Easton News

The City Council trimmed expenses Tuesday night after financial statements revealed the city-operated Easton Gas System is more than $1,100 in the red.

In the small city of Easton, population about 520, mineral values increased eight million dollars last year, this while mineral values in most of Gregg County went down by about 60 percent.

Though mining operations are years away from approaching Tatum's city limits, some school board members Thursday said they are concerned about a company's plans to mine nearly one-third of the property within Tatum Independent School District.

Easton officials have canceled the city's largest fundraiser for next month and have talked about whether the volunteer fire department that serves the city should be disbanded because of its own financial woes.

Local government received unpleasant but unsurprising news in the past week in the form of falling property values projected in the latest estimated appraisals.

Overall property values have fallen in nearly every Gregg County jurisdiction, according to estimated appraisals released Thursday.

Turns out Gregg County Chief Appraiser Tom Hays' prediction one month ago that local property values wouldn't increase as much as in past years was an optimistic remark.