What Would You Do if Somebody Ran Up a Big Tab on Your Credit Card, Told You to Pay It, and Just Shut Up with the Questions?
Local Government will eat up any tax relief you thought the Legislature might give you. Here’s an example from our home base in Smith County, Texas.
“There is just an unbelievable lack of public planning, due diligence, transparency and an abject failure to talk about – much less resolve – the extreme backlog of promised County Road Bond Projects. We’ve been waiting for months for the Commissioners Court to tell the public how they will make good on the promised roads. The public gets the sound of crickets.
“Add to that a lack of orderly planning to address the cost of staffing the new courthouse and ZERO interest in looking for ways to reduce spending – and we’ve got ourselves runaway spending in Smith County.
“There is ZERO consideration of taxpayers. That’s why Grassroots America Opposes Smith County Commissioners Court Approval of $25.6 Million in Downtown Investments with the Tyler Mayor and City Council. They have way too many high priced projects started and none completed.
“Nobody with any sense would run a household or a business this way. It’s far past unacceptable.”
~ JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director and self-term-limited county commissioner
July 7, 2025 – Tyler, Texas | Today, Grassroots America’s Executive Director JoAnn Fleming sent to Smith County Judge Neal Franklin and County Commissioners notification of the organization’s strong objections to a $25.6 Million Downtown Investment scheme slated for a presentation, discussion and a potential vote on Tuesday, July 8, at a 2:00 PM special joint meeting of the Smith County Commissioners Court and the Tyler City Council.
According to the posted agenda, the Tyler City Council is asking the Smith County Commissioners Court to participate in a Capital Improvement Project with a $25.6 Million price tag along with approval of Public Square Lease and Use Agreements.
No drafts or planning documents were posted in the Commissioners Court agenda packet to allow the public an opportunity to review and provide public comments. Moreover, the policy governing Downtown Square usage is a dedicated County responsibility – a responsibility that should not be abdicated nor rushed without full disclosure to taxpaying citizens, along with an opportunity for those citizens to consent or object.
Funding sources for the $25.6 Million in project costs and project details were not revealed in the agenda packet.
When the Grassroots America Board of Directors met with County Judge Neal Franklin on May 9 to discuss budgetary concerns, he mentioned not a word about a $25.6 Million Downtown Tyler Investment project.
Grassroots America poses a sobering question:
Is this project in addition to the current massive taxpayer burdens to pay for the following:
- The Court House Bond of approximately $160 Million plus interest,
- The Parking Garage Bond of approximately $19 Million plus interest,
- Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ), dedicating tens of millions of dollars through years 2038 and 2047,
- The UNFINISHED2017 & 2021 Road Bond Projects of approximately $84.5 Million plus interest,
- and the FY2026 Budget and tax rate-setting process currently in progress?
Smith County taxpayers need and deserve better notification and transparency. Commissioners Drewry and Herod took office in January 2025, and these issues have not appeared on any agenda until now.
Why are Commissioners receiving details and being asked to vote the same day? Why was no special evening public meeting planned to allow the public to see, hear, and ask questions about the project?
Taxpayers have every right to know how and why their tax dollars are being spent. At a minimum, the Commissioners Court should – in advance – fully disclose the content, cost, responsibilities, and contingent liabilities from these agreements and provide the opportunity for public comments on matters affecting every citizen.
Any action considered by the Court should be tabled until these steps have been completed.
###