The Jim Wells County Commissioners Court on Sept. 12 approved a renewed memorandum of understanding under which the county will assign a deputy to the Ben Bolt–Palito Blanco Independent School District in exchange for a flat reimbursement of $46,000 for the school year.

Sheriff Joseph Godbaker (presented in the transcript) told the court the contract mirrors prior agreements and that the rate was updated to reflect higher salaries and associated costs; the sheriff’s office will continue to provide the vehicle, fuel, maintenance and required training. The district already approved the contract contingent on court approval.

During discussion commissioners noted a typographic error in the contract dates: the agreement’s end date should read June 15, 2026, not June 15, 2025. The court amended the term to end June 15, 2026 and approved the MOU, with the county to receive quarterly reimbursements from the district.

Ending: The MOU was approved with the corrected 2026 end date; the sheriff’s office will provide the deputy and related support while the district reimburses the county quarterly.