Democratic Tarrant County Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr. returned to commissioners court Monday, allowing the passage of new, lower property tax rates for the county and John Peter Smith Hospital.

Miles and his fellow Democratic commissioner Alisa Simmons did not attend last week’s meeting . The rules say four commissioners need to be present to pass a tax rate, but only the three Republicans showed up at the meeting.

Republicans responded by slashing the Democrats’ travel budgets, limiting their staffs down to one person, and cutting planned road and bridge crew jobs for Simmons’ precinct. At Monday’s special meeting to re-attempt the tax rate vote, Miles criticized his colleagues for threatening his employees' livelihoods.

“I did not miss court today because I am not willing

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