Nine organizations receiving $63,207 from Young County

Nine Young County entities will soon be receiving a substantial amount in unexpected funds. The entities will be receiving special-use donations from Young County as part of a distribution of 2022 electrical cooperative capital credits. The decision was approved Monday, Sept. 26 during a meeting of the Young County Commissioner’s Court.

Graham ISD, Graham Regional Theatre, Olney Community Library and Art Center, Library of Graham, Virginia’s House, Olney ISD, Newcastle ISD, Young County 4-H and the Young County Child Welfare Board will each receive approximately $63,207.

“Young County has come into (what) I believe (...) (is going) to be a one-time amount of money that is shocking, to say the least,” Young County Judge John Bullock said. “The treasurer went to the comptroller to verify that and she got it verified and I just couldn’t believe it. So I went to the comptroller and double-checked it and her contact was correct. I don’t know just exactly what the glitch was, but they were funds that either hadn’t been paying or wasn’t calculating it correctly or something, but we got a good bit of funds to distribute.”

Bullock said funds must be used to support comprehensive literacy programs that benefit county residents, for encouragement and improvement of the arts or to support children’s advocacy. These uses are subject to Section 381.004 of the Texas Local Government Code.

Funds sent to GISD, NISD, OISD, GRT and both public libraries will go to support arts and literacy. Each school district will receive the money for their art departments. Virginia’s House, which is a children’s advocacy center in Young County and the Young County Child Welfare Board will receive the funds to support children’s advocacy. Young County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Wiley said he was informed by Young County Extension Agent Penny Berend that 4-H had two programs that would satisfy the requirements.

“I’m going to do an interlocal with all of them or a contract, however it might be,” Bullock said. “(...) will make a grand effort to make it pretty simple and understandable that it’s supposed to be used for these programs.”

Funds are expected to be distributed in October.