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Aaron Thomas, County Auditor
Financial Transparency

Chambers County Auditor's Office

PO Box 910
Anahuac, Texas 77514
Phone: (409) 267-2403
Fax: (409) 267-4434
Email: auditor@chamberstx.gov

Chambers County has adopted the State of Texas’ recommended practices for a Financial Transparency Webpage, in an effort to set the standard in making financial information transparent and accessible. On this webpage you will find budget information, check registers, property tax rates and various other financial reports.

Chambers County Directory

Adopted Budgets

The annual budget serves as the foundation for Chambers County’s financial planning and control. All County departments are required to submit budget requests to the County Judge each year. Commissioners’ Court is required to hold public hearings on a proposed budget. The County adopts a final budget prior to setting the ad valorem tax rate, normally finalized by September 30th of each year. The appropriated budget is prepared by fund, department, and category. All transfers of appropriations, either between departments or within an individual department’s budget, require approval of Commissioners’ Court. Budget-to-actual comparisons are provided in this report.

GFOA Distinguished Budget Award FY 2017
GFOA Distinguished Budget Award FY 2018
GFOA Distinguished Budget Award FY 2019

 

Public Information Act 
Under Texas Law (Government Code, Chapter 552), the public has the right to access most county records. Chambers County Officials and Department Heads are expected to promptly release information that is not confidential by law, unless an exception to disclose exists or an Attorney General's opinion is sought. To view the Texas Public Information Act, please visit the Attorney General's Website.
 
To Submit a Public Information Request to Chambers County
Your request must be in writing. It can be sent by mail, fax, email, or in person to the Public Information Officer. Include as much description and detail as possible to enable the county to accurately identify and locate the information being requested.
 
Send your written request to:
Chambers County Attorney’s Office
PO Box 1200
Anahuac, Texas 77514
Phone: 409-267-2411
Fax: 409-267-8296
Email the Public Information Office
 
For more information on transparency of records, please visit the following website : www.TexasTransparency.org
Chambers County Debt




Chambers County records reflect a modest debt level and a much improved reserve level that have resulted from conservative fiscal management practices. The County practices conservative budgeting and adopts a fund balance policy that requires the County to maintain an unassigned fund balance in the General Fund not less than 25% of annual expenditures.

Chambers County recognizes several long-term needs that continuously need studying and funding by Commissioners' Court. Road construction and other infrastructure projects will be necessary to facilitate growth in industry and population.

For more information on County Debt please visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Debt at a Glace website

For debt information provided by the State please visit the Texas Bond Review Board website

* At this time there are no bond elections scheduled

 

 

Audit Reports

The independent audit of Chambers County’s financial statements is part of a broader, federally mandated “Single Audit” designed to meet the special needs of federal grantor agencies. The standards governing Single Audit engagements require the independent auditor to report not only on the fair representation of the financial statements, but also on the County’s internal controls and compliance with legal requirements, with special emphasis on internal controls and compliance with legal requirements involving the administration of federal awards.
 
The Chambers County Auditor’s Office also audits the records, internal controls, financial accounts and compliance of various County departments and programs.

GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting FY 2016
Annual Financial Reports
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Financial Summaries

  

Traditional Summary

Other post-employment benefits (OPEB) are the benefits that an employee will begin to receive at the start of retirement. Chambers County offers its retirees continued health insurance.

For Fiscal Year-End December 31, 2022 Reporting

Increase (Decrease)

Total OPEB

Liability (a)

OPEB Plan Net

Position (b)

Net OPEB

Liability (a) - (b)

Balances Beginning at 1/1/2022

$ 10,882,170

$ 10,646,699

$ 235,471

Changes for the year:

Service Cost

942,425

-

942,425

Interest

587,155

-

587,155

Actuarial Experience

24,518

-

24,518

Assumptions Changes

406,478

-

406,478

Plan Changes

-

-

-

Contributions- Employer

-

1,384,914

(1,384,914)

Contributions- Employee

-

-

-

Contributions- Other

-

-

-

Net Investment Income

-

(1,453,694)

1,453,694

Benefits Payments from Trust

(413,277)

(413,277)

-

Administrative Expense

-

(54,323)

54,323

Net Changes

1,547,299

(536,380)

2,083,679

 

 

 

Balances Ending at 12/31/2022

$ 12,429,469

$ 10,110,319

$ 2,319,150


 

* Information from Lauterbach & Amen, LLP- Actuarial GASB Disclosures Statements 74 & 75

Click here for the full 2022 Actuarial Report

2022 - Updated 1-17-2023
2022- Updated 8-23-2022
2020 - Updated 1-6-2021
2019
2018
2017
2016

2023  -Updated 8-22-2023
2022 - Updated 2-15-2021
2021 - Updated 12-28-2021
2020 - Updated 1-6-2021
2020

2023- Updated 8-22-2023
2022- Updated 8-23-2022
2021 - Updated12-28-2021
2020 - Updated 1-6-2021


2023-Updated 8-22-2023

2022- Updated 2-15-2023
2021 -Updated12-28-2021
2020- Updated1-6-2021
2019

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Policies & Procedures
 
The County annually adopts a formal investment policy that is consistent with the Public Funds Investment Act and Public Funds Collateral Act. The County follows the “prudent person rule” in investment decisions. The objectives of the County Investment Policy are to ensure the safety of the principal, to maintain adequate liquidity, and yield the highest possible return subject to the first two principals. Cash was invested according to policy guidelines in fiscal year 2015. The County depository contract is with Prosperity Bank, with local branches in Winnie, Texas and Mont Belvieu, Texas. 
 
 
The County also has a budget policy in place to help guide the budget adoption process; it is updated accordingly each year.
 
Property Tax Rates
The Chambers County Tax Assessor- Collector is responsible for levying, collecting and disbursing property taxes. Property taxes are also known as ad valorem taxes because the taxes are levied on the value of the property. The governing body of each taxing unit, and the Chambers County Commissioner’s Court set the tax rate.  The certified appraisal roll and the tax rates are used to levy the current property tax rates in October of each year. 

 

 

  • Chambers County is a member of the Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS). TCDRS is a statewide, agent multiple-employer, public-employee retirement system. TCDRS serves nearly 800 actively participating counties and districts thought Texas. Each employer maintains its own customized plan of benefits. Chambers County’s plan provides the following benefit level:

     Employee contribution rate:  7% of pay
     Employee matching rate:  220%
     Years required for vesting:  8 years
     Service retirement eligibility:  75 years total (age + service)
     or 30 years at any age
     Prior service credit:  145%

     

    Actuarial Information as of December 31, 2022:

    Actuarial accrued liability (AAL)      $141,228,572
    Actuarial value of assets (AVA) $127,586,394
    Unfunded actuarial accrued liability (UAAL) $13,642,178
    Funded Ratio (AVA/AAL) 90.3 %
    Equivalent single amortization period 7.9 years
    Assumed rate of return  8.47 %
    Valuation payroll $32,017,095
    UAAL as a percent of covered payroll (3.13%) 
                    

    Click here for downloadable data

    The following documents can be found under the Public Pension Reports Page

    • 2018 - 2022 TCDRS Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
    • 2018 - 2022 Actuarial valuations, located in the CAFR Report
    • Statement of Fiduciary Net Position, Located in the CAFR Report
    • Schedule of Changes in Fiduciary Net Position
    Click here for downloadable information.
  • Portfolio Management Strategy

    The long-term expected rate of return of TCDRS assets is determined by adding expected inflation to expected long-term real returns, and reflecting expected volatility and correlation. The target allocation and best estimate of geometric real rate of return for each major asset class are summarized in the following table:

  • Contributions:
    Actuarially Determined Contributions
    (as a % of pay) 
    2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
    Employee 7.00% 7.00% 7.00% 7.00% 
    		 7.00% 
    Employer 14.22% 14.22% 14.22% 14.22% 14.22%
    Total Required Contributions 21.22% 21.22% 21.22% 21.22% 21.22%

     

     

    Click here for downloadable data

Chambers County has received the Transparency Star award from the Texas Comptroller's Office for financial transparency in Public Pension.

 

Important Links:

Financial Reports

The County Auditor has responsibility of prescribing the systems and procedures for handling the finances of the County and examining, auditing, and approving all disbursements from County funds prior to submission to the Commissioners’ Court for approval.
 
The financial reporting entity of Chambers County includes all of the funds for the County. The County provides a full range of services including police protection, legal and judicial services, and construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. The transactions of all elected county, district, and precinct officers are also included. Although these officials are responsible solely to the electorate, the officials receive funding for the operation of their departments from the Commissioners’ Court, which has discretion over those expenditures.
 
The Chambers County Treasurer must report at least monthly, a financial report to Commissioner’s Court that details money received and disbursed, and debts due to and owed by the County. 

Treasurer's Report and Check Expense Register

Outstanding Check List Notice
Request for Unclaimed Money Disbursement

Outstanding Check List - August 2010-September 2017
Outstanding Check List - October 2017-September 2018
Outstanding Check List – October 2018-September 2019
Outstanding Check List – October 2019-September 2020
Outstanding Check List - October 2020-September 2021

 

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