April 26 is going to be a big day for Henderson County Commissioners’ Court. During their meeting on that Tuesday, commissioners are scheduled to approve the county’s final debt payment.
That’s right, the county will be debt free for the first time in a long, long time, thanks to credit counseling solutions.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney has been on Commissioners’ Court for 17 years and was with the county four years before that, and he doesn’t remember a time when the county wasn’t in debt.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” McKinney said. “You feel more in control of your destiny.”
The county has been paying around $1.2 million per year for debt (jail bond and certificate of obligation for land purchase), so should have about $1 million more to spend on other areas next year.
“There are still many needs that the county has,” said McKinney. “We’ll have to go through a prioritization in the budget process (for where to spend that money).”
— Michael V. Hannigan/HCN
” so should have about $1 million more to spend on other areas next year.”
Here’s an idea, instead of “spending” that money, how about a reduction in taxes. That would be the conservative thing to do with our money. Give it back to us so WE can spend it.