Big decisions made in 2015

Mental health care The Commissioners Court advocated for an integrated health care system that would combine mental and physical care as the county’s mental health care system, NorthSTAR, was phased out. The transition to a new system continues as officials work to supply more comprehensive care for indigent mental health patients.

District and county courts The county added two district courts and one county court at law plus the associated infrastructure for the courts. Two interim governor-appointed judges have been assigned for the district courts, and the county court at law currently operates with a visiting judge. An election will be held this year to determine permanent judges for all three courts. The primary election will serve as the county court at law judge’s election. The other two judges will be voted upon in November.

Top issues for 2016

Retirement funding County Judge Keith Self said he does not believe the county’s retirement system will earn the full 8 percent anticipated. He said he feels the court will have to find a way to handle the extra dollars the retirement system will need. He said he does not yet have the final numbers although he anticipates it will be a discussion held in 2016.

Permitting rights Self said permitting rights within the unincorporated portions of the county is more of a city issue, but there may come a time in 2016 when the court will have to step in to protect the private property rights of county residents. At that point the court will discuss whether it’s time to get involved, he said, but the court has not yet made any decisions on the matter. He said he felt the cities would become far more aggressive in annexation in the meantime.

Meetings The court meets at 1:30 p.m. every Monday at the Collin County Administration Building, 2300 Bloomdale Road, Ste. 4192, McKinney. www.co.collin.tx.us.

Terms and compensation Each commissioner and the county judge serve four year terms. The commissioners earn $95,228.51 annually and the county judge earns $140,029.05 annually.

Video coverage Meeting minutes and recordings can be found online at www.co.collin.tx.us.