Commissioner questions Chamber funding as Chamber leader cites potential $25M in taxable value from prospects

Commissioner Nanny told fellow commissioners the county should 'take a step back' from the Chamber funding line item and test whether the Chamber is returning sufficient value for taxpayer dollars. "I just don't think we're getting a return on our investment," the commissioner said, noting past county contributions and fluctuating reported returns.

Jeremy Bartz, introduced himself as acting president and CEO of the San Angelo chamber, said economic‑development functions tied to county support would continue under his direction and urged transparency. Bartz told the court that two large manufacturers are in active recruitment and that, together with city cooperation, the projects "could potentially put us in that amount for this next year," referring to roughly $25,000,000 in annual taxable value. He offered to provide documentation and reports to the court on how funds are used.

Commissioners and staff discussed funding sources: Bartz said economic development has been funded through Costa/CDC allocations and county funds, while chamber operations rely on membership and non‑dues revenue. Commissioners requested clearer reporting on county return on investment and emphasized constituent concerns about data centers, with several saying residents oppose county support for data‑center recruitment.

The court did not cut Chamber funding at this meeting; the judge said the current $110,000 allocation would remain while the court seeks documentation of Chamber activity and outcomes. Commissioners asked staff and the Chamber for supporting records to inform next year's decision.

Speakers in this article are taken from the public record. Jeremy Bartz is identified in the transcript as the chamber's acting president and CEO.