Texas Health and Safety Code 281.052 – County Authority to Sell, Lease, and Purchase Facilities for District Purposes
(a) The commissioners court of a county in which a district is created under this chapter may sell real or personal property in order to enter into a contract to:
(1) lease or rent buildings, land, facilities, equipment, or services from others for district purposes;
(2) construct, repair, renovate, improve, or enlarge buildings, land, facilities, or equipment for district purposes; and
(3) pay regular monthly utility bills, including electricity, gas, and water bills, for the leased or rented buildings, land, facilities, equipment, or services.
(b) The commissioners court may pay for the facilities, equipment, and services and for the regular monthly utility bills for those facilities, equipment, and services from the county’s general fund if a majority of the commissioners court considers the facilities, equipment, and services essential to the proper administration of the county.
Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 281.052
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Personal property: All property that is not real property.
(c) A construction project under this section shall be let by contract. The contract must contain the prevailing wage for mechanics, laborers, and other persons employed in the project. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court shall set the prevailing wage in the amount set by the commissioners court for all construction projects involving the expenditure of county funds.
(d) On or before the expiration of the lease or rental contract, the county may purchase the facilities with county general funds if a majority of the commissioners court considers the purchase price reasonable.