Smith County Honored in Austin

AUSTIN — Smith County is one of 10 in Texas to be honored by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Leadership Foundation during TAC’s annual conference in Austin.

The programs were selected to receive high honors for innovation, achievement and delivery of service in the 2010 County Best Practice Awards, which recognize county initiatives that serve as a model to others and save taxpayer monies.

“These tough economic times necessitate that counties be pro-active and creative in providing services that improve their communities while, at the same time, saving taxpayer money,” said Kaufman County Judge Wayne Gent, chair of the foundation. “These county programs are doing just that, and we are proud to honor them for their achievements.”

Smith County was honored for Achievement for its Compensatory Time Management Program, which was organized to reduce the ever-increasing and costly payout and accrual of employee-earned compensatory time. The program has helped the sheriff’s department reduce its compensatory time by more than 48%.

“We are very proud of the leadership in our Sheriff’s Office and Auditor’s Department. They stepped up and thought outside the box to reduce our accumulated comp time and ultimately save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the County,” said Comp Time Committee Member and Smith County Precinct 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton.

The photo shows the Smith County contingent accepting the Texas Association of Counties Best Practice Award. Shown in the photo, left to right, Smith County Chief Deputy Bobby Garmon, Commissioner JoAnn Hampton, Sheriff J.B. Smith, Auditor Ann Wilson, County Judge Joel Baker and Assistant Auditor Kalisha Boyd.