's rapid growth to over 404,000 residents and the strain on county services
• Analysis of the current tax rate and budget requests totaling over $208 million for personnel, equipment, and projects
• Explanation of the disabled veteran tax exemption impact on county revenue
• Proposal for creating a county hospital district to handle indigent healthcare and jail medical costs
• Review of Emergency Service Districts as a solution for rural areas needing better fire and ambulance coverage

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The delicate dance between local governance and state politics takes center stage in this revealing look at Bell County's current affairs. Commissioner Louie Minor offers a firsthand account of how county issues transform into state legislation—for better and worse.

When Commissioner Minor discovered the Bell County Child Welfare Board was spending thousands on birth certificates for foster children, he transformed this local inefficiency into House Bill 4466. The legislation would eliminate fees for counties requesting birth certificates in child welfare cases, redirecting those funds to essential items for vulnerable kids instead of having "the county paying itself to pay the state." With powerful testimony from Child Welfare Board representatives highlighting how last year's $6,000 expenditure could have purchased clothing, diapers, and school supplies, the bill successfully moved out of committee—a victory for practical governance.

Meanwhile, House Bill 3990 reveals the more polarized side of local-state relations. Filed specifically in response to Commissioner Minor displaying Pride-colored American and Texas flags in his office, the bill would restrict government buildings to displaying only official flags in their original colors. As an Iraq war veteran and the only openly gay county commissioner in Texas, Miner defended his expression rights before skeptical Republican committee members who questioned why statewide legislation was needed for what appears to be a single local dispute.

The episode concludes with a comprehensive breakdown of May 3rd's local election results, including Killeen voters rejecting a $155 million city hall bond proposal while approving the recall of Councilman Michael Boyd. In Harker Heights, newcomers Brian Burt and Jesse Myles secured city council victories, signaling potential shifts in local governance priorities.

Want to get involved in shaping Bell County's future? Commissioner Minor is planning town halls focused on the upcoming budget process. Follow his updates to learn how you can participate in decisions that directly impact your community.

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Traffic congestion and local education take center stage in this revealing look at Bell County's infrastructure challenges and the future of Killeen ISD. Commissioner Louie Minor pulls back the curtain on the Chaparral Road improvement project, sharing exclusive audio from a Commissioner's Court workshop where officials debate the merits of a $1.2 million investment in traffic signals and turn lanes. The discussion highlights the real-world complexities of local governance as commissioners wrestle with limited funding, engineering requirements, and competing priorities while trying to address intersections currently rated "F" for traffic flow.

The episode then shifts to education with a compelling interview with Lan Carter, candidate for Killeen ISD Board of Trustees. A former teacher and mother of three, Carter brings a unique perspective to the challenges facing the district. She articulates a clear vision for tackling budget waste, improving school safety, and addressing the critical issue of teacher retention in a district serving over 44,000 students. The conversation doesn't shy away from difficult topics, including the recent tragic stabbing at Roy J. Smith Middle School and the district's controversial cell phone policy.

Carter also provides thoughtful responses to pressing education policy questions, including her opposition to school voucher programs that could potentially drain $17 million from Killeen ISD. As she notes, "We need to figure out what can we do to keep teachers within KISD," highlighting her focus on creating better working environments for educators rather than expanding administrative positions.

Whether you're concerned about your daily commute, your child's education, or how your tax dollars are being spent, this episode delivers valuable insights into the decisions that affect Bell County residents. Listen now and be better informed before early voting begins on April 22nd for the important May 3rd school board election.

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