Howard County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Howard County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Lawsuit Against County Officials
A confusingly drafted lawsuit names county officials, the City of Big Spring, CAD, and others; the court approved spending taxpayer money on outside lawyers to respond.
County Floodplain Regulations and Permitting
The county still runs floodplain decisions off a 2013 order with no real permit process, leaving the judge to sign off on technical documents he says he doesn't understand; a $30,000 Halff system would fix that before development pressure (like a proposed I-20 retail project) hits.
25th Street Drainage Master Plan
Drainage plans for 25th Street — tied to a city engineering failure — will proceed at 60% design this year, with the remainder funded next year.
Library Renovation Project
The renovation is nearly done; the court approved final film work and a large payment to pay subcontractors, with a short punch list (paint touch-ups, speaker reinstall) still open.
Road Department Equipment and Bids
Road crews finished CR 54 and CR 12 work, and two unsold sheriff vehicles head back to auction; a new fleet manager position will professionalize vehicle management.
Library Grants for Community Programs
The library can now pursue annual grants for summer reading, literacy, STEM and cultural programs, keeping services going without leaning on taxpayers — though Judge Johnson objected to the Pokémon club grant.
Indigent Defense Funding
The annual state resolution keeps the county eligible to recoup roughly 7-8% of what it spends on court-appointed attorneys.
Cybersecurity Protection Renewal
The county is paying $37,735 for a year of cyber monitoring after grant funding ran out — officials noted it has already caught threats.
2027 County Holiday Schedule
Following survey feedback from staff, commissioners adjusted the 2027 holiday schedule to give employees Thursday, December 23, and Friday, December 24 off for Christmas.
Emergency Medical Services Interlocal & Grant Agreements
The county evaluated its current ambulance service contract with the City of Big Spring to support a state grant application, ensuring continuous emergency medical coverage.
County Records Digitization and Destruction
County Clerk Jury Padron got the green light to destroy older, non-historical paper records that have already been safely scanned and backed up to digital archives, freeing up much-needed office space.
Regional Digital Case Management Integration
The City of Stanton joined other local municipalities in adopting the county's shared digital case management software to streamline law enforcement and court record tracking.
National Weather Service Communications Equipment on South Mountain Tower
The National Weather Service wants to mount severe weather broadcasting gear on the county's South Mountain tower. Commissioners are worried about outside federal technicians walking inside the county's secure communications building where millions of dollars in emergency equipment are housed, so they are exploring building a separate shed outside the fence.
2026-2027 Budget and Tax Rate
Residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed 44-cent tax rate, citing high grocery and utility costs and questioning county cash reserves. Commissioners defended the rate as a preliminary ceiling driven by declining mineral valuations and state circuit breaker laws, voting to table the budget until September 14.
Roadway Maintenance and Dust Control
The road and bridge department is actively working on shoulder widening, clearing fallen trees from storms, and repairing roads damaged by heavy traffic and weather.
FCI Big Spring Closure
The planned closure of the federal prison in Big Spring threatens over 200 local jobs and families. Local officials are lobbying federal authorities to reverse the decision while organizing rapid-response job fairs and support groups.
Weather Modification Operations and Reporting
The board reviewed meteorological conditions, aircraft status, and general association operations related to weather modification programs serving Howard County and regional partners.
Election Technology Upgrades
The Elections Administrator secured approval to upgrade pollbook software and hardware to comply with Senate Bill 2753, ensuring smooth voter check-in across expanded polling locations.
Data Center Water Impact
Water district officials briefed the court on active wells and regulatory rules, touching on how upcoming data center projects might affect local water supplies.
School Infrastructure Bond
Forsan ISD is finally breaking ground on a massive $47 million upgrade for the junior/senior high school. Students are getting shiny new classrooms, updated facilities, and better career training programs.
Employee Health Insurance Renewal and Benefits
During the afternoon workshop, county financial officers presented the 2026-2027 health insurance renewal options from the Texas Association of Counties. The court voted to keep the current health plan.
Courthouse Generator Installation
County maintenance supervisor Baldomar Cortez updated the court on site preparations for new courthouse generators. The road and bridge department will move the old generator, and a new concrete pad and fencing will be arranged.
Salary Grievance Committee
The county is required by law to have a committee ready to hear potential salary complaints from elected officials. They drew names from the grand jury pool to ensure the committee is ready if needed.
Fuel Control System Replacement
The county is encouraging staff and deputies to utilize a mobile app for tracking fuel usage at county pumps to streamline data and monitor usage.
Summer Nutrition Program
Big Spring is keeping kids fed this summer by offering free breakfast and lunch at local schools. If you're a parent looking to save on groceries, just swing by the Junior High or Washington Elementary to grab a meal.
Student Recognition Program
The county continues its tradition of honoring outstanding high school students to support their college applications.
Morita Ranch Subdivision Plat
The commissioners reviewed and approved the final subdivision plat for Morita Ranch, clearing the way for development.
Flood Tunnel Construction
Howard County is finally kicking off construction on the Ellicott City flood tunnel this summer to protect the historic downtown area from devastating floods. This major project aims to put a stop to the repeated water damage that has plagued the local community for years.
Emergency Dispatch Phone System Upgrade
The county approved a new phone service plan for dispatch with RCN Technologies to resolve ongoing communication failures between city and county lines. The cost will be shared on a 60-40 split with the city.
County-Wide Burn Ban
The county instituted a 90-day burn ban due to high KBDI fire index numbers to help prevent wildfires.
School Resource Officer Safety MOUs
The county updated agreements between the Sheriff's Office and local school districts to keep armed officers in schools and clarify legal search rules. These updates help protect students while making sure officers follow standard national guidelines.
Public Safety Enforcement
Howard County police just finished a two-day crime sweep that resulted in 40 arrests. You’ll likely notice a heavier police presence around town for the next little while as they keep the pressure on.
Crossroads Business Park TIRZ
The county discussed updating a tax reinvestment zone agreement with the City of Big Spring to encourage local business growth.
Election Results
The March 3 election results are officially in, deciding the local leaders and policies that will steer Howard County for the next few years. It’s time to see who won and how these changes might affect your daily life in the county.
County Road 14 Culvert Repair
Road Engineer Brian Klinksiek outlined a plan to use Herring Services for patching and scrub sealing County Road 53 to repair degraded surfaces and alligator cracking.
Waste Isolation Pilot Project Route Change
State officials proposed shifting nuclear waste transport trucks off two-lane rural roads and onto four-lane highways through Howard County to improve safety.
County Website Modernization
The county is updating its website, which will cause a temporary freeze in content updates.
Immigration Policy
Howard County is debating new bills that would limit how local police work with ICE. It’s a major shift in local policy that’s sparking intense community debate over how we handle immigration enforcement.
Law Enforcement Center Construction
The county's new law enforcement center is nearing completion, with contractors expected to finish by the end of February. Commissioners approved minor contingency fund adjustments to handle unexpected structural items like a wind brace.
Sheriff's Office Mental Health Program Funding
The county accepted a $75,000 donation from the Dora Roberts Foundation to support mental health officers and inmate services.
Federal Transportation Grant Pursuit ($6M - $14M)
Road and Bridge Engineer Brian Klintzik received the green light to explore a major federal Department of Transportation grant that could bring between $6 and $14 million in road improvement work to the county with an 20% match.
Infrastructure Repairs and Insurance Claims
The county received updates on ongoing repairs at the library, jail, and law enforcement center following the June 2025 hailstorm, including roofing and window replacements.
Reproductive Health Policy
Howard County just passed a controversial ordinance that tries to restrict travel for abortion services. It’s a major move that’s raising big questions about how much power the local government actually has over your personal life.
Telecommunications Regulation
Howard County is fighting the FCC to keep control over local internet infrastructure and how broadband providers set up shop in our neighborhoods. If the feds win, the city might lose its ability to manage public rights-of-way and negotiate better service terms for residents.
Emergency Declaration
Big Spring’s mayor just declared a local disaster after that nasty storm hit, which is basically the green light needed to get state and federal cash for repairs. Expect some updates soon on how this affects your daily city services and the cleanup timeline.
Jail Telecommunications Policy
Howard County is charging families way too much just to talk to their loved ones in jail, with local call rates actually exceeding federal caps for long-distance calls. It’s a major financial burden that keeps families from staying connected during a difficult time.
LGBTQIA+ Commission formation
Howard County is setting up its first permanent LGBTQIA+ commission to give the community a real seat at the table. This move aims to bake inclusive policy-making directly into the local government process.