Court restores Precinct 1 and 2 budgets and staff after emergency executive session

After a brief executive session, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to amend the fiscal year 2026 budgets for Precincts 1 and 2 to restore items to levels previously proposed on the September 16, 2025 agenda.

Judge Tim O'Hare moved to restore the number of full-time employee positions in the precinct administration offices to five each and to return salaries and travel budgets for Precincts 1 and 2 to the amounts shown in the September 16 proposed budgets. The motion also restored positions identified by the Commissioner of Precinct 1 to be transferred to the road and bridge department; during the motion the court clarified the number as 16 positions (previously referenced as 12).

Public reaction and context: The amendment followed public criticism of an earlier court action that had reduced staff and budgets for Precincts 1 and 2. Several public speakers characterized the prior reductions as retaliatory and said they would have harmed residents — including reduced road maintenance, slower responses to constituent needs and diminished access to local services. "Breaking quorum to force budget changes that harm residents was unfair," several speakers said during public comment. Commissioners described the amendment as a restoration of previously proposed budget levels.

Votes and related motions: The primary motion to restore the budgets passed 4 to 0. An amendment proposed on the floor to add 15 additional full-time positions to the Precinct 2 Road and Bridge team failed for lack of a second; the court then voted on the original restoration motion.

Next steps: The Justice and Budget offices will implement the restorations as directed and update payroll and vacancy lists. The court concluded the item and proceeded to appointments later in the agenda.