((UPDATE: I have been told that not everyone on Commissioners’ Court understood the TxDOT proposal as an unfunded mandate.))
It turns out a disagreement between Henderson County Commissioners’ Court and TxDOT may be more miscommunication than mandate.
Last week, commissioners ripped the state for trying to shift the cost of advance county road signs to the local government level. The signs are placed on state highways to announce an approaching county road.
Commissioners were livid at the idea that they would have to pay for the signs, which can run as high as $600 each, and unanimously rejected a TxDOT agreement to do so. Loudly.
But not so fast. Apparently there is no requirement for the county to take over the cost of the signs.
I am told the state is actually looking to get rid of the signs and replace them, as they become damaged or aged, with standard county road number signs on top of Stop and Yield signs at the intersection at the state’s expense. That’s a change of policy that officials say can save TxDOT $28 million.
The option to allow the counties to keep the advance signs at their own expense IF THE COUNTY WANTS TO was added last year as the policy change was being considered.
So no requirement = no mandate, which means the change doesn’t have to cost the county any money.
But there are still questions.
Around the state, emergency personnel and firefighters have criticized removing the advance signs for safety reasons.
TxDOT officials, however, have said that the widespread use of GPS technology, particularly in emergency vehicles, makes the advance signs redundant. I have even heard the change described as a “modernization.”
Like I said, there are still questions. Answers, however, may have to wait until the next Legislative Session, when I hear the issue of TxDOT signs will be raised.