Judge directs removal of proposed 5% PDO raise; Atascosa County to present budget without increase

Atascosa County’s budget officer directed staff Sept. 8 to present the draft 2026 budget without a proposed 5% pay increase for attorneys in the Regional Public Defender’s Office (PDO), a change that commissioners discussed during a budget workshop.

The PDO request was presented by county staff as a 5% across‑the‑board increase intended to cover prior and current adjustments. Miss Barrera, who briefed the court, said the PDO grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) is administered by Atascosa County and “it is Atascosa County’s grant. If Atascosa County does not or does approve something, then that is what goes down to each county that has signed their agreement.”

County Attorney Molly Solis reviewed the 2022 interlocal agreement and told the court that the four participating counties delegated administrative‑grantee authority to Atascosa County. “They’ve delegated their authority for approving the operating budget, operating the program to Atascosa,” Solis said, adding that the counties pay a percentage of the PDO budget based on caseload and that whatever budget Atascosa approves is the budget allocated to the partner counties.

The County Judge told the court he was not in favor of including the 5% increase in the draft the judge will present to the commissioners; he directed staff to bring the budget back without the PDO increase so the court can legally vote on any change at…