Hays County Commissioners Discuss Preliminary Budget At First Budget Workshop

In 2019, the county is looking at three new courts, and the District Attorney’s office is recommending an increase in staff to allow them to make good use of the additional court hours.

By, Terra Rivers, Managing Editor

On Tuesday, August 7, the Hays County Commissioners held their first budget workshop for Fiscal Year 2019.

Representatives of three departments were present at the meeting to request changes to the recommended budget.

The treasury office had two requests for Commissioners to consider. First, the office requested that a part-time position, which the department has had for over 15 years, be made full time.

The position would be upgraded to a 109, which would make it consistent with the rest of the positions in the office.

According to Britney Richey, who spoke on behalf of the Hays County Treasury office, the position handles a variety of responsibilities such as open records request and timekeeping.

Richey said the office has the work for the position to do and as the number of employees increases, the more help the office’s staff needs.

The requested position change is not included in the Judge’s recommended budget and would cost the county an additional $6,395 a year.

The Treasury Office also requested the reinstatement of $500 to their budget, which is used to provide required accommodations for a disabled employee. The money is used to hire an interpreter, sign language, for mandatory meetings.

According to Richey, the office has not used the funds in the last several years because the employee has not had any mandatory meetings. However, Richey said the office would have several this coming year, and the money will be needed for the interpreter.

The office of the Hays County District Attorney requested to hire a new lawyer and paralegal for the civil division.

District Attorney Wes Mau said over the last four to five years, the number of cases coming into the office has increased about 15% and even more than that in some civil issues.

In 2019, the county is looking at three new courts, and the District Attorney’s office is recommending an increase in staff to allow them to make good use of the additional court hours.

The Civil Division utilizes a team of a paralegal and an attorney to handle candles including Child Protective Services and Mental Health.

According to Angie Roberts-Huckaby, Division Chief, the Civil Division has seen nearly 15-20 CPS removals a month since October 2017, and her staff is having trouble keeping up.

Due to the lack of personnel, the division has had to set aside other issues such as bond forfeitures to manage the workload. Several CPS cases are expected to see final trials this October.

Roberts-Huckaby said the division is currently investigating two child death cases, which monopolize a paralegal and an attorney’s time; both work closely with law enforcement and CPS to determine the cause of death and ensure the safety of surviving siblings.

According to Roberts-Huckaby, her staff has promised to manage until January 2019 without the new paralegal and attorney.

However, she noted that the endeavor would be stressful; currently, the staff is taking home cases nightly and working on asset forfeitures on the weekends to keep up.

Judge David Glickler met with Commissioners during the budget workshop to discuss the county’s plans for 2019.

Glickler said the judge’s recommended budget does not make sense unless the county had decided to make several changes to staffing at the Government Center.

The Hays County Sheriff’s office has discussed taking over security and bailiff responsibilities allowing the county’s current bailiffs to be made administrative coordinators.

With the three new courts opening in FY 2019, the County Courts of Law could find itself understaffed if the changes aren’t finalized.

Glickler also posed the topic of converting one of the three jury rooms into additional office spaces, which would provide office space incoming staff for the new County Court of Law and provide space for future growth.

Commissioners did not have an answer for the judges, but Commissioner Lon Shell volunteered to spend the next week addressing the issue.

Commissioners did not make any motions or decisions on the requests made. The requests have been added to a list that commissioners will consider on September 21.

County commissioners did discuss one change to the judge’s proposed budget; Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe suggested cutting the merit pool from three percent to two percent.

Commissioner Shell also discussed the idea of removing elected officials from the merit pool for FY 2019.

According to staff, the removal of elected officials from the merit pool will save the county approximately $58,905, and the county will save $247,444 with a 2 percent merit.

The second budget workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 14. Commissioners will hear more presentations from county departments.

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