AUSTIN – Tarrant County was one of nine counties in Texas honored by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Leadership Foundation during TAC’s annual conference in Austin.

The programs were selected to receive high honors for innovation, achievement and delivery of service in the 2010 County Best Practice Awards, which recognize county initiatives that serve as a model to others and save taxpayer monies.

“These tough economic times necessitate that counties be pro-active and creative in providing services that improve their communities while, at the same time, saving taxpayer money,” said Kaufman County Judge Wayne Gent, chair of the foundation.  “These county programs are doing just that, and we are proud to honor them for their achievements.”

Tarrant County is being honored for two programs.

For Innovation, the county receives an award for its Tarrant County’s Strategic Coordination/ Policy-Driven Jail Population Control Program, which created a system-wide, team-based, results-oriented approach to managing the county’s criminal justice system.

For Delivery of Services, the county receives an award for Precinct Three Commissioner Gary Fickes’ Northeast Newsletter, a bimonthly electronic newsletter promoting county services that is emailed to residents and businesses.

The county was honored during a Sept. 2 reception at the TAC conference, with a video about the program being shown to conference attendees.  Other counties receiving Best Practice awards are Bee, Bexar, Houston, Madison, Smith, Taylor, Webb and Williamson.

The TAC Leadership Foundation focuses on developing leadership skills, strategic policy planning, and disseminating best practices of innovation and achievement. Programs of the Foundation will help county officials align citizens' visions for their communities with county governance and develop operational skills necessary to achieve that vision.  Members of the board include Gent; TAC President-Elect and Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Betsy Price, foundation vice chair; TAC President and Roberts County Judge Vernon Cook; TAC Past President and Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin; TAC Board Member and Navarro Justice of the Peace Connie Hickman; TAC Board Member and Tom Green County Treasurer Dianna Spieker; and Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler.

For more information about TAC, please contact Elna Christopher at (512) 478-8753 or elnac@county.org.