Budget workshop draws public calls to expand public defense and social services; county budget officer outlines ARPA and timing constraints

Hays County held a budget workshop at 11 a.m. that included public comment urging increased investment in the public defender’s office, community reentry, rental assistance, workforce development and county social services.

Pastor Jeff Thompson, speaking for Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families, said countywide growth “has a price” and urged the court to budget more for public defense, reentry services, workforce development and social programs. Eric Martinez, executive director of Mano Amiga, asked the court to “fully fund several key areas” including the public defender’s office, the county health department and nonprofits that provide housing supports.

A budget assessment presentation delivered to the court and referenced by speakers — prepared as a pilot by outside partners — found gaps in transparency and engagement; speaker Alyssa Garza said the assessment scored Hays County 14 out of 85 on the pilot’s metrics and urged plain-language materials, translations and better tracking of community feedback.

Budget officer Vicky Dorsett outlined how the county has used ARPA funds and other special revenues: she told the court that of roughly $44 million in ARPA funds, at least $34 million was directed to judicial or community programs and that the court has increased judicial services budgets 72% from FY 2023 to the FY 2026 recommended budget when including all available funds. Dorsett also explained why the recommended budget materials were posted late in the week: Hays County received certified property values on July 25 and staff used those figures to balance the FY 2026 recommended budget; she said the short window required several long workdays to finalize supporting documents.

Commissioners and staff noted additional workshops and hearings are scheduled to allow public comment: the court listed follow-up budget workshops and public hearings on the schedule, and Dorsett said the formal public hearing and vote on a proposed budget and tax rate will occur after those workshops. Several commissioners expressed interest in folding judicial services, pretrial work, the public defender’s office and reentry programs into a coordinated criminal justice strategy rather than individual, siloed efforts.

The workshop closed after additional brief public comments from residents urging investment in social services and reentry supports. County staff encouraged written feedback and noted the budget calendar is posted on the county website.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this report are identified in the meeting record. No budget vote occurred during the workshop; the court scheduled additional workshops and a public hearing as described above.