The Jim Wells County Commissioners Court voted on Sept. 5 to transfer $300,000 from the county's relief‑route fund to pay for rock and oil materials for precinct road work. The court directed that the funds be allocated to precincts by percentage rather than equal shares.

County Judge and commissioners said the relief‑route fund currently holds roughly $600,000 and that a $300,000 allocation would provide immediate materials funding while preserving the remainder for future needs or larger reconstruction projects. The judge presented a percentage allocation proposal in the meeting (example percentages discussed were 16% for one precinct, 30% for another, 34% for a third and 19% for a fourth), and the court approved the $300,000 allocation with the instruction that the auditors' office track the expenditures and that the money be used only for rock and oil materials.

Why it matters: Road and bridge needs were a recurring theme in the budget workshop; commissioners said sealcoat and reconstruction needs differ across precincts. The $300,000 is intended as an immediate, one‑time relief to buy material for maintenance or short‑term repairs rather than a full reconstruction program.

Outcome and restrictions
- Approved: transfer of $300,000 from the relief‑route fund for rock and oil materials.
- Direction: allocate amounts to precincts by agreed percentages; restrict use to materials only (rock and oil). Auditors will track allocations and spending. The court recorded the motion and voice vote as "motion carries."

Context
Commissioners debated whether equal distribution would be fair because precincts have varying needs — some require full reconstruction while others needed only sealcoating — and multiple commissioners argued for putting funds where the need is greatest. The judge and some commissioners urged that the $300,000 is a small but useful start and that larger reconstruction will require state or federal funds.

Attribution: Direct quotations in this article are from statements made by the County Judge during the Sept. 5 meeting; other attributions are summarized from the discussion among commissioners and county staff.