Sierra Martin | Managing Editor
HAYS COUNTY — On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the Hays County Commissioners Court met to discuss many agenda items including adopting Lights Out Hays County Months and receiving an updated to the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program.
Commissioners adopted a proclamation adopting Lights Out Hays County Months to the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky. Lights Out Texas is a statewide initiative to raise awareness of light pollution’s risk to birds.
The initiative asks businesses, residents and governments to turn off non-essential lights at night from March through June 15th and fall migration from August 15th through November 30th.
According to the proclamation, Hays County will work with a collaborative team organized by Friends of the Night Sky to provide information to the public about the Lights Out Hays County campaign, the impacts of lights on bird migration and the benefits of reducing light pollution and energy consumption.
County Commissioners received an update on the COVID-19 ERA Program progress, which has lost around $2.5 million in the past due to program mismanagement.
Director of Countywide Operations, Tammy Crumley, provided the update to commissioners. Since the last update was provided one week earlier at the Commissioner Court’s meeting, an additional $76,711.61 has been distributed, totaling $2,020,388 of the U.S. Treasury funds.
Crumley also said that the county currently has approximately 400 open tickets. Of those, 130 tickets are pending citizen completion, 25 are under auditor review, and 230 are under caseworker review.
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra mentioned a Mortgage Assistance Program being executed by state and federal governments.
County Commissioner of Precinct 4 Walt Smith said that he has been discussing the Mortgage Assistance Program with state representatives recently and that Hays County has entered into a partnership with the state.
“I’m happy to announce that everyone who is in Hays County who is currently behind on their mortgage, we’ve actually entered into a partnership with them. Our tax office has entered into a partnership with the state,” said Smith. “And any letter that is received by a homeowner pursuant to them either being behind on their taxes or if they are in default on their last tax bill, there is actually direct information in that letter to that program.”
Smith said that the mortgage program is not being administered by the county, but is open to everyone.
“That program actually not only pays for mortgage, or will help folks get right with the mortgage company, it actually pays for all of their – any and all property taxes that they’re in default on as well as utilities, HOA fees, there is a number of fees that actually qualify under that program,” said Smith.
Smith said that he has discussed creating a pop-up site in Hays County for people to be able to apply for the Mortgage Assistance Program if they do not have internet access.
The full Hays County Commissioners Court meeting can be viewed on their website.
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