Lease dates were "flipped" for Coryell County facilities in Copperas Cove

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The Coryell County tax office located in Cove Terrace Shopping Center is not facing closure on Dec. 31 after all, as reported last week.

During last Tuesday's facilities workshop of the Coryell County commissioners court, Judge Roger Miller told the court that the lease ended for the Copperas Cove tax office on Dec. 31 and the lease ended for the early voting center in February 2025. Were that the case, the tax office faced closure, something the commissioners discussed last week. The commissioners have been searching for a property in Copperas Cove to house both offices with adequate parking.

However, the lease dates were "flipped" as reported in court.

On Monday morning, Coryell County Tax Assessor-Collector Justin Carothers confirmed the lease dates for the Copperas Cove tax office and early voting center, are opposite of what Miller told the court.

Carothers said the tax office lease expires in February 2025, and he is awaiting a 12-month extension from the owners of the shopping center.

The early voting center will close its doors after Dec. 31, in accordance with the terms of that lease. Carothers said his understanding that the shopping center wants to turn that side of the center into more storage. California-based Public Storage owns the shopping center after purchasing it in late 2022.

Meanwhile, the commissioners are on the verge of purchasing a property in Copperas Cove that will house both the tax office and have space for early voting, under one roof. An extension for the tax office will allow them to remain where they are until the new building is ready for move-in.

The county has budgeted $600,000 for the property. Miller shared with the commissioners funding sources identified within the county’s budget that add up to about $480,000. Miller anticipates that with the sale of more county properties, it could potentially make up the difference. However, there could be the potential of the county taking out a short-term loan, such as 12 months, to fund the gap to pay for the Copperas Cove facility.

Miller said that the sale of county property could be held in an escrow account, and any financing would not affect the rate for taxpayers, when asked about if any of the facilities cost might be passed on to the county taxpayers.