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DETCOG Board of Directors hold monthly meeting in Center, Diggles says needs outweigh resources

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments Board of Directors held its regular monthly meeting in Center Thursday and Executive Director Walter Diggles told Center Broadcasting that the regional governmental agency was very solvent, receiving one of the highest audits it ever has. However, he says the needs of the 12 counties outweigh the available funding.

 

He said, the DETCOG programs remain strong and operational, but even with one of the largest budgets they’ve had in many years at $20-millon.

 

"The problem is there are more needs than resources. He added it stresses some of the things they do, but they (DETCOG) are doing the best they can from their contractors."

 

Diggles says job layoffs associated with the decline in the oil and gas sector are presenting challenges. But he added DETCOG’s responsibility is to help stimulate job growth.

 

He commented that with the legislative session going on it always affects the economic viability of our state.

 

"We believe with the down-turn in the oil and gas business there’s a lot of challenges with lay-offs in the industry, such as the loss of 500 jobs at GE in Lufkin. Finding a good paying job for a family is the biggest hurdle."

 

He said DETCOG’s job is to create and stimulate some opportunities and be there with support they can. Diggles believes DETCOG will play an important role with that as they have in the past.

 

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