your car action. Yeah. How's it going? >> Well, how y'all doing? >> Do you like the new courtroom here? >> Yeah, it's pretty great. I like it a lot. >> It's nice. >> Chairs are nice. The lighting is good.
I think she's always male. Yeah, currently his brother is in the hospital. >> Good morning. Welcome to our Tarant County Commissioner's Court budget workshop on this Thursday, August 14th. I now call the meeting to order.
>> Tim O'Hare, County Judge, >> present. >> Rodri Miles, Jr., Commissioner, precinct one. >> Alisa Simmons, Commissioner Precinct 2, >> here. >> Matt Krauss, Commissioner Precinct 3, >> present. >> Manny Ramirez, Commissioner Precinct 4, >> here.
>> Constitutes. >> All right. Today's invocation will be led by Tarant County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Frank Litkkey. Please rise for the invocation and our pledges. Shall we pray? Father, we're thankful for this time that we have. We again,
we're so thankful that we live in a in a country that we can come to you and ask for your wisdom and guidance. We pray Lord that you would bless the judge as well as the commissioners. give wisdom as the Bible says if we ask for wisdom you'll give it to us. So we pray that
you'd give them uh wisdom as they go about their responsibilities and and which affects so many people. We pray for them. We pray Lord for our other county uh employees as well as those in the sheriff's department. Father, we pray that you'd keep the sheriff, his
staff as well as the officers that are that are working as we speak. Please keep them safe. So we thank you for this time. We ask your blessing on it. And I ask these things in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you chaplain. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to our flag.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> And now the Texas flag. Honor the Texas
flag. I pledge algiance to thee Texas one state under God one and indivisible. >> Thank you. You may be seated. All right. Uh we will now begin
our workshop work session. Who is leading us off? You or Helen? >> All right. All right. Good morning, court members. All right. Morning. Before I get started on my overview, uh I'd just like to describe uh what the last couple of days
especially been like in the budget office. Uh obviously the office right down the hall from from the administrator's office and uh certainly our teams have been working very closely on trying to get this budget to us a place where we were ready to present it to the commissioner's court. To say the
least, we probably took an additional five years off of a carpet in that in that office with all the people walking back and forth and I kid you not, literally flying pieces of paper in the offices at some point. Uh, so just I say that to say that this budget team led by Helen has done an absolutely incredible
job putting this budget together for this court to consider and I'm just very proud of the work that they've done. That being said, uh, let's get going. So, typically when we do these budget hearings, uh, I kick them off to kind of talk about what's
been going on in Tarant County from a more global perspective. How's the economy doing? What does the average tax taxable value of a home look like? And things like that. and this year won't be any different. So, just to kind of set the stage for what you're about to hear with regards to the budget, uh we just certainly will always start by talking
about the estimated net net taxable value. Uh it's up again this year in Tarant County. Uh that's been consistent for really over the last 10 years. We've continued to see home values and values in general rise in Tarant County. Uh the new value for this year is uh just under 300 million or billion, excuse me, at
297 billion. Uh and that's about a 4.7% increase or 13.4 4 billion increase over the previous year. >> Can you go back to that slide for me? >> Yes, sir. >> So, I remember a lot of talk about what the Tarant appraisal district did and
there were three or four things they did whenever that was a year and a half ago. Um I just it's I find it interesting that the act what was the value in 24 >> 24 the value was 283 bill734,667,000.
>> So it went up about 14 billion. >> Yes sir. 13.4. >> Do you know how can you tell me how much of that was new construction? >> Uh I can. That's on a a slide coming up here in a second. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> I would assume that all of it is because weren't weren't values frozen? No, it
was kind of it was kind of not reported very accurately. So they >> it wasn't frozen on businesses. >> Okay. >> And then on residences, half of it because there was a there's a about half
the residences had the taxable value and the market value not the same. So those folks could still go up to 10% if it didn't match. I was one of the lucky ones who got went to go up got to go up 10%. >> So I actually talked to the chief
appraiser about that this morning in case this question come up. That's a very accurate representation. The only thing I'll add to that is about 70% of the fans had not reached their cap on the homestead exemption. That's what could have still continued to go up even though they didn't receive. >> Has and and I'm sorry not to hijack your
presentation, but >> does does our budget reflect anticipated passage of the constitutional amendment election
on the increase homestead exemption >> or no? >> I you know what? I'm going to defer to the budget office on that. No. Okay. No. So prior to uh tax rate and uh and budget vote
>> well I think what happens is it actually goes into fact 11 one of 26 >> so it will not have an effect on this set of revenue assuming it passes it goes into effect got it okay got it >> good question judge thank you >> okay to continue
>> yeah okay uh mineral leases so this is tax on uh minerals that are still in the ground that have yet to be extracted. Uh this year minerals have trended down slightly from where we were last year uh about 18.1%. Uh so the the current value
of minerals is about 340 billion tax rate in Tarant County. So in continuing with our you know over 10-year tradition uh the tax rate in Tarant County uh has either remained the same or been taken down uh over the last
10 years. uh there was a a period in there as you can see between about 2018 and 2020 where it remained the same at the 234 and then it's slowly gone down uh every every other year. So what you'll see on the far right side is the 2025 proposed rate of 1862. Uh I'm going
to let the budget office talk more about uh the the the drill down of those numbers, but this budget uh that we're presenting today supports a tax rate of of 1862. Uh comparison of current tax rates. So, a lot of uh counties, cities, other local governments are doing the same
thing we're doing right now. Uh having their budget hearings and presentations to their governing bodies uh to, you know, solicit their input and approval over what that final budget looks like. So, we don't have the current rates uh for this tax year, but what we typically do is look at the previous year's approved rates that the governing bodies
did. We typically look at kind of the big six counties here. Uh and as you can see, uh as of tax year 2024, uh even at the 1875 rate, which is our current rate, we are still the lowest uh of any of the six major urban counties.
New construction, this answers your question here, judge. Uh we we have seen an uptick in uh construction uh which is a good thing. Last year it was actually down. Uh the I went one slide too soon here. Excuse me. uh construction taxable value is uh about 4.9 billion currently.
Uh that's about a 7% increase uh over the over the previous year's construction value. >> So that's 9 billion from increases to residences, businesses. >> Yes, sir. >> So it's almost twice what the new construction. >> It's also a sign of a healthy economy.
Obviously, we're growing as as we like to say for county administrators and city managers. When we see cranes swinging, that's a good thing. We love seeing that. average single family home value. So, this is for the most part trended up over time. Uh, this year it's very
slightly up over the previous year. Uh, let's see. The current average home value is $276,948. Uh, that's up slightly over last year's of $276,5157, which is a.1% increase. And I think I just lost my mic.
>> Yeah, that happens at that mic a lot. Um, >> I know people don't want to hear me talk, but dang, Garrett. There it is. Thank you. >> The Go back to that one for us. >> Yes, sir. >> The uh we had this discussion it seems like two
years ago where we get the average home value is from TAD's correct >> market value or taxable. >> So they give you all three values. Okay. This is the taxable value. >> So they give you the average appraised
value, the average and the average taxable value. And in this slide, we're showing the average taxable value. >> Okay, I just if this goes out to the public or if we do this again, make sure it says that >> because that sounds like our average
value for a house in Tarant County is 276, which it's significantly higher. >> Okay. So, it says taxable value right there, but next year we'll make it more prominent. >> Oh, okay. >> If we need to, we're happy to do that, sir. >> I'm sorry. I missed out of seven words. I missed two of them. So, >> no, no problem, sir.
Uh and then my last slide here, uh which to me this is kind of where the rubber really meets the road. Uh if you look at the tax year on the far left, then you look at our tax rate, the adopted rates by the uh by the county and then you take that and multiply times or excuse
me, yeah, multiply it times the average taxable value. That far right column gives you uh by tax year the average annual tax bill. So this year we're projecting based on this budget uh a decrease again of about I think it's $2.92 off of the average annual tax bill from
51860 down to uh 51568 uh which is about uh just over a half a percent decrease.57%. And with that, I'm going to turn it over to the auditor. Can y'all go back to that slide? Let me just look at one thing real quick.
>> Good morning. Um, yeah, >> got it. Okay. Thank you. Good morning. Um, as always, I have the responsibility of presenting what we project the revenue estimates to be for all the various categories. Uh it's just a combination
of meeting with departments getting what they anticipate their business is going to look like in the coming year as well as what statutes have changed throughout the year and economic indicators throughout the economy.
The first one that you see is licenses which is beer, wine and marriage licenses. Typically this fluctuates over two years. So that's why you see it going from 1.4 to about 1.3. Fees of office is
fees that are generated by all the various elected officials for them carrying out the duties of their office. Cash fines are penalties imposed by the courts. Intergovern revenue or revenues for specific programs such as indigent
defense. Investment income is exactly what that is. It's the interest that we have earned on our cash balances. And all other revenue is going to be things like our building and other types of revenue that
we're getting generating from other processes. >> Food truck fees >> inspection fees is in is where um >> I don't know off the top of my >> fees of office. it. Those would be in fees of office >> or licenses.
>> Well, um I think actually right now they're >> Josh, can you help me? >> Just one comment, judge, on that. Uh the those fees that you're talking about are over in the >> in public. >> Yes. They're not in the general fund, right? Got it.
>> Okay. I'm sorry. Uh back to our slide which we're at transfers and that represents the transfers we make to other funds in and out of general fund to roten bridge primarily this year it's about 10.2 two, I believe.
Next is taxes, which are net of tiffs. TIFFs are tax increment financing zones. These are contracts that the counties entered into with all the various municipalities for public development. Uh this year we
saw a large swing. It went up to 11.3. primarily that's due to uh couple of agreements well actually three agreements with the city of Fort Worth that we extended and that's about 1.2 out of the 1.4 4 million increase that
we saw this year. And then uh we will next talk about oop sorry went the wrong way sorry major change elements. Essentially what this slide represents is the change or increase or decrease that we see between
FY25 and FY26 for taxes. This number is all operating funds. Um things that drive taxes are not just the increases in values that we've talked about, but we also have to take into consideration potential losses
related to judgments, agreed judgments and also ceilings that are in place for over 65 and disabled vets. So we have to take some of those uh elements into consideration when we're making those projections
>> on the investment income line. >> Yes, sir. Did you what rate did you adjust down to to come up with that number? >> We uh I looked this morning. We did an average. It's about three six is the average throughout the year. We we're projecting like three, but this morning
I read that's either anywhere from two to seven rate cuts. It depends on who you're looking at. >> Right. Right. >> What what what when we did the budget last year, what was the rate we based on? I want to say it was 4.1 is where we
started roughly. Um and then we had an immediate rate cut. >> The last time you looked whenever it was text prime whatever that one's called text pool text >> we're currently yeah we're currently earning depending on commercial paper is about 4.41 right now and text pool is
about 4.35. >> That's what we're earning right now. Yeah. >> And like do you remember around this year last time where text pool was? >> Josh, do you have >> I think it was close to five before they took a rate cut. Um and I think they
took an immediate rate cut if I remember the details, but Josh will look for us. >> Okay. Uh the biggest uh driver in this when we had larger cash balances related to ARPA funds uh we started off FY25 with about 121 million in ARPA funds.
We're projecting now at the beginning of FY26 we'll have about 34 million. So that's also another driver and why we see a decline in the investment income. Um, and then, uh, we haven't talked about, but constable fees. Staff is
going to propose an increase in constable fees. The budget office has done some analysis, and we're about 35% lower than some of the other counties, and we couldn't determine when the last time we'd actually request an increase for those.
>> Is there any constable fee besides service? >> Um, they have risks of execution, um, eviction. There's a lot of different variations >> and that's still serving that's still serving papers though, right? There's no fee besides serving papers for them. >> That That's correct.
>> Okay. >> All right. Um building, rental, utilities, and janitorial. That's all related to resource connection. We have some contracts that are terminating at the end of this month or next month. And so the revenue associated with the rent
and utilities will be reduced. I keep pushing the wrong one. Sorry, guys. All right. Cash carry forward. Cash carry forward is essentially just the cash we have available for use in
the budget. It's not our cash balances. It's what's not encumbered. Uh so as the slide will show you, you can see that our cash balances have declined over the last year which also correlates to the
reduction in investment income. >> Why the significant increase in debt service is it due to road projects from transportation bonds? >> Actually sir that is our reserve. Our reserve policy requires we maintain at
least one million. Last year we budgeted one and a half. This year it's right about 1.8. >> I didn't understand that. What it's >> reserve? >> Yeah. Well, I know what reserves are. I based on what? >> Our our current reserve policy requires
that that we maintain a mil at least a million in reserves. And why are we going from 1366 to 1844? >> After discussions internally and with the budget office, we felt like that was the best approach at this time.
>> For what reason? >> 43 million payment. The $43 million payment 1.8 is estim essence insignificant, but still necessary if there was a need to be able to make a payment that we couldn't make.
And that's what it's for is to in case we get into a situation >> where we possibly can't meet our obligations. >> So you don't you don't tie it to a cap or or to a minimum of a million. You tie it to a percentage of the outstanding debt. Correct.
>> In this particular case, the court approved some time ago a they wanted to for us to keep a million dollars in the debt service. As we have been able to recognize more, we have increased the reserves from one 1.5 to 1.8.
Any other questions or concerns? With that, I will turn it over to Helen. And I would like to thank Helen for all the hard work and her team. They have worked tirelessly. um this year. C >> Kim, can you go back two slides? I have
one more question. >> Which >> Sorry, >> this one >> right there. Um so taxes net of tiffs, uh it was a learning experience this budget cycle. I don't know why I didn't figure it out last cycle, but whenever you calculate that number, you have to
calculate it on as if the the tiff is fully built out and the entire discount is coming out. Although some of these tips could be approved and we're not realizing that loss, correct? >> You have to calculate it on full buildout value.
>> It's not full buildout value. It's the it's the incremental change from the base year, whatever the base year is and the in increment change between the base year and the certified role. And then we also take into
consideration the collection rate for those areas as well. >> Yeah. Got it. Thanks. Good morning. I'd like to take just a moment to ask the staff that has worked in the auditor's office and my office to stand. They did the late night work.
They put all the numbers in. So Josh and Linda, that's you too. >> Can I make one comment, Helen? I forgot to say one thing on when I was doing my thankful. Yes, of course, the auditor's office. I'm sorry, Kim. I meant to mention y'all, but the other thing I was going to mention is Friday night at 12:30 a.m. last Friday is when I got my
last text from Helen saying, "We just finished. The budget's balanced. We're all headed home." So, they were up here till 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning trying to get this ready for y'all. So, I'm I wanted to mention that they they work very hard at what they do. So, I need to say that. Thank you. >> Definitely.
>> Okay. So on the expenditures, the not notable appropriations are listed on this first page and uh let me find my notes. What we're showing here is what is significantly different
or increased the budget. Uh the very first one is the cap or changed. The very first one is the capital uh cash that's left over for capital. Last year it was uh Of course, I'm not finding it. Um,
it was it was 53 million and now it's 22 million and that's a reduction of 30 million. So, for cash for capital requests, that's all capital requests, buildings, equipment, vehicles. We have $22,835,14
available. Uh, you will see that as an interfund transfer in your budget. All of these are normally under non-EP departmental. So it always looks like there's a large budget under non-EP departmental but it is transfers to fund other um expenditures that are happening in
another fund budget. The road and bridge transfer is 10,971,945 personnel. So personnel is built and supported by this budget for a 3% merit increase and a step increase for law enforcement.
Uh the law enforcement has a structure increase and this budget does not represent a structure increase for non-departmental. The new positions that we have added are 58 20 of three 23 of them in the general fund and 35 in road bridge. Of the 23 in
general fund, the offsetting either of a reduction in force or additional revenue for a new program is 2.7 million. And the um the actual cost for the new positions in uh general fund is 2.5
million for approximately 200 uh $231,000 savings. Uh the reserves, our reserves are set aside at a 16.75
is what we are hoping to achieve. at $83 million we're at 5 15.2 which gives us about 55 days of reserve. The debt service again we just talked about that is 1.8
uh which is included in when we take into consideration what our percentage is. We include debt service in uh the reserves and debt service. >> Uh Helen question for you. >> Yes sir. >> How long have you been the budget director?
uh seven year, eight years. >> What's the largest dip you've ever seen in reserves where it was something needed to be taken out? Have you ever seen >> We've never taken anything out. Um >> can you tell me can anybody here tell me
how far back we would have to go to when it was taken out? >> I've been in the budget office for 20 years. I don't recall it ever being taken out. >> Okay. >> And we started off at 10%. 10% is a requirement for our AAA bond rating. Uh but the recommendation is a 16.7% which
is your 60 days. Uh we're like I said we're at 55. So we've incrementally gone up in the last eight years to try to reach that 16.7%. >> Ellen, that is that supported by Gazsby
or GFO? Gazby it's Gazsby's recommendation that you re you have 60 days two months of uh reserves in case of but no sir I don't recall us ever using it which is why we always have cash left
over it's funded by cash that the cash is last year's is this year's this year's is next year's um of the important changes we are adding we are of the cash and you'll see in in one of the slides to come uh uh how we utilize
the cash that's left over. One of the things we're going to be doing this year, which is uh not a normal, and hopefully it won't be a normal, uh is we're taking of the cash 3 million to put over an employee group
insurance benefit fund. it is um re we are realizing losses over there and we're trying to not have to do large increases for employees or the county and so we are hoping that this will
shore up some of the need over in the uh group insurance fund. So, uh, Commissioner Ramirez and I serve on the PEBC board and, uh, Roxy and a couple of other, uh, HR folks, the
Dallas HR ahead and I think in the Denton one, it's kind of a three-headed triumphvirate there. And what they have done since we basically changed the way that's governed, they have,
I would say, put together plans with better options for our employees at significant cost savings literally across the board and they continue to do it every day. So, uh you should be commended for that work. They are doing
outstanding work there. >> Another significant uh It's something different this year is there was a buy down of debt service obligation of $3.5 million. So that went
directly off the principal. Uh so that gave more funding available in the operating budget. Uh and also we're complying the stat the uh legislative session uh changed this
year. uh the uh salary for judicial uh that affects our county judges. And while it's different for every one of them depending or for them across the board depending on their tenure on the bench, we did notate
it here because we would have to look at every single one of them. But it is in the budget for their increase under compensation allocation which is over in non-dep departmental for all salary increases across the county. In addition to that, the statutory requirements for the changes for the county judges
along with the probate judges. All right, questions. These are the new positions. I'm not going to list them out. I'm not going to call them out, but they we have listed them here by uh what we believe is their
uh reason for uh being added to the budget. Uh the first one tax office is a new program. There are several things that they're doing there. They're becoming one of the uh is they're becoming a willing county which is means they will be taking in additional work.
So that's a new program. There's three positions there. The HR department is doing a total reorganization of her department. Uh she is adding 17 positions but of those 17 positions 22 of them will be eliminated.
uh but uh the current employees in the positions can apply for the new positions, the new uh positions that are being created. Uh it's not a a layoff. It is just a reorganization. The rest of them are by for workload. So
of that we had let me go back one. So there are 20 positions in uh general fund uh that are completely offset by either the u elimination of positions or new revenue as the willing county uh
participation in the tax office is going to be creating additional revenue. So that is offset and the remaining are in road and bridge and that's 38 for a total of 58 new positions. recommended uses of ca of cash. So this
is the fund the cash that's in general fund. We use the cash to uh uh fund the reserves the undesated the transfer to general fund to the group insurance which I just talked about in capital. So there was $13,854
uh available and that is how we're going to use cash. Any questions? Employee compensation. We talked about that just a minute ago in the first slide. So that is a 3% merit for all employees including those that are maxed without a structure change.
There will be some that will there will be additional people that will be maxed and they will receive a lump sum. Law enforcement structure went up 7% uh for the peace officers and 4% for confinement. And then the step increase is similar to their merit increase as
their their structure will change all on October one. And then as they qualify through their appraisals through uh in the uh different departments uh they would be eligible for a step increase. The road bridge we broke it out by fund.
That's 401,000 for merit there and lump sum. There is no law enforcement in road bridge. So we adopted we are presenting a budget that is based on.1862
tax rate. Our current tax rate is 1875. A penny of the tax rate at 1862 is 28,683,187. The no new revenue rate was.1866. So we are below the no new revenue rate. And the voter approval rate was 2423.
I'd like to say before I start say anything on this slide that all of that tax rate that was uh calculated was on six different iterations from the Tarant appraisal district over the course of about five days before we could come up
with what our no new revenue rate was. >> Did you ever get a final explanation as to why there were so many different iterations? I what I do know is that the software was not calculating specific numbers
here and there correctly and they were going back and rerunning them. And one of them it looks like we actually ended up using the school district. So the the um certified tax ro that we received, the county receives is what's called a 100k and the final one that they had us
use was 140k, which is for the schools because they felt like it was the more correct uh certified tax role. >> And I'll make a note on that too, commissioner. Uh we certainly reached out directly to the chief appraiser on this issue and uh we asked him to give us an email in writing with the attached
final role as he as the chief appraiser is statutoily telling us this is the role for you to use. >> So this we're presenting a balanced budget. Our capital requested was 61 million. >> Sorry, let me go back to that. Yes, sir.
So you said the reason why you kept getting different numbers was because the software wasn't picking up. By picking up meaning it wasn't including properties is I'm assuming what that means. >> We don't know the answer to that. We've
asked. Now we do know that at one point uh between the 100K and the 140K which is just a matter of a form uh that it had different counts of completed uh properties. And so when we asked that
question, the one we received had more completions. The one they told us to use had less completions, just by two properties, but still less completions. And they said that that was the correct one because when they regenerated it for the school district, it threw those two
properties back into. >> Okay. >> All right. So, uh we are required to present a balanced budget. So, our appropriations that we have uh are balanced to the revenues that the auditor's office has made available. We
had a request of 61 million in capital and we have $22,85,134 to disperse. This budget does not reflect the capital in it. We have removed it because we are putting together a capital improvement plan to
submit to the court. In doing so, our capital budget will be more in line with our capital plan, and that will be done in our special purpose budget that we'll be submitting in September. Um, Tad, prior to Rick being sworn in, uh, I
think had entered into a contract with a group, I think they did, to because there were so many people that they believed were out there claiming homestead exemptions that didn't have homestead exemptions. Do you know what the status is of that? Have they
completed that? Have they made any changes? And if if the answer is no, can you get us an update on that? >> I don't have an update, but I will get you one, Judgement. >> So, there are several important dates that we have to meet. We have to adopt on September 16th, the commissioner's
court will be presented uh information and you will adopt a tax rate. We will have a public hearing and an approved and and submit to you a budget for adoption. Uh and then we'll there will be a public hearing and approved compensation for certain elected officials. That is
required for us to publish the elected officials salaries and so that will be presented separately. Today when you vote there are three things that can happen. You can vote yes to the budget, you can vote no to it,
and you can uh table it to be considered later. And that is concludes the presentation. Any questions? >> All right. Court members, any questions for Helen, >> Chandler, or anyone else? >> Yeah. Is Is Roxy here?
>> Roxy's not. She had a family emergency that she's dealing with. >> What's that? >> Or her assistant? >> Yes, Michelle is here to answer questions if there are questions. >> Okay. Um, with regard to the human services,
I'm going to say human services a lot. I mean human resources because I've been talking about human services. So, human resources department. Can you go into detail on
So, it on its face it looks good. um elimination of 22 positions, but we're adding 16 new positions. So, are the 20 Do the 22 positions have
people in them? >> The 22 positions that are being added will be new positions >> that you're It says elimination of 22 positions. So we currently have 24 filled positions. >> 24. Yeah.
>> We are including or creating 17 new positions >> and then there are going to be about uh five that will remain as is and then three that will have some minor tweaks to them.
>> Okay. So what happens to the people in the positions now? >> There will be um the opportunity for all employees within our HR department to apply for these new positions. >> So they have to
reapply. >> Yes, ma'am. >> For these positions. >> Yes. So they're new positions. Are they new titles and some new duties but
essentially the same thing? So if you have a I looked at the org charts the current and the proposed you have something like a um you had recruiter you currently have recruiters
and on the new or chart you have talent >> talent acquitions >> people or whatever >> it's the same thing. So it is different. Um we are proposing to revamp that entire unit to become
talent acquisition specialists and of course adding a supervisor. Um they will go out and actively recruit. Currently the staff that does the recruiting for us at this point um really kind of screen applications. They don't actively
go out and seek candidates for these positions. >> But for both of those, recruitment is the job. It's job one. >> Yes, that's correct. >> It's the same thing. >> Um, so how many employees
will no longer meet the requirements of these positions? I don't know that at this point. We haven't looked at that. >> What assistance will be provided to help these people?
Because I'm be honest, and I don't think this was your decision. You're just the second in charge. Um this looks like we're blowing up a department. Um these people are going to
the director is relatively new so she's cleaning house. Um but my concern is why number one do all these people have um employee file
that's you know full of poor performance? um we can't discuss that here but >> so it would be interesting to to know why >> so um what I can tell you is that this reorg is to realign things within HR
>> so we want to bring stronger leadership structure to the department so you've seen the organization chart the proposed so that's one of the um things that we want to strengthen um we want to add the dedicated talent acquisition team uh we
want to expand the learning learning and development team um the function so that we create um in-house training. We no longer have to go out to get training. So that's part of the plan. Uh we'd like to enhance our compensation and benefits
program. So currently they're kind of separated, but these are um total rewards. I mean that's truly the area that this falls under for um Tarant County. And so we want to clean all this up and we also want to enha enhance our
operational uh structure. So we want to have some efficiencies. We we're going we plan to add some efficiencies. So um that's part of the reason why this reorg has been planned. >> And so these people you're pretty clear aren't capable.
>> No, I do not know that at this point. >> Okay. Because Why didn't you pursue reclassification? >> Um that was that decision was made at an
executive level. I was not involved in that. So >> do you happen to know? >> I can speak more generally to the process. So typically when any anybody wants to look at uh a position uh anytime the position reach a cert a certain threshold as far as roles and
responsibilities changing typically it would become a riff and replace versus a recclass. Reclasses are more due to knowledge, experience, skill sets changing of the current general job description versus a complete change. And what I've heard Michelle say is uh
they are actually, you know, new job descriptions, different duties. Sounds like significantly different duties from what's currently being done. >> Okay. I just I find it hard to believe that the people sitting in in those positions
aren't capable of doing this. Um and just we can't reclassify rewrite the job reclassify them. Um so last last uh meeting a a public
speaker got up and talked about um having outofstate employees. Is that still going to be the case with this? >> I am not certain of that proposal. That
is not included in this budget item. Um, so I am not certain of that. >> And again, I think it was I think it was clarified last time the the two individuals that talked about were not Tarant County employees. They're contractors that work for Tarant County. So they wouldn't show up on an org chart
as employees. >> Okay. I'm gonna pull up the org chart in just a second. So, will they still be here as contract workers, contract employees? >> Again, I'm not certain. I think
>> I believe as of right now, that's the plan is to continue those uh contract employees until such time that we don't need them anymore because we would be able to fulfill this internally. >> Okay. So, you don't anticipate those two California, North Carolina contract
workers to be uh to end up being employed with this county? >> No, ma'am. That that is not my understanding at all. They would if they are to continue working for Tarant County, it would be as contractors, not
as employees of Tarant County. >> Okay. So, could they f fulfill one of these positions on the ORC chart as contractors? >> That I don't know. I I'd have to try to look at the org chart myself really quick on that if I needed to.
>> Okay. And did we used a staffing agency to recruit these people? >> That's correct. They they are they are compensated by Tarant County through a staffing agency. That's correct. And a contract that was already in place. Yes, sir. What um do we pay the staffing
agency? What's the percentage? >> I'd have to get you the I don't know that number off the top of my head, but I can certainly get it for you. >> Okay. And this this is not being pitched as a cost savings, is it? This HR reorg >> uh I'll defer to Helen. I believe um it
>> I believe it is a cost savings when they when they >> uh proposed what they proposed. >> Yeah, it's a two $231,000 cost savings. So, okay, I must have not looked at the right lines. I looked at salaries.
That's all. I looked at salaries and it was a $7,000 cost savings. So, decreasing from 30 to 20 whatever on in your book,
>> she's eliminating 22 positions and only adding 17. So just the mere numbers would create a bigger savings than $7,000. And we have it if you at the very back uh of the I don't think the
totals are on the elimination sheet, but and I want to speak to reclasses. Uh it's very important that reclass you just don't reclass a position. It needs to have significant it needs to be very close to the current job description for it to just be reclassed.
It is totally different when a department creates new positions that are doing significantly additional duties and then I ask because positions are created in my office. I ask that you
don't reclass. I ask that you add positions. So she was going by what I was asking her to do. >> Okay. Um so hang on. Um Helen does the okay or Chandler whichever one.
So when these folks are out of state being paid do we pay what type of taxes we pay that state's um employment taxes? How how does that work?
That might be audit >> and is >> it's going to be paid through the contracting a the contractors paying that not Tarant County. >> Okay. And is SAP configured for multi-state payroll processing?
>> We are not. No, we are not currently configured to do multi-state at this time. >> Okay. And do they did we say last time that they get benefits? I I don't think they do, but >> I'm not certain, but I don't believe
that they do. >> Okay. So, in your org chart, I saw an increase from two to four of the uh MG management level positions. Um, and that's occurring in one of the
county's smallest departments. Can somebody speak to that? >> Yeah, sure. I mean it it is really to realign the structure to make sure I mean if you looked at the previous structure there were all kinds of positions that reported up and so this
is to realign everything to have teams built that properly report into um a proper leader u for those different sections. So HR operations to so this is
using HR best practices to just kind of realign everything HR operations um talent I'm sorry total rewards and then the third section is our learning and development so um it's just kind of realigning everything realigning
everything to have the proper authority reporting to the director >> okay are you guys helping these folks find jobs. >> We will just like we're doing for anyone else that is impacted by a layoff. >> And I want to say I think all of them
are being encouraged to apply for the the new roles. >> So it it is it isn't people are being written off. They they they're going to be encouraged to apply for the new roles. >> We'll see. >> Yes, ma'am. Well, again, I think I think the policy is always to hire the best
qualified candidate for whatever the role is, but I think as you know, not to repeat Michelle, but what the director has done has has made a proposal in consultation with the budget office with regards to how we should go about this, and this is the result that we're presenting to the court for
recommendation. >> Okay. So, um these HR folks, if they don't get um get their jobs back, Um, they'll be competing for county
jobs, internal jobs with the folks y'all laid off from public health, human services. Um, my office, Miles's office. Um, so I I would like to see how many
maybe next week how many people from public health were placed internally and assisted by human resources and how many people from human services have been assisted and placed
internally um by human services. Um, this this county typically does not do it this way. They don't clean house
in a department. Um, so if and then if those outofstate people become permanent employees, um, are we changing the remote policy for everybody
um, in the county? Um, so lot lots of questions. I'll definitely be paying very close attention to this. Um, and I hope we take care of our people uh like we profess to be family once a month when we're sitting
up here doing employee appreciation. Um, so I I don't have any good reports from human services that uh people have been assisted and um so I'm concerned. >> Your comments are well taken. Ma'am,
>> thank you. >> Uh if you'd like to. >> Good morning, Court. So I just want to um advocate at a higher level for the people that have large departments that have to hire and go through these processes. The sheriff's office has their own department. and I was over
there for eight years. Um, in the past with our HR department, we actually met with the judge once a quarter to relate the challenges we had in HR and and how to make that happen minus the county
administrator just to make sure we were trying to move on the same place. So, a lot of changes have been made. So I would just like to ask um with these new positions coming in at the end of the day it is we are the customers and we
have to be able to get applications that are vetted correctly that make things happen our onboarding processes. So, we are going to give grace to these changes, but I'm going to ask that um we reserve the right to come back in and say this is working, then this is not
working because we do a lot of hiring these big departments and um we just needed to work. Right now, a lot of things have been changed and we're living through a lot of those changes and and everything is kind of in a gray, mixy, messy area. So, I'm looking forward to that. But I do want you to
know I will be asking the court to help us if we find these changes are again from the past holding us up to make sure we are able to hire the most qualified, get them processed and get them in for our departments. Thank you.
>> All right. Any other questions from the court members? >> You know, on the uh HR restructuring, you know, I I asked Roxy and the departments a lot of questions about this. a lot similar to what what you asked, Mr. Simmons. Um, and you know,
Roxy has vast experience uh in the HR world uh in dealing with very very large organizations. And uh the articulated reason given to me was that we're bringing HR into the 21st century. Um trying to find ways to make it more
efficient uh and more effective for her customers because like you said, I think the large departments are HR's customers. um you know, she's out there fielding these applications, out there recruiting good people to come work for you and for other departments. Uh and so I do think that giving her a bit of
grace as she tries to organize and restructure and create a vision for the HR department. Uh I think that that's our responsibility is to do that. We're not in her shoes every single day uh doing her job. Uh and so if she she recommends this in the budget as a
restructure um and she can she thinks that you know using 90% of the existing people with some additional resources will help then great. Um so so I mean I'm willing to to allow her to try this restructure and I think that that I'll be supportive of that. So just my
comments on the HR side. Uh, one last thing. Um, Rochelle or Chandler, our our customer base is diverse. We have a very diverse workforce in the county. And so I hope
that um that human resources not services human resources department will take that into consideration when recruiting
and hiring talent. >> Okay. Any other questions from the court in general? >> Yeah. Well, I have a I have a statement >> and it's and really it's it's for you, Helen, and your team. So, this morning, I saw them walking across the street from the admin building, and they were
all together uh and they look like they were not going to war, but coming from a war uh crossing the street all in a pack and um it was a sight. But I'll say this, you guys have done an incredible job uh as you have over the last several
years uh in dealing with self-imposed constraints. Uh, I mean, you know, whenever I talk about our budget, every time and and once we approve the budget or a budget, you know, we're going to start talking about the next year's budget. Um, and so, you know, I'm I'm very firm on on no new revenue being my
ceiling. Um, you know, I think that term, you know, it's it should be very simple to understand, but for a lot of people, it's not. And uh truly to me what it means is that a single taxpayer uh in their capacity as a property owner doesn't pay an additional dollar more to
the county than they did the previous year. That's no new revenue from a taxpayer in my perspective. Uh you've hit that mark two years in a row. This will be the third uh in balancing our budget and and getting us to a place where we can say that um we're operating
as efficiently and as responsibly as we can. And a lot of that is due to your work. Um, so I I really appreciate what you've done uh and continue to do. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh, I'll make a couple of comments. The, uh, you know, you look at the number of
departments and there's a whole lot of them. There's a whole lot of requests, but uh the fact that everyone works together and is trying to do the right thing by not only the people, but by uh
you guys and all the elected officials, you know, I forget what the number is. I think it's 69 different elected officials. And for everyone to come together like this and and not everybody gets what they want. And I mean, there's going to be things in the budget that we
ultimately pass whenever that is in a month that it's not exactly how I would create it. Uh there's always, well, I don't really like that or I wish that wasn't there, but I think we could do better here. But at the end of the day, this looks to me like a good budget.
>> Uh it looks to me like it's uh been a lot of hard work and a lot of cooperation amongst a lot of people. And uh thank you for what you've done. Thank you. Thank you. Uh I think y'all have done a fantastic job and I continue to
be impressed by the work you do. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right. Anybody have anything else? >> Yes. So, um I am going to ask that um an item be removed from this budget
and that is the elimination of um or limiting of commissioner staff, court members staffs um to five. And
um it it seemed I'm I'm strongly opposed to this what seems to be a unilateral decision to limit um court members administrative staff.
Um I'm not one to mince words and this whole thing feels like a backroom deal uh cooked up without all of us at the table. How did we get to the number five? How
did we get to the salary cap? Um, and let's let's not forget the new challenges that we face as a um result of redistricting. I've just taken on a whole bunch of new
unincorporated constituency and my office has been swamped with calls from folks who are new to us, need our help um hadn't been getting the attention
that um they wanted. Um I'm a different different type of commissioner. I put on my boots and jeans. I go to these people's houses. I pet their llamas. I look in in their culverts. I see what's happening. Um, and so,
um, after a three and a half hour meeting with everybody in transportation, I'm taking on, um, a lot of additional unincorporated responsibility in addition to
um, just the everyday responsiveness. Um, so the added workload makes it critical for me to have the staff that I currently have and could use
more. Um, because I'm trying to serve the community. That's that's you all know that's that's who I am. Um, not all precincts are created equal. um precinct to
constituents, residents rely on county services more than most and this decision will hit them directly. My people are responsive. We go to homes. We go wherever they ask us
to go. And I I don't know if what what the purpose is here. Um, I hope we're not marginalizing and discriminating against the very folks that elected us to serve them.
Um, and then with regard to my current staff, um, I I haven't been able to take the time to I think about it in my sleep all the time, but decide who who leaves.
um their livelihoods are being affected by what I hope is not or what seems to be political. The the people who
I have to get rid of, they had they the the ones it will probably be are the ones that were here before I got here. Um, and so they just serve in those roles. Um,
it to have people that don't even serve in precinct to to make this decision for precinct to M1. Um, without including us, um, this feels
divisive and I just say shame on you. I I ask that this be removed from the budget, not for me, but for my constituents and um my staff.
>> How many additional positions in Road and Bridge have you asked for? >> Um there are 20, but I wouldn't have to ask for any if we would assign. It doesn't make fiscal sense to ask for
any if we would assign the ones from precinct one to precinct two. >> And how many positions will be eliminated if this budget passes from your office? >> Three or four. >> Three or four. So you'll get a net gain
of 16 or 17 positions. If this is passed and you get an additional 16 or 17 positions, is that political too? Libeth can't qualify to be an equipment operator, too. Okay. So, my
positions um are garage positions. Um I had 21 road miles. I now have
197. So, I have got to have more equipment operators, uh, flaggers, another sign guy. I mean, I I could go down the list. So, um,
Naughty, Valerie, Elizabeth or Elizabeth, Hector, they're they're not qualified for those jobs, sir. >> All right. Do we have any other comments from any of the commissioners? Yeah, I'll just say that, you know, I I think the primary pickup and your
point's well taken about additional road miles and additional responsibility, but I do think that's reflected in the budget and giving you additional resources. I think the having um you know, I've got 21 different cities inside of my precinct. So, I have half
of the county cities inside of precinct 4. Um, and that's a lot of ILAS because a lot of these cities are small and they can't manage road operations on their own. And so we do work with them every single day. Uh, and that the same number
of road miles. And I think that having uh maintenance separated from general makes a whole heck of a lot of sense because the primary duty of an exeicial or the only duty of an exicial road commissioner is roads and bridges within the precinct. Um, now as far as the the
general office goes, um, I I don't see it as being political in any form or fashion to ask every commissioner to operate with the same exact number in budget. I think that as being ultimately equal um for everybody. We all represent roughly the same exact amount of
citizens. Uh, and so having the the identical staff, I mean, we're not asking um anything from from any additional commissioner to do that that we're not doing already. Um, and so as far as the the comment about it being hatched and schemed, we've talked about
this for a year about level setting and making sure that we all have consistency amongst how the commissioner's general offices are operating. Obviously, the maintenance shops are going to be different because everybody has a different number of cities that they have with. Everybody has a different
number of road miles that they have to maintain. But the general office, the core functions of county government are are are pretty simple. Um, and so hitting that mark uh with the same number as any other commissioner um in my opinion isn't isn't only fair. I mean
that that's that's the way to make it equal. So I I don't understand the the surprise here that that you've expressed because we've discussed this and the the recommendation came from asking Helen how can you make it equal and that's it. >> So the we haven't discussed it for a
year. Um, for example, Roxy was actually it's been since April actually uh is when I first heard it. Now, if y'all discussed it for a year, it's a
different thing. Um, so it was brooached in a meeting enclosed. You actually talked about uh you brought it up. Um perhaps we should do what the Texas legislature does. Okay. You
brought that up. Um it didn't go that far um in that meeting and it came back one other time where we who who came up with five who came up with the cap amount, dollar
amount. Um, I would so that we hadn't been talking about it for a year. It's just been since April. Um, I would
beg to differ with you on the fact that what each commissioner's office does is simple and it's the same. Um, I don't think anybody uh does the same amount of community
outreach events that I do, perhaps precinct one commissioner. Um, nobody does the town halls that I do. Um, nobody is as responsive to these constituents
as I am. >> I beg to differ on that. We respond to every single one that reaches out to our office immediately. We see them, we call them, we email them. Every single person and the rule for my office is no one goes 24 hours without being responded to
that reaches out to us >> and we meet with them. We don't we don't blow them off. We listen to what their concerns are. Um so we we work in precinct 2. Um and this
really is going to affect it's not going to affect those at the higher level. It's going to affect those administrative people um two of them that have been here for
12 years, 10 years, that type of thing. So, um if if that's in your heart to to do that, that's that you have to live with that. Uh but these these folks hadn't done
anything to you. They've served this county well. They answer these phones. They uh enter things into our constituent um service uh system. Um and they make sure everybody is touched and
responded to immediately. You're affecting those people, not me. >> Commissioner Krauss. >> Yeah, I think Commissioner Krauss has something. Yeah, I I just wanted to add some general comments uh as uh as some of the other members have done and just
tell Chandler and Helen and the team, thank you uh for the incredible work that y'all put in. It's my first budget cycle obviously at the county, but I've been through five others at the state. And sometimes I think when the numbers are smaller, it's actually harder uh to do. it. So, I think y'all done a yman's
effort to uh take care of the the county's needs, the the county u being a fast growing county, making sure everything continues to stay on track while still bringing us under the no new revenue rate. And I think that uh is a testament to y'all. I think it's a
testament to the court members that were there before uh I was that y'all put us on a good path and a trajectory of fiscal stewardship. So, I think the three of y'all who preceded me are to be thanked as well. But uh I I just think that uh for the citizens of Taran
County, it's good to know how purposeful and intentional the county administration staff and the commissioner's court is to be good efficient tax uh stewards of the taxpayer dollar. And I think this budget does that. So I appreciate appreciate you all and look forward to uh voting
for this uh budget today. All right, >> I have something. Um, uh, finally, um, I I do appreciate, uh, the auditor's office, the, uh, budget office, the all of all of you guys over there that
aren't sitting out here, but thank you for, um, to your staffs for what they do and what they have done. Um, one big problem is that this process must be
more transparent for the public. Um they did not have access to the budget, a
draft budget, um talks, consideration, um until the agenda was published. This is their money. And I know I've told some of them to deal directly with you, Helen, and you
have um but that's a few people. This this process needs to be very transparent to those who we serve. Um, and I understand we have to wait for the certified tax role,
but you cannot tell me, can't make me believe that you don't start drafting a budget and a draft budget on the day that you receive that certified tax role. And so getting these
documents and um this data. so late for a commissioner and even um I mean for a commissioner and the public is we've got to do better. Um but I
appreciate the work that your staffs do to to uh put all this together. So thank you all and and the department heads because you guys and the elected officials, you guys have to take hits and cuts and and be told no. um and not
sure how you deal with it, but you've dealt with it. So, thank you all. >> All right, we have four speakers. Does anyone want to make a motion before we bring the speakers up? >> So, you have a list in front of you that is uh all the departments that are satisfied
with one department, precinct 2, Alisa Simmons, not satisfied. Uh, I would ask that you consider making a motion for all of the departments that are satisfied with their budget. >> Well, I'll make a motion that we approve
the budget as presented. Second. >> Okay, >> we have a motion and a second. Any discussion before we go to the speakers? Okay, first speaker up is Dr. Harriet Harrell. Following Dr. Herald is Miranda
Mayu Mayo. Last year, I was stunned to see that the public hearing on the budget held the very same day that commissioners voted just 15 minutes later. that sent an unmistakable message that the public
input was irrelevant. It's cynical to pretend that this was anything close to a real public hearing. And here we are a year later, same process, same disregard. A budget is
more than numbers. It's a statement of priorities and a measure of whether the county honors its mission, goals, and citizens needs. We've had only three days to review nearly 300 pages. And there are a number of red flags we'd
like to review. Human resources is one with how are we really treating our employees? zero zeroing out all the nonprofits in public assistance is a red flag and reducing by a 100,000 the amount that's moved by from there into
community outreach is another red flag and if there were time to get into more of it I'd have more probably what it looks like is that Taran County doesn't care about its people employees and citizens today's workshop wasn't
publicized to encourage citizen particip participation. And on Tuesday, there'll be another public hearing minutes before the vote, again, leaving no time to consider what citizens say. Other Texas counties do better. Bear County holds
weekly budget town halls in August. Harris County offers online tools and multiple forums for residents. Dallas County opens departmental budget hearings to the public. Why are Tarant County residents denied similar respect?
We demand a change for next year. First, give us the tools. Provide online ways for residents to suggest real budget adjustments like Harris County does.
Second, open the doors. advertise workshops and hearings so citizens know when and where they can be heard and you be there to hear them. Third, be serious about it. Give time between public
hearings and final action so that commissioners and budget office can incorporate citizen suggestions. Trans, transparency, engagement, and respect are not incidental. They are the foundation of
trust. And Tara County deserves no less. >> Thank you. >> Is Miss Mayo Mayu present? How do I pronounce it? >> Mayou. Okay. Following Miss Mayu, we have Joe Palmer.
Good morning everyone. I'm here to speak today on our previous decisions to minimize the workforce with the health and human services department and uh reviewing that decision. I know that we have a lot of difficult budget decisions
today. Uh this court has the responsibility of making those difficult budget decisions. However, what I am asking for is for a reversal on that decision and a reconsider is a reconsideration and revisal of the
proposed um timeline. I believe it's January 2026 where we're looking at the final reduction in workforce from the health and human services department. Uh my suggestions are that we expand that timeline from I think from now till
then it's like six months and expanding that timeline to about a year. Uh another consideration is uh can all of you hear me? Okay. >> Yeah. >> Uh another consideration or a suggestion that I have is right now down in the
state legislature we do still have a special session going on. those surplus funds from the previous legislation haven't been released yet, they're being considered for the new budget. I do understand that. and our special session.
uh there while health and human services funding isn't considered as part of one of those 18 points that the governor's outlined in the special session. I do believe that we have uh other elected officials who can make requests of
indirect appeals to the governor on uh considering releasing some of those special funds, some of those surplus fundings to mitigate the immediate costs that 1.7 million costs from the administrative uh
excuse me to mitigate those immediate costs uh of that department and moving forward. We can still follow that time proposed timeline and the continuing reducing of that workforce and delegating of responsibilities to uh
local nonprofits. Uh one second I think that we can make these uh this direct appeal to the governor. We have several commissioners who are aligned on party lines with the governor and uh to release those funds help mitigate some
of the costs that we're considering for the budget for the coming fiscal year. And that's all I have. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Commissioner Krauss, are you motioning over here? >> No. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you,
>> Mr. Palmer. Following Mr. Palmer, we have Gerald and Jackie Cox. Thank you. These questions to staff relating to motive for increases is good, but it needs much more attention in these meetings. You need to be meeting more often, definitely more than once a month, prior to a rate and budget
vote. I would encourage commissioners to consider with much value whether the reasoning presented in support of claims by department heads is substantial enough to grant the increases. 4.9 billion in new construction. The tax revenue collected from these properties is exempt from the no new revenue rate
calculation. For this reason, you need to adopt a tax rate below the no new revenue rate in order to honestly claim that you are not increasing taxes on the community. In my opinion, department budget should have been posted earlier and more prominently on the website. We need more detail offered to the public. There are not enough line items, not
enough specificity, not a good look to compare to other counties, presumably to lower expectations on ourselves. I do not support going up on constable fees. Quote, we are not able to determine the last time these were increased. By all means, go find that and get back to us.
Reserves 16% hoping to achieve with reserve 60 days operating. Keep it at 55 days operating unless a reason can be articulated beyond merely stating that debt rating authorities recommend this. Asking for a voluntary I am asking for a voluntary pay and benefit cut for
commissioners and county judge. No answer given to the commission to Commissioner Simmons question regarding how many people will be affected or let go by the 16 new positions. Actually, let's delete that. No clear answer given as to who made the decision not to reclassify existing employees of the new
positions. The statement was made that you don't reclassify when the new position is doing something completely new or different. Why is the county embarking on tasks that are new and different? This economy is terrible right now. People can't afford to eat. People don't have money. Prices are going up. Stores are stocking less.
Healthc care is going up. Is this really the time for local taxing entities to be getting creative with tax money. Total of 58 new positions. I don't see how this is needed by the county considering the habit of entering into interlocal agreements that shift tasks to those other entities. This is an
urban county. But where you do need new people is in the tax offices. The lines are longer than before and there are typically few people at the windows to help people. There was one office that had two people working at windows when I went with all waiting seats filled and about two dozen people in the hallway. Handicapped people, elderly people. I
want these following things provided to me before the hearing, please. Last year's property tax levy, the projected levy associated with the proposed rate and budget, the projected rate needed to bring in the same amount of tax revenue as last year. Again, factoring in the
new growth. Again, I'm asking for the adoption of a rate that brings the same amount of tax revenue as last year adjusted for inflation. Would also like a line item for projected legal fees relating to in custody deaths.
Thank you, Miss Cox. >> Can you hear me? I haven't heard some of the people very well. >> We can hear you fine. >> All right. How about that? All right. The perspective I bring to this as a
taxpayer and as a citizen who tries to keep up with county government is that of, you know, the ordinary person. And so I was hoping last Friday to have a copy of this budget draft so that I'd
have the weekend to look through it and I would work with other people and we'd talk about it. But last Friday you posted notice that we would get the hearing or it's not a hearing, it's a workshop today, but not a copy of what was to be
discussed. I kept looking. It wasn't there on Saturday. It wasn't there on Sunday. It wasn't there when I first looked on Monday morning. I finally found it midafter afternoon on Monday. And I don't know what time you posted it, but I know that it should have been
posted 72 hours in advance of this meeting so that we would have had some time to look at it and it was not. Then after I got it, oh, what an unpleasant surprise. 200 almost two well
almost 300 pages not indexed not topical discussion no information except columns and numbers and it did not appear to me that I was even seeing programs that had to
do with either state or federal revenue. So, I went looking over to the local government code to see what was supposed to be there and I found three for three parts of the local government code to deal with what must go in the budget and
they're kind of identical. I mean, there's section 11 110.004 for counties of less than 265,000. There's section a different one for larger counties and a third one for anybody who wants to
take whatever pick they want. And so you really have three options. And it appears to me that you pick the option controlled by the county judge. But whatever, whomever prepares the budget in any of these three options
shall itemize the budget to as allow a a a clear comparison between expenditures included in the proposed budget and actual expenditures for the same or simil similar purposes that were made in the preceding fiscal year.
Congratulations. You've had impenetrable budgets two years in a in a row. I never got narratives last year. I misjudgly. Um, but it does say that you must show as
definitely as possible each of the projects for which an appropriation is established in >> Thank you, Miss Cox. >> Thank you. >> Okay, those are all the folks we have signed up to speak. A reminder that this
>> in compliance with the law. A reminder that this budget, this motion and this budget is to move forward. There will be a final vote on the budget a month from now. There will also be actually a little less than a month. I guess it is
uh what is say the 14th? No, be about a month. And then there will be a vote on tax ceiling rate uh the first meeting of September. So we have a motion and a second to move forward with this budget as presented. Any further discussion
from the court members? All right, seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand and say I. >> I. >> I. You have an I there, Mr. Krauss. Verbal. >> I'm just following lawyers orders. Did he say I?
>> Okay, there we go. >> Uh, all opposed, please raise your hand and say no. >> No. All right. So the motion moves for or the budget moves forward by a 3 to1 vote. Those are all the items we have on this workshop. So we are now adjourned.
>> What? What did I Okay. And you your opinion, legal opinions, we can do this very thing right now as we speak. >> You can discuss it and give direction to the budget officer as to what you would like to see in the budget for final adoption at the future meeting. So yes is the short answer to your
question. Okay. Okay. All right. So what do we what do we have? Consideration of equipment of assignment of maintenance center located at 800 East Renden Crowley Road, Bur Berlesen, Texas 76028
to uh for the exclusive use of precinct 2's road and bridge crew. >> Can you repeat that again? Consideration of assignment of maintenance center located at 800 East Renden Crowley Road, Berlesen, Texas,
76028, precinct 1. Uh from precinct 1 to precinct 2 for the exclusive use of precinct 2's road and bridge crew. >> Okay. Is there And the reason we're voting or talking
about this is because it's on this piece of paper right here. All of the redistricting was requested to go through the budget process. That was the direction of the court. >> Okay. Do we have a discussion or motion or what are we doing on this?
>> I'll make a I'll discuss it. Um so uh because of redistricting the uh maintenance center located at that address 800 East Rendon Crowley Road, Burlington, Texas 76028.
that m the maintenance center is in precinct 2 and um I thought that it redistricting put it in precinct 2
it's in precinct 2 uh legal tells me that it has to be assigned by the court uh to precinctive um I said So
all are all facilities assigned by the court to that facil to that precinct if it's built there isn't it um isn't it in that precinct for that precinct's use. So they said that they
that it has to be assigned by the court um for use uh for precinct 2's use. Even though you guys put it in precinct 2, it still has to be assigned. Or you can say it better, Mr. Katville.
>> I don't disagree with anything that you're saying, Commissioner. Uh the court has the ability to assign office space and facilities to elected officials to carry out their duties. uh with few exceptions, those can be located anywhere in the county. And so if the court wanted to assign a
particular building or office to an elected official to carry out their duties, it has the power to do so regardless of where it is. How many maintenance centers do we have total? >> So there are four in one in each precinct.
>> So each there's one there's one assigned to each precinct. Each commissioner has a precinct. Each commissioner has >> I'm sorry. Each commissioner has a maintenance center. >> Yes. Yes. Each commissioner has a maintenance center. >> What are you trying to do? Switch your maintenance centers?
>> I'm trying to use the precinct the old the pre the maintenance center located in the old precinct one. It's now precinct 2 >> instead of the one you currently use. >> No, I need both. I have I stretch from I stretch from here to Johnson and Parker
County. Now, if you look at >> So, would this leave precinct one without a maintenance shed? >> Yes, but precinct one has um four miles. I went from 20 to 197.
>> Okay. So, now now what are we doing? Well, >> do we know if Commissioner Miles has weighed in on this? Ye. Yes, he and I have had conversations about it, but I'll he's not here. So,
>> Gerald, are you from his office? Do you want to speak to his opinion? >> Good even good afternoon. Absolutely. Uh, Commissioner Miles has met with Commissioner Simmons. Uh, he feels that um he has every right to keep his facility in precinct one that has been
assigned to him by the court. Uh we have met and had conversations about this with uh Commissioner Simmons and her team. So it's his of opinion. He wants to keep uh the facility uh his equipment all in precinct one.
>> Well, he he you guys are still going to maintain a workforce and equipment. Correct. So you need somewhere. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. And we'll continue to maintain the ILAS that are signed and um that are currently signed. But it's of Commissioner Ma's opinion
that u currently based on redistricting that he's still um currently under the representation that he's you know uh the lines that he was currently under represent represented under. So he still feels like hey I still have my
maintenance facility as a signed by the court where it's at right now >> and and some of that equipment. So f first of all credible one question for you. There's nothing that says that your facility has to be inside of the precinct boundaries. Correct. The court can decide what gets assigned to whom.
>> Correct. >> Equipment and facilities. >> Correct. >> Got it. So, one thing I I don't like the term exclusive uh in this request. I mean, because I would say Commissioner Miles needs a base of operation for his maintenance
folks because he's still going to have ILAS and they're still going to help their member cities on road projects and they're still going to have employees and equipment. But I do agree that it makes sense proximity-wise uh to house equipment that'll be utilized to manage
and maintain unincorporated roads that are surrounding that area. I think it was placed there strategically for those roads. And so I I I don't see it see there being a conflict if you and Commissioner Miles work together on housing uh equipment that that
essentially could be shared for whatever use in either case. I mean, if we had a shop way up uh northeast, I know Commissioner Krauss and I have discussed that uh about collaborating pretty closely to make sure that we share resources if we need them. And we've done it in the past. you know, if his if
his office needed a couple trucks for a specific job, you know, that we always collaborated that way. I don't know if that was y'all's intention here, but the word exclusive makes it seem like it's not. >> So, um, there is responsibility assigned to
these facilities. I I think you agree with that. something's happening at Jorah sub courthouse like at my subcourthouse currently the chiller is out in Mansfield. Um that's that's my responsibility to work with
facilities to make sure you know everything is getting taken care of. Walk through the tax office, sit in there and feel the 80 degrees. So the responsibility I think has to be assigned to some
one of us. Um absolutely. Um our maintenance directors, mine, his uh Commissioner Krausses, they all work together. They we borrow equipment from three four to it that that already
exists. Um but of the of the two commissioners in one and two who's who has the responsibility of that facility? Um
you can keep um all the equipment and have four road miles and one ILA one is what they have now. um and put precinct 2 in a bind.
Um so if we assign the facility to where y'all put it, y'all put it in two. um assign the the
um employees, then I won't have to put in a request for additional staff. They exist. It's the fiscally responsible thing to do. >> Okay. I don't I'm sorry. I thought you were done.
>> And um and the same with equipment. There's no need to purchase any additional. It's sitting there. So if you have four road miles, one ILA
versus uh we have countless ILAS and 197 miles and we're spread this wide. It makes sense to assign that facility to the commissioner that will utilize it the most. Um
the uh Commissioner Miles and I uh can do uh make agreements, sign agreements, and that crew, his crew, my crew, whichever, however it's divvied up by the director, um can go out and and do
their ILAS. So, it's um it's an assignment. I'm told it needs to happen that re just because redistricting put it in two. That's not good enough. It needs to be assigned to two.
>> Who told you that? >> The DA. >> The D has DA. You've told her it needs to be assigned to two. >> No. If I if it can't redistricting doesn't automatically put it into >> if it's going to be reassigned. He told you the court has to reassign.
>> Yes. There you go. So, I want to go back to something you said, if I understood it correctly. The reason you need additional people, the reason you need additional staff is because
you don't control that maintenance center. Did I understand that correctly? >> No, no, no, no. >> Okay. If you get the maint if you if the maintenance center is assigned to you now you don't need to request additional staff.
>> The maintenance center is one thing. Staff is a a another thing. >> Okay. So you did not just say the reason you're having to request additional staff is because the maintenance center is not assigned to you. You didn't say
that. The reason I'm having to uh request additional staff is because the staff has not moved over. It hasn't been assigned to two. The building hasn't been assigned to two. The
equipment hasn't been assigned to precinct 2. So those are three. >> Okay. It it may sound like I'm trying to trick you. I'm not. I'm just trying to understand the first time. So if it's >> So I think what I asked and you said no that's not what I said but then I think
you turned around and said the exact same thing I asked. So I may not be asking it the right way. I if you were assigned that maintenance center and that staff, are you telling me now you would not request additional positions? >> Correct. 100%.
>> Okay. And call me uninformed, but we can't get the commissioners to work together to do this where they share staff, borrow staff, and we have to have 19 new positions because these
positions are over here and he won't let her have them. Well, I don't understand this. >> Uh, Commissioner Miles uh transferred 16 positions over into uh precinct 2. Commissioner Simmons is uh in this budget. you'll see 16 positions transferred.
>> Okay. I'm I'm just if anybody here can help me understand this. We have the people. >> Yes. >> They don't have enough to do is what I'm it's seems like it's being described on one side. I
don't know if the other side agrees with that. And then but because we're not going to share them and work together on the roads, one thing we do know, roads are not partisan. Um, so what I don't what am I missing? What am I not being
able to understand because I don't understand it. What am I missing? >> It's the same thing I'm missing. >> Well, let's say you're not assigned it and he controls the garage and he has a bunch of people that don't have enough to do. I mean, if he's already given you 16 positions, but if he has a bunch of
people that don't have something to do, are we concerned that those folks over there are just going to sit around the shop and do nothing while we create 19 new positions? Is that what we're talking about? >> I I would say that this anyone just explain it to me.
>> Jamal, am I correct? And y'all are seeking new ILAS. You had they had many miles. They have a now a smaller precinct and the last that we talked there was an anticipation
that Commissioner Miles would be continuing to uh do >> IAS. Thank you. Actually, I have a list of currently with our work team will will not just be sitting around. I have a list of probably about 15 ILAS that our
team has already put together that we'll continue to work on with our team. Uh so our director um Joe and Rick has already put together a workload for our team to work with uh our maintenance team. So
we're ready to go to work. So we're just really want to come to an agreement to try to figure out what's next. So, so she's asked for this to be assigned to her, leaving precinct one commissioner with no maintenance centers.
>> Yes, sir. >> Y'all say, "Nah, I don't really want to give the whole thing up." So, other than the 16 positions, are you not willing to share employees to fulfill this need of what what I
think it was 20 people? I think we just were told. >> Absolutely. I think uh Commissioner Malice was willing to work with Commissioner Simmons uh any way possible um in working with the roads. I think the agreement I think for us and if
Commissioner Miles was here I think he would say that you know our our director Joe knows the roads. He would work with their director Jason to help them get acclimated to >> the the new roles they've adopted. >> Um it's just in Commissioner Mau's
opinion that the facility needs to stay in assigned to him and that's just his stance on this but he's willing to work with commissioner. >> So so so I'll opine a bit commissioner Krauss and I are dealing with something
similar. Um >> statutoily it's it's complicated. Um and you can imagine with 254 counties, four commissioners in every one of them and the bulk of them are rural. Um and so they all they do is road and bridge maintenance. Uh the attorney general's
opin time and time again that um one an employee who is assigned to a commissioner cannot report to an additional commissioner. >> And so that that complicates it a bit. However, there's nothing that says that commissioners can't work together and essentially forge ILAS between their own
precincts, right? >> And determine who does what. I mean that's the anticipation with myself and Commissioner Krauss. So go back to the ILA ILA between precincts. Like literally we would vote to say there's an ILA. >> No, they they would come to an agreement. >> Um because I mean you you know the the
exofficial road commissioner system quite literally means they're in care, custody, and control in charge. We're of every single road mile in our precinct. Um without exception. I mean it's it's the law's pretty clear there. Um, so what is anticipated with myself and
Commissioner Krauss is that we will work together every time there's an issue that comes up where either um there's an ILA that's on the border, there's some road miles that are on the border or his staff was previously very familiar with an area and they they've been working on these roads and maintaining them for
decades. Um the folks that are doing the job that we'll work very closely together. Um so so I my um anticipation for this process was the exact same as I think Commissioner Simmons when we said there should be no additional need for adding employees
>> um because they already exist. The workload now I mean all prisons have different workloads. I mean you can look at our our guys worksheets starting at 05 in the morning. They're on seven different jobs every single day. Large jobs. Um but but that comes with having 21 cities and all these road miles. But
but at at the end of the day, I think a solution to this might be as simple as you and Commissioner Miles sitting down and discussing going forward on personnel utilize utilization and equipment certainly I think is one that
proximity matters because fuel costs are high >> and so having equipment where the bulk of the work is going to be done is important. Now I I don't know if you object to this but I certainly don't. I mean, I think that Commissioner Miles has been in custody and control of that
facility for a long time. And so, having him remain there, because that'd be the only place that his staff could be. There's not another one for him right now. Having that continue to be assigned to him with the agreement that equipment and personnel that may be assigned to you can also be housed there. I think
that's probably the logical way to go. And then between now and September 16th, everybody works together to figure out exactly how that gets parsed out so that there is minimal cost and minimal additional folks. >> I I I don't feel comfortable taking a
maintenance shed out of a pre >> um no matter whose it is, one, two, three, or four. I think each precinct ought to have a maintenance shed unless we go to just a uh uniform one at some point where everybody's together. I know that's been thrown about at some point,
but I think each precinct ought to have a maintenance shed that they can have their operations out of. And I'd be uncomfortable voting to give exclusive access from one precinct to another um assigning that exclusively um and especially without that commissioner present. So, I don't know if I can
support it as written or as um as offered, especially as Commissioner Romero said with that exclusivity um nomenclature in there. >> Okay. Let me ask a question. Uh, Commissioner Mirs, you said the attorney
general has regularly opined that a tell me what you said about an employee of precinct >> one can't go report to precinct. >> Yeah, it's about reporting and managerial direction. It's not
necessarily about working in geography. So, basically, if Commissioner Simmons, if I say, "Commissioner Simmons, we need some help on this very large project. Can you send a crew up here to do this? She can direct that crew what to do in my precinct. Technically, I as the
commissioner there cannot direct her crew what to do in my >> You can't go in there and say you're fired, you have to take the rest of the day off, you're demoted, whatever it may be. >> Exactly. >> But is there is there inner cooperation now as we speak between commissioners?
So I this the one thing I want to say is everything I'm trying to take this all in and understand that I'm not a road and bridge commissioner so they kind of do their own stuff. Um regardless of what the boundaries are of a precinct if if if there is more equipment needed
for the county. Okay. If there's more people needed for the county because we but I don't think any of the road miles have changed. I don't think we have any additional lanes, miles, it's the stuff. So, I haven't heard anyone say, in fact, I've
heard the opposite. I haven't heard anyone say, "We don't have enough crews to do the work that needs to be done." I have heard we need more people because I don't get to control his people. But his people,
if y'all are saying, "We've got too much work to do. We're not going to be able to loan it out." That's one thing that would justify additional positions. It doesn't sound like that's what you're saying. >> So, okay. So, um
this is um an unintended consequence of redistricting. The facility was put into precinct 2. Uh Commissioner Krauss still has a facility in precinct three. So, f first of all,
um until maybe a week and a half ago or two weeks ago, my road crews that we're staffed to take care of 20
road miles and the ILAs that we have um have been working the roads in precinct one, not with the precinct one road crews. It was just about a week and a half ago
that my assistant director says I finally told the precinct one guys they got to they got to help. And so since June 4th is when I sent my crews out. We approved redistricting.
June 4th I told my guy get out there go assess those precinct one roads. we they need work and so we immediately started on those roads and our own with the 35
that I have. So that's a that's an increased workload and um the precinct one maintenance center receptionist or whoever answers the phone directed all calls to the precinct 2 maintenance center. So we're
inundated. That's more workload. And so, uh, Commissioner Miles has decided 16 positions is what he's going to transfer over of his 65 or 67. Um, that's why the request in the budget
for more positions. And it's not what I need. It's just what will what will help. >> Sorry, I'm seeing multiple heads shake over. >> Well, he doesn't have 65 positions. He has 59. He has 59. >> He that's what he originally had. He transferred 16 over. >> He would be going down under this
scenario to 43. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um >> I just counted what I counted on his org chart. That's how I got to the 16. >> You know, I I think this responsibility um in the commissioner's uh court uh for individual commissioners, I mean, this
is probably one of the most important things that we do. >> It is >> especially if you have a vast area of unincorporated that you maintain. I mean, it is nonstop. And like I mentioned, 21 ILAS, half of the county, that's quite literally small cities that
do not have the capability to fix and maintain their own roads. Uh, and so our folks are out there every single day doing that. Um, what I will say is I don't think that if there is a conflict, if that's how we characterize this, I don't think that gets solved today. What
what I say is we make a decision on the maintenance facility if that's what you're asking us to do on who it's assigned to, but then in the next month before the 16th um talking about who's assigned equipment, where personnel goes, uh then I think we we have the
ability to parse all that out and hopefully all come together and and work together on that. But but I am of the opinion that you know the citizens deserve that service regardless of what precinct they live in. Uh it doesn't matter what city they live in. I mean
every single city pays the same exact tax rate as an unincorporated citizen to Taran County. Um and so so ultimately I think that it it should get hammered out but but it's going to take collaboration and work to to figure it out between commissioners.
>> Yes, we we continue we continue to talk. Um, so I agree with Commissioner Krauss since he's uh Commissioner Miles is not here today. Just all of it just wait. And >> is that one and two or is two some is two the same thing?
>> One and two. >> Okay. Okay. Well, I guess the what I would like to say to finish this one for my piece is if there is if roads are not taken care of, if we need more people to take care
of roads, I am for it. If we have the people, I am absolutely not for duplicating positions that are unneeded and a complete total waste of taxpayer dollars. So if that is the case, I would
encourage all commissioners, budget, administration, staffs of commissioners, let's go figure out how to do this where we're not adding positions that we don't actually need over some what might be a territorial dispute.
Uh okay. All right. I think is that it now? >> That's it. >> Okay. If I hit we're adjourned. Am I official? Okay. Anything else? Anyone? Okay, we are officially adjourned.