[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6514086,"mediaKeyId","5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7","parentId",5065232,"title","Public records portal remains offline as IT and district attorney dispute legacy data; commissioners call for cross‑department meeting","audioSeconds",524,"startMs",5776000,"endMs",6300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7&start=5776&end=6300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7/thumbnail_5776000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6514086/Lubbock-County/Texas/Public-records-portal-remains-offline-as-IT-and-district-attorney-dispute-legacy-data-commissioners-call-for-crossdepartment-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514086-960a3af266c4c82da9847ff347285bd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771024883&Signature=gujmnKaMKUUB8aTQAa3ZtOt5LujALT-MhNg3wab1hpwfqJK2nVLxjnuPxl3samQi26T1XLBb382oBFZy-fAWoDld6BLhmY8jkVyVmIw8WR3HFsYf0dOPHYxSiNFMxn7vUH82rsuWhk1DTyeaDpD2ELOTmO54kRGt-50G80nKp6LPR2amp1EtDRP3Fopilctiy42yXFeDs5JXfOHqD4BW~YfY3ZWjOD~73dOzlBpchAlCM8vxQCRX2gI~ZXtUPrPwlzeVqpY7W8v4HYKpRS18W4Q~JN~alGILdMziU5UUiGcM-PA1ivaV~d6A7N4GtYSYhyohq6F6aYkEUgzLuZJdAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lubbock","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","County IT and elected offices clashed in public during a June 2025 budget work session over when the county will restore public online access to county court records.

Mister Badu, an IT staff member, told commissioners the technical step to re‑enable the public portal would take “10 seconds” once the district attorney’s office signs off. IT staff and the IT director (Ariel) said the technical platform is ready and that remaining work is primarily a matter of reviewing and cleaning legacy data flagged as improperly exposed during the 2021 migration.

County and court officials described a chain of events that began with the 2021 system conversion to a new case management and agenda vendor. After the conversion, staff identified expunged and sealed records that had been exposed in the new system. The district attorney’s office instructed IT to shut public access while the DA’s office reviewed and directed corrective steps. The district attorney’s representative and others present told commissioners the DA’s office is responsible for ensuring expunged/sealed records are not publicly accessible and that the office has not yet cleared the portal for public access.

Commissioners discussed apparent responsibility and delay. The county judge said the issue is not solely IT’s fault; IT staff said they have been ready to restore access but need formal clearance from the DA to proceed. Commissioners asked departmental leaders to meet with IT to develop a plan: reconcile legacy records in the system, identify which historical data should be published, and establish a controlled conversion path so Granicus or another vendor can import accurate meeting and court records.

IT and court officials also described related problems with converting legacy agenda and meeting records into Granicus: some meetings present on the public website are not in the database and vice versa, and scanning/backlog issues mean a separate reconciliation project is needed before wholesale conversion.

Why it matters: The county remains out of compliance with state law on public access to court records, according to officials who said the portal has been effectively disabled since the conversion uncovered exposed expunged records. Restoring safe public access affects transparency, background checks, and public research.

What remains open: Commissioners instructed county department heads and IT to schedule a cross‑department meeting to define responsibilities, a cleanup plan and a timeline; no timetable was set at the session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lubbock - Commissioners' Court Work Session - Jun 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County IT said it can re‑enable the public records portal in seconds but the district attorney’s office has withheld clearance while legacy and expunged data are cleaned up; commissioners ordered department heads to convene a working meeting.","taxTitle","Lubbock County, Texas","taxId",2711,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514090,"Tax office reports sales‑tax gains from motor‑vehicle processing, seeks staff for dealer onboarding and program coordination",1305,5445000,6750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7&start=5445&end=6750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7/thumbnail_5445000.jpg","/articles/6514090/Lubbock-County/Texas/Tax-office-reports-salestax-gains-from-motorvehicle-processing-seeks-staff-for-dealer-onboarding-and-program-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514090-f407fcbbde32ecb310df7c3f92432f2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771024883&Signature=gMTkAGUFbgNTVH-~AOw3mOjYcc5MueOVJ1pYIB-BAdyyP3e-NSPmJy9NBEGd9V0ImGdYO-jKuRc2omcUZPrdr7qlol4jwT-yBL83H4AUvAd2Gcwd0q4NrbauydFxy5zUoFeovIuqkTBnzXHPw2RH0mTEzOp2fJUQuVsy~HJ5JMenk0gPDJnyUXbtDFkYc-DiKCAza34eKUpu7A8hUN3YbvfYTi3KOFnBVPfErRsnV26LqPfFB92PBJU3K-yEBhoixGjLfOVR38SdBYrzrtVgDD7PKK3-fCku37UtOJFiv00MMCSzwnvNlyy8TVdDPX7s~TEPtT~CXTOsOPhhfLTKkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ronnie (identified in the presentation as the tax office speaker) told the Lubbock County Commissioners Court in the June 2025 budget workshop that county efforts to process out‑of‑state vehicle transactions and to support local dealers on a state web system have increased county sales‑tax retention and created new operational demands.

The tax office described itself as the de‑facto help desk for roughly 300 local web dealers who must use the state’s dealer portal following a law passed in the prior legislative session, and it said the county plans to bring more dealers onto the system by the mandatory July 1 deadline. The office asked for a program coordinator to handle dealer training and troubleshooting, and for additional staff to process transactions and audits tied to dealer activity.

Ronnie said the county retains a 5% sales‑tax share on certain vehicle transactions and that the county’s sales tax retention rose materially year over year; he told commissioners the increased retention that the office documented in April contributed “almost $700,000 in additional revenue” compared with prior reporting. The tax office provided historical year‑to‑year sales tax figures showing increases and said that the growth pattern justified adding a coordinator to manage dealer onboarding and out‑of‑state processes.

The presenter also discussed the county’s role with the DPS driver‑license appointment program downtown. The tax office is taking appointments for renewals and other limited transactions; Ronnie said the program provides a public service and offsets some costs but does not fully cover staff time. The tax office continues to collect the state‑allowed $5 transaction retention for these services.

Commissioners asked about office space, staffing levels (the office said it was interviewing to fill two vacancies) and vehicle needs for field staff who inspect dealer inventories and audit registrations. Ronnie said the office can staff additional positions in current space and is pursuing a second county vehicle to support dealership visits and venue audits.

Why it matters: The tax office reported a clear revenue increase tied to new motor‑vehicle processing work and asked for staff to preserve and grow that revenue stream while continuing a state‑mandated role as a dealer support hub.

What remains open: Commissioners did not approve new permanent positions at the hearing; the tax office’s staffing requests will be considered as staff compiles the FY‑26 budget.

","Lubbock County Tax Office told commissioners it retained increased sales tax from motor vehicle transactions after a new dealer web system roll‑out, reported roughly $700,000 additional revenue year‑over‑year, and asked for staffing to handle dealer onboarding and transaction processing as state rules shift more activity to counties.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514094,"Justice of the Peace asks for COLA, clerk merit pay and modest technology funds",485,0,485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7&start=0&end=485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6514094/Lubbock-County/Texas/Justice-of-the-Peace-asks-for-COLA-clerk-merit-pay-and-modest-technology-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514094-8c213d83fd1fe1c4178b463561860634/orig.mp4?Expires=1771024883&Signature=TU2tqDjYgicrJm6xjYGF~z~K2E1vzV9Wc4Yp25ntPuN104PtVNtSJq4vNw9y2dhtwIm9~Qct8q749JVhkBwd3tGVRdCAgVRL4w~VmmpXf6aHkQiISnmeRZCYLbGXE4~UsjR4ncSKvvfhI6QOKzNLygNDWDC~GtR9LVP6PG36nlSOAXALmt682yZzYPjJ6XeOzB6eG4OGKVt9xhx1byKU9iSLSt7ldw32NcFC2546aXbuIUGfGx4DbbQmT2TzaSwvNY9fMDvRNWASEplFVJENg1pV50MjBeHRb6aTJn2b3h8~vaaaVu~AgdCFUBPbkLEW5KHrKq4meShvGYYgILwQ7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A justice of the peace (presented as a JP office speaker in the June 2025 Lubbock County budget workshop) asked the commissioners to include a cost‑of‑living adjustment for staff, merit raises for two clerks who stayed on through a recent transition, and modest technology and training dollars.

The presenter said civil case filings in the JP office have increased by about 30% and that the office is attempting to handle the workload without additional employees. Specific budget requests mentioned included a $1,500 technology line and $500 from the general fund for training, $550 for law‑book updates, and two blanket purchase orders (office supplies and data services). The speaker also asked for merit raises for two clerks who remained after the prior judge left and for funding to allow clerks to attend training conferences when possible.

Commissioners and staff asked follow‑up questions about whether hard‑copy law books were needed versus subscriptions and about the size of the office staff; the JP said the office has four clerks plus the judge and described staggered tenures (one clerk started full time in the most recent month, others with multiple years of service).

Why it matters: The JP budget request was modest and largely aimed at preserving routine office operations and training amid rising civil filings. The request also reinforced commissioners’ broader consideration of a countywide COLA and merit programs for employees.

What remains open: Commissioners did not take immediate formal action; the JP’s requests were entered as part of the departmental budget submissions to be considered in the overall FY‑26 budget process.

","During the June 2025 Lubbock County budget work session the justice of the peace outlined modest budget requests including a countywide COLA request, merit raises for two long‑serving clerks, technology subscriptions and law‑book updates tied to rising civil filings.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514099,"County prosecutor asks commissioners for three new positions and 6.5% attorney pay increase",776,1124000,1900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7&start=1124&end=1900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7/thumbnail_1124000.jpg","/articles/6514099/Lubbock-County/Texas/County-prosecutor-asks-commissioners-for-three-new-positions-and-65-attorney-pay-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514099-56d3d8fb93956805f0153191bc7a78c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771024883&Signature=gJbRX8kVokNxiyGGAeLjPJ~SvCwjZTWq8Nxp2~JLCJJ-GFX1IYo7sD0T3UM7zjkaEuKueViIc4jp1AYMb83~ZXozygbvFTlysyxV9-qUZOobHngA7SJRqIc580utXgQE~UoJKQOhdMIhrZtGpvSECBJWEhrlhXOo9~Vuzj58qZ~OHa0-I2kpM1xONB0jKTQI66FHP7wkMYNBYsaMIC4ei1361MJI5fMljsavG16Emh3AwrGLDZbouW9xJgLWmLXI9SIhoXijHOfUARcSMgB4-zRu0I-Klgta8EZwYD5ux4-~CveM3FIDMAcbRL151TQAHm2T2QsNqLfIwNpiOoos-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Stanek, the presenter for the county's criminal office, asked Lubbock County Commissioners Court during the June 2025 budget work session to approve three new positions and to consider a 6.5% pay increase for attorneys.

Stanek said recruitment and retention remain the office’s ‘‘continued issues,’’ noting that recent departures have outpaced hires. ‘‘Whenever the feds are ready to take 2 of them, they've offered them jobs and they're accepting, and one's going into private practice,’’ she said, describing how experienced staff are leaving for federal and private-sector positions.

She asked the court to fund: one legal assistant dedicated to the misdemeanor division (seven misdemeanor attorneys currently share a single legal assistant); one investigator assigned for courtroom and field work to increase safety and investigative capacity; and a third attorney for the appellate division, which has not had an additional appellate attorney since about 2008.

Stanek said the investigator role is intended to be a sworn, armed investigator who would do interviews, subpoenas and courtroom support—functions she said a security guard could not perform. She described the current investigator staffing model as a rotation of senior investigators that is “not ideal” and said adding one investigator assigned to the courthouse would reduce operational strain on investigators who now rotate across high‑priority dockets.

On compensation, Stanek asked for a 6.5% increase that would move a reported $80,000 entry pay toward roughly $85,000, citing statewide salary comparisons and Texas Tech graduate starting pay averages. She framed the increase as part of keeping the office competitive: ‘‘That 6.5% would take the $80,000 starting pay to 85,000, which would be more consistent with around the state,’’ Stanek said.

Stanek also asked the court to consider a county‑wide cost‑of‑living adjustment for all county employees and separately noted she would request merit raises for top performing staff in her office.

Commissioners asked how many investigators the office currently has and whether investigators could be reassigned rather than hiring new staff. Stanek replied the office has senior investigators who rotate to courtroom duties but emphasized that reassigning them reduces capacity for other essential investigative work; she said the ideal solution to preserve both court coverage and investigative capacity is an additional investigator.

Stanek also reviewed contract and professional services in her budget: she said contract services include two lab analysts at the DPS lab paid under a two‑year contract that prioritizes Lubbock County cases, and professional services account mainly for medical examiner costs and trial exhibits.

She told the court the office can house the proposed personnel within existing space but acknowledged some internal reorganization would be required if the new positions are approved.

Why it matters: The prosecutor’s office said turnover and the loss of mid‑career attorneys to federal and private jobs are creating recurring staffing gaps that affect case processing and courtroom safety. The requests combine personnel, compensation and operational changes aimed at stabilizing the office’s capacity to prosecute and manage higher caseloads.

What remains open: The commissioners did not vote on staffing or pay at the session. Stanek said the office will continue to provide data to the court and that the prosecutor’s budget will be considered alongside other departmental requests as the commission develops the FY‑26 budget.

","At a June 2025 Lubbock County budget work session, the county prosecutor outlined requests to add three staff members, arm and assign investigators to court coverage, and raise starting attorney pay by 6.5% to address turnover and recruitment challenges.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514082,"Juvenile probation reports higher state funding and rising felony referrals; asks for modest personnel changes and program grants",470,6790000,7260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7&start=6790&end=7260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065232-6d5f5946c9c43fb33bd952d2236dd4a7/thumbnail_6790000.jpg","/articles/6514082/Lubbock-County/Texas/Juvenile-probation-reports-higher-state-funding-and-rising-felony-referrals-asks-for-modest-personnel-changes-and-program-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514082-284f9d926e4690452dd9ebf5c91183f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771024883&Signature=Tn8FDhU-298-eVPjLcDTPeHwKeIAUnXMbFz0jMVt8hb8AG16E4XhQgrdFfVkPtAcGfLrd49xVHGUWPA-k~N~jSX-oVNzsrJeXBGz7a4r69-qssxxHCQQeKvKMAID~eec21CjbJskJBRpI4i3w28yzdJaizehH0gCOtbi9ux4A~X8mKDJWwxXyV-e4xpuGLTzZjt8kbH5YwlNSIr8uZAdPOMjkKB9FtMf~uCgGcTAXa4Ynfg-Vc70-VSLf6wWvoiJ7LuB8JENz~T9a8D-p-8Wk8pSD82qFtMFiwVU9jFv65XqGTbruDnCCkNVhi2xZhHSwskOY6iEXN1oGCbXeax4Fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The juvenile probation director detailed an FY‑26 budget request at the June 2025 Lubbock County budget work session, reporting increased state funding for probation staff and an upward trend in serious juvenile referrals.

The director said state investment over the past two legislative sessions has raised available funding for certified officers and this year’s state package expanded a 5% raise to include counselors as well as certified officers. The office reported the state will again fund a 5% raise for those positions for the coming period, a development the director described as materially helpful.

The office provided caseload figures for 2024: 1,351 total referrals, nearly 700 felony referrals and close to 500 ‘‘3G’’ referrals (aggravated offenses). The median or mean referral age has declined, the presenter said, with the average referral age 14 in 2024 compared with roughly 15.6 in prior years — suggesting younger juveniles are entering the system.

The juvenile office asked for minimal new recurring county personnel funding: a reclassification converting a temporary or part‑time role to full time and a modest salary increase; state funds were used this year for a vehicle and for certain costs tied to a metal detector purchase. The office also said it would pursue JET vocational grant opportunities and regionalization funding for drug‑treatment programming; a pending $1.2 million construction request for multiple occupancy space tied to a drug treatment program remains on legislative consideration lists.

Why it matters: Rising felony referrals and younger referral ages could increase demand for detention, treatment, and probation supervision; state funding that offsets salary costs affects how the county allocates its own general fund.

What remains open: The juvenile office will apply for grants and continue to track state funding commitments and the potential $1.2 million construction allocation; commissioners did not take immediate action at the hearing.

","The county juvenile probation director reported significant state funding increases for certified officers and counselors, described a rise in felony referrals and younger referral ages, and listed modest personnel conversions and grant efforts for vocational and treatment programming.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public records portal remains offline as IT and district attorney dispute legacy data; commissioners call for cross‑department meeting

Tax office reports sales‑tax gains from motor‑vehicle processing, seeks staff for dealer onboarding and program coordination

Justice of the Peace asks for COLA, clerk merit pay and modest technology funds

County prosecutor asks commissioners for three new positions and 6.5% attorney pay increase

Juvenile probation reports higher state funding and rising felony referrals; asks for modest personnel changes and program grants