Commissioner Proposes Policy to Hold Officials Accountable for Legal Liabilities

The Collin County Commissioners Court convened on August 25, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including discussions on policy enforcement and election equipment updates.

The meeting began with a request for clarification regarding the agenda, specifically concerning restrictions on funds and compliance with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). This led to a broader discussion initiated by a commissioner who proposed the development of a new policy aimed at holding department heads and elected officials accountable for not adhering to recommendations from Human Resources (HR) and Information Technology (IT). The commissioner expressed concern over the financial implications of these non-compliance issues, suggesting that the county should seek to recoup attorney fees and damages from the budgets of those responsible. The court agreed to have administrative services draft a proposed policy for legal review and future consideration.

Following this discussion, the court revisited agenda items related to election processes. The elections administrator provided an update on equipment capabilities, confirming that the current voting equipment could capture voters' ink signatures on labels without additional costs. This enhancement is part of a transition to a ballot-on-demand system, which aims to improve the voting experience by ensuring accuracy and verification of ballots. The court discussed the implementation of a double-check system involving printed tickets to verify voter information, which was well-received by the members.

After thorough discussions, the court moved to approve the proposed changes to the election process, ensuring that the necessary adjustments would be made to the contract language to reflect the new procedures. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded with the court adjourning and transitioning to a health care foundation meeting, where a consent agenda was also approved without opposition. Overall, the session highlighted the court's commitment to improving accountability and efficiency in county operations, particularly in the areas of policy enforcement and election management.