HUNT COUNTY, Texas — The county’s senior center requested increased funding for transportation and meal services at the July 18 special session, asking commissioners to add approximately $131,718 for the next budget year. Commissioners said they sympathize but raised questions about where the county should prioritize limited funds.

Why it matters: The senior center provides meals and transportation to older residents. A significant increase in county support would add recurring costs to the county’s budget during a year commissioners said already faces heavy demands for public safety, health and contract increases.

County documents shown to the court list $65,859 for transportation and $65,859 for food, which the presenter described as an aggregate request of about $131,718. Commissioners and staff noted the county budgeted roughly $59,000 for the program last year and added a $19,000 one‑time payment in the most recent year to help with milk and other shortfalls. Commissioners discussed possibly splitting the difference rather than approving the full request, and stressed they must weigh the senior center’s appeal against demands from the sheriff’s office, health department and other county obligations.

No appropriation was made at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to include the senior center’s request in the consolidated preliminary packet so it could be modeled alongside other requests and the baseline 3% pay adjustment.

The court did not identify alternate specific funding sources at the meeting; commissioners noted the center is pursuing fundraisers and seeking state or federal restoration of previously cut funding but said no confirmed external funding had been identified during the session.