Commissioners approve federal asset‑forfeiture spending plan; staff caution about budgeting and HR impacts
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Summary
The commissioners approved a request authorizing federal asset‑forfeiture expenditures by the district attorney’s office, while county staff warned about the limits on using those funds in regular budget deliberations and the need for HR coordination.
Bexar County commissioners approved a request allowing the district attorney’s office to make federal asset‑forfeiture expenditures similar to prior practice, but county staff and several commissioners raised questions about how such funds interact with county budgeting and personnel processes.
Janice DeJarmon, chief administrative attorney for the district attorney’s office, appeared for the item. Commissioners questioned whether asset‑forfeiture categories listed in the submission had been included in the regular budget and asked how many positions are funded fully or partially from forfeiture funds.
County staff responded that state law prohibits consideration of asset‑forfeiture funds during the formal budget deliberations; such funds are treated separately and the DA’s office has discretion to use them within statutory constraints. Staff noted that three positions are fully funded through state asset‑forfeiture funds and additional roles receive partial supplementation under related programs.
Commissioner Moody requested increased coordination between the DA’s office, county HR and budget staff to ensure salary supplements or other personnel actions funded by asset forfeiture funds do not create long‑term obligations the county did not intend to assume. The court approved the item by voice vote.