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Atascosa County Moves Forward on Indigent Defense Grants and Approves Health Insurance Renewal
Summary
The commissioners authorized application resolutions for Texas Indigent Defense Commission grants — including a new mental-health-court defender position — and approved the county health insurance renewal with a 1.7% rate increase for 2025–26.
The Atascosa County Commissioners on Monday authorized resolutions to apply for 2026 grant funds through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) to improve indigent defense services and to fund a position to support newly created mental health courts. The court also approved the county’s 2025–26 employee health insurance renewal through the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) with a 1.7% rate increase.
Auditor Tracy Barrera presented the TIDC indigent defense improvement resolution, noting the county files the resolution annually as part of the grant application process and requesting authorization for the County Judge to sign. The court approved the resolution by motion. Barrera and other staff then presented a second, related resolution for a TIDC grant to fund a defender position dedicated to mental health court services; the court approved that resolution as well. Commissioners asked whether the grant would create a new position; staff replied that the grant would cover the position.
On health insurance, Barrera reported the plan coverage period runs Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026, and that the county’s increase for the plan year is 1.7% (compared with 1.8% the prior year). Commissioner remarks commended TAC’s work securing a modest increase. The court authorized County Judge Weld to sign the renewal agreement.
Discussion vs. decision: staff presented the grant resolutions and the insurance renewal for court approval; the court approved all by motion and voice vote. The mental-health-court grant was described as a source that will fund a new position tied to those court services.
Speakers in this item included Auditor Tracy Barrera and County Judge Weld; motions were made and seconded by commissioners and carried without recorded opposition.
