Rockwall County commissioners clear multiple budget adjustments, approve part-time deputy constable and fund sheriff remodel gap

Rockwall County Commissioners Court met Aug. 28 in a special budget session at the Historic Courthouse and approved a set of draft budget amendments, voted to fund a part‑time deputy constable program, and agreed to move additional fund balance toward finishing the sheriff’s office remodel while leaving several larger capital decisions for later.

The court approved multiple line‑item adjustments — including increases for CivicPlus consulting and CivicPlus ADA compliance work, software increases and maintenance agreement changes, and a solar surveillance grant adjustment — and voted 5‑0 to transfer additional fund balance into the sheriff’s remodel to reduce the remaining funding gap.

Auditor’s updates and why it matters

Melissa, an auditor’s office staff member who prepared updated sheets for the meeting, told the court she had adjusted the draft to reflect actions taken earlier in the week and that a number of maintenance‑agreement amounts remain pending final invoices. That updated accounting formed the basis for the votes that followed.

The court’s actions trimmed several planned expenditures, added specific software and consulting increments, and used available fund balance and reserves to reduce borrowing needs for the large sheriff’s remodel project. Commissioner Lorne Lichty framed that decision as finishing a project voters approved by bond: “we promised the voters a remodeled sheriff’s office,” he said, urging the court to fund completion.

What the court approved

- A consolidated motion by Commissioner Stacy (seconded by Commissioner Gallano) approved increases for CivicPlus consulting and training, an increase requested by the county treasurer for data software, and changes to several maintenance and software subscription lines (motion passed 5‑0). The court recorded the items together on the auditor’s revision sheet.

- The court approved the solar surveillance trailer grant adjustment, which…