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Commissioners approve temporary funding for a lead attorney position after state legal request
Summary
The court approved funding, drawn from unspent salary dollars, to provide 8.3 pay periods (total $39,430.57) for a new lead attorney in the county attorney's office to meet a near-term document-production deadline from the Texas Office of the Attorney General; commissioners recorded a 4-0 vote.
Williamson County Commissioners on June 3 approved temporary funding to cover 8.3 pay periods for a lead attorney position in the county attorney's office, a measure the commissioners said is intended to meet an information request from the Texas Office of the Attorney General.
The court's packet shows the requested amount is $39,430.57 for the remainder of the budget year. During the public hearing earlier in the meeting, several residents criticized the request and the prospect of adding staff. "They're gonna send the SWAT team to your house and shoot you right between the eyes," said Jim Dillon during public comment, remarks the court's presiding officer asked to remain on topic.
County staff said the funding will be taken from unspent salary dollars and does not require an additional appropriation. County officials described the request as a short-term measure driven by an external mandate from the attorney general's office and said the commissioners could revisit the position as part of the regular budget process. "This would come out of unspent salary dollars, and so no additional budget requirement," a court official said while reading the item background during the hearing.
Commissioner Covey moved to approve the item and Commissioner Cook seconded; the court recorded the vote as 4-0 in favor. Commissioners discussed the contingency that if litigation or a state stay affects the underlying matter, the position could be addressed during the county's budget cycle.
Ending: The position funding will be covered from unspent salary dollars, and county officials said they will evaluate ongoing needs in the regular budget process.
