Gaines County

Gaines County Offices

Gaines County Town List

Gaines County, Texas, is named after James Gaines, who was part of the team that led the Texas declaration of independence. The county seat is Seminole, TX, and it has a population of about 1,000 people. Panola borders it to the north, Upshur to the east, Rusk to the south, Liberty to the west, and Shelby counties to the northwest. 

The county’s economy is based on agriculture, oil production, ranching, timber, and tourism. Agriculture accounts for more than half of all jobs in the county. Oil production began in the early 1900s with the discovery of natural gas deposits near the town of Seminole.  

Attractions in Gaines County, Texas 

Gaines is a county of recreation and entertainment. There are many attractions like Cedar Lake, one of the largest alkali lakes on Texas plains. Plus, it features the historic Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. The Fort includes the famous stockyard where cattle were auctioned before being shipped out across America. Other places include: 

Cedar Creek State Park: Located at US Highway 80 and FM 518 junction just outside downtown Seminole, this park offers camping facilities and hiking trails through prairie grasslands and oak woodlands. 

Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. This is a national historic site comprising over 100 buildings built between 1875 and 1925. Many of these structures have been restored or rebuilt after damage from tornadoes and other disasters. 

These buildings house shops, restaurants, museums, art galleries, hotels, and offices. Some of the most notable buildings include the Old Red Cow Saloon, the Stable Cafe, the Pecan Palace Hotel, and the old train depot. 

Lake Texoma – An artificial lake created by damming the Sabine River. It covers an area of approximately. 

Lake Tawakoni – Another large reservoir formed by damming the East Fork Trinity River. Its surface area is 37,879-acre, making it the second-largest artificial body of water in Texas.  

Financial Transparency in Gaines County 

Financial transparency is a crucial area of concern when looking into how local governments spend their money. Transparency can be defined as providing information freely available to everyone, including those who pay taxes.  

The county has ways to share financial transparency. Here are the key sections that make financial transparency easy in Gaines. 

• Budgets- These documents show what government agencies spent money on during the past fiscal year. They also list any new contracts made since the last budget report. 
• Check registers- Check registers record cash coming in and going out of each agency. 
• Treasurer’s report- Treasurer’s reports give details on every transaction performed using tax dollars. For example, they will tell you how much was raised through property taxes, sales taxes, etc., and then distributed back out to schools, roads, police departments, fire stations, libraries, parks, etc. 
• Utility reports- Utility bills detail exactly which services your household uses so you know if you’re paying too much. 
• Tax Rate- The rate of taxation is simply the percentage of income used to fund public programs such as education, roadways, and law enforcement, 
• Financial reports- Financial statements provide detailed financial data about all aspects of an operation for governmental entities and school districts.  

Public Notices and News 

Citizens of Gaines County may sign up with the eNotify system to receive text messages informing them of important events happening within their community.  

Additionally, the county website provides citizens with access to current event calendars, notices, agendas, minutes, meeting videos, and more. 

Public notices are published weekly in the newspaper and online via the county website. You’ll find information like meetings, special events, elections, bond issues, and more. 

Commissioners’ court meeting minutes are available on the website. This includes agenda items, action taken at previous meetings, and decisions made by commissioners. 

Foreclosures and sales- Information about foreclosed homes or properties being sold is posted on the website. This includes contact info for realtors, banks, and other parties involved in selling these properties. 

Lastly, you can write to the county and request specific records from the office. Simply identify the key office and contact them. Below, you’ll find county offices, those in charge, and their roles. As such, it becomes easy to get the service you need.  

County Offices and Roles 

Different offices offer different types of services. Some have multiple divisions, while others only focus on one aspect of operations. Here are some examples: 

Office of the County Judge: The office handles most administrative matters relating to the county. It oversees legal affairs, finances, personnel, grants, and many other areas. Judge Tom Keyes is in charge of this office. You can contact them at ( 432)758-4058. 

Office of the County Attorney: The attorney general represents the interests of the county when dealing with state laws. Joel Nagy works closely with the judge and his staff to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Contact them at ( 432)758-4001. 

Board of Commissioners Court: The board consists of five members who oversee the day-to-day activities of the county. Each commissioner has a role in making sure things run well. Visit the official site here. 

County Clerk Office: Terri Berry supervises the office. The role of the clerk is to maintain accurate records of property ownership and transactions. They also handle marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital documents. Reach them at ( 432)758-4003. 

Office of the County Treasurer: The office is under Michael Lord. His roles include handling tax payments, collecting taxes, managing funds, and maintaining accounts. He’s responsible for ensuring that money goes where it should go. To reach him, call ( 432) 758 – 4009. 

Tax Assessor/Collector: The assessor collects property values and distributes them among counties based on population. In addition, they collect delinquent taxes and manage foreclosure proceedings. The officer in charge is Susan Shaw. Contact her at (806)5462781. 

Sheriff Ronney is in charge of the Sheriff’s Office. The office handles law enforcement duties, including serving warrants, investigating crimes, and providing security. Contact them at ( 432)758-4023. 

Finally, there is the Office of the County Auditor. It provides financial audits and reviews all expenditures within the county. Esmeralda Feran is in charge of the office. Contact them at ( 432)758-4002.