San Patricio County approves SB 293 salary supplements, $41,600 contingency transfer; OKs truck purchase and fee changes

San Patricio County Commissioners Court on Monday approved county payments of salary supplements required by Senate Bill 293 and authorized a $41,600.98 transfer from the county contingency fund to pay the county portion of those increases from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, with the commissioners expecting state reimbursement in January.

The action implements pay changes listed in the bill for multiple judges and county officers and was followed by a package of routine financial and operational approvals, including the purchase of a Peterbilt 548 dump truck for Road and Bridge Precinct 3 and new sheriff and constable fees including a squatter-removal fee.

The county’s list of salary adjustments approved under the action cites effective dates of Sept. 1, 2025, and specific monthly amounts for named judges and officers. Patrick (county staff) summarized the change as tied to state action: “What we—re doing here is, due to the passing of SB 2 93 in the 80 ninth legislature, we—re getting these so what the salaries here are the, revised or not revised, but the increased salaries.” The court voted to approve the payments after a motion by Commissioner Ruben Gonzales and a second from Commissioner Gillespie; the motion carried.

Why it matters: the court must temporarily cover the county share of legislatively required salary increases and then expects a state reimbursement that will restore contingency funds. The transfer approved Monday moves $41,600.98 from contingency into the departments and accounts that will pay the supplemental amounts from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. A commissioner asked whether the county will be reimbursed; the court response was that the reimbursement is expected Jan. 1.

Votes at a glance

- County portion of salary supplements required by SB 293: Approved. Motion by Commissioner Ruben Gonzales; second by Commissioner Gillespie. Items listed by the court included supplements or salary amounts effective 09/01/2025 for: 36th District Judge Star Bauer (juvenile board supplement $158.33/month in the transcript), District Judge Patrick L. Flanagan (juvenile board supplement $1,158.33/month), 340th Third District Judge Hannah Whatley (juvenile board supplement $1,158.33/month), County Court-at-Law Judge Elizabeth Wilburn (county salary $9,591.67/month and juvenile board supplement $1,158.33/month), County Court-at-Law Judge Vicki Martino (county salary $6,675/month and juvenile board supplement $1,158.33/month), County Judge David Krebs (juvenile board supplement $1,158.33/month), and County Attorney Tamara Cochran May (county salary $8,750/month). The court approved these payments and related implementation steps as presented in the agenda text.

- Transfer from contingency to fund county portion of supplements (09/01/2025–12/31/2025): Approved. Amount $41,600.98. Motion carried. The court stated it expects reimbursement effective Jan. 1.

- Increase in county supplement for District Attorney Margie Silvik ($1,158.33/month effective 09/01/2025): Approved. Motion and second recorded; motion carried.

- Purchase of Peterbilt 548 dump truck for Road & Bridge Precinct 3: Approved. Purchase price shown on the agenda: $185,977; motion to approve carried (mover recorded as Commissioner Ruben Gonzales). The truck was listed as compliant with BuyBoard contract number 723-23.

- Declared scrap metal at Precinct 3 yard surplus for recycling (per Local Government Code §262.152); proceeds to be deposited in the county treasury: Approved.

- Sheriff and constable fees for fiscal year 2026, including a squatter-removal fee: Approved. The court approved a squatter-removal fee of $200 and an additional charge of $50 per hour per officer/deputy for work that takes more than two hours, as described during the discussion. A motion to approve the fees (including the constables— proposed sheet and a requested amendment to add the squatter fee language) carried.

- Treasurer—s bank reconciliation and reports: Accepted. Treasurer (Miss Garcia) reported, “This week's health transfer is $88,600 Our section 1 25 total is $1,886.86,” and the court accepted the report by motion.

What the court discussed and clarified

- County staff said the temporary funding is being advanced to meet state minimums required by the legislation and that the county expects state reimbursement, which will restore contingency. A commissioner asked for confirmation that the county will be reimbursed; the court indicated reimbursement should arrive Jan. 1.

- The sheriff and constables revised their fee schedule in light of recent legislative changes that commissioners said increase workload; the court discussed consistency across offices and asked that the revised fee sheet be entered into the minutes so the treasurer has the official version.

- The county auditor—s office requested that scrap metal be declared surplus and handled through local recycling; proceeds will be turned over to the treasurer.

Details and clarifications recorded in the meeting

- Transfer amount to fund salary supplements: $41,600.98 (from contingency to departments/accounts to cover 09/01/2025–12/31/2025). The court stated the funds will be reimbursed to contingency after state reimbursement.

- Peterbilt 548 dump truck price on the agenda: $185,977 (Precinct 3, Road & Bridge).

- Squatter-removal fee: $200 (transcript language), plus an additional $50 per hour per officer/deputy for work exceeding two hours.

- Treasurer's reported figures: health transfer $88,600; section 125 total $1,886.86; asserted claims $336.63; escrow totals $1,254.75.

Speakers quoted or explicitly identified in the transcript

"What we're doing here is, due to the passing of SB 2 93 in the 80 ninth legislature, we're getting these so what the salaries here are the, revised or not revised, but the increased salaries." — Patrick (county staff), explaining the SB 293-driven changes.

"This week's health transfer is $88,600 Our section 1 25 total is $1,886.86." — Miss Garcia (county treasurer), reporting the bank reconciliation.

Meeting context and next steps

The court completed its regular business, approved routine budget and claims items, and adjourned at 9:18 a.m. The court scheduled a public hearing on Oct. 13, 2025, regarding establishing a speed limit on County Road 1876 in Precinct 3. The county intends to enter the revised fee schedules and the scrap-metal surplus documentation into the official minutes so the treasurer and other offices have the formal records.

The court recorded motions and carried votes for all items summarized above; no recorded nay votes or roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript excerpt.