Van Zandt County commissioners authorized an amendment to the contract with L3Harris to reflect actual purchases of terminal equipment (radios and accessories) and to adjust the total contract price downward.

County staff said the original contract was $6,506,434 and that because some partner agencies (fire departments, ESDs and cities) bought their own radios and the county bought different quantities of some equipment, the total contract amount will be reduced to $6,159,240. The court heard that the roughly $600,000 reduction will not be returned to a general fund but instead used to offset future maintenance costs under the long-term maintenance arrangement the county is negotiating (15 years of maintenance were mentioned).

The amendment was described as an administrative cleanup to reconcile purchases and scope changes made during implementation of the countys radio system. The court approved the motion to authorize the county to sign the amendment reflecting purchases and the adjusted total contract price.

Commissioners said the modification will simplify accounting and allow negotiation of a reduced future maintenance liability. The motion passed on a recorded vocal affirmation.