Liberty County approves vendor work to finish GIS voting maps, raises poll worker pay and readies primary contracts
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Summary
Commissioners voted to fund a $10,500 vendor job to finish county GIS voting overlays with the auditor supplying up‑front funds and the voter registrar pledging to seek partial reimbursement from chapter 19 funds; the court also raised poll worker pay to $15/hour and authorized joint‑primary contracts.
Liberty County Commissioners on Dec. 16 approved a $10,500 contract with International Computer Works to complete GIS mapping and voting overlays that county election staff say will reduce ballot‑style complexity ahead of the March 2026 primary. The auditor’s office will advance the full $10,500 and the voter registrar told the court she can certify and seek reimbursement for roughly half of that cost from chapter 19 funds if the Texas Secretary of State agrees.
The vendor quote is intended to finish street numbering and build overlays for every voting jurisdiction — justice of the peace, commissioner, school district, city and special districts — that county staff have been building in‑house since the county acquired the software in 2021. The voter registrar said earlier purchases and reactivation work bring the county’s total investment to more than $70,000 and described the remaining work as a year‑round maintenance effort; she told the court she could “commit to 50%” of the vendor fee if the state approves reimbursement.
The matter prompted questions about budget authority and timing. Commissioners voted to proceed after a motion from Commissioner Bruce that the auditor provide up‑front funds and the registrar pursue the chapter 19 reimbursement process.
On related election items, the court unanimously approved increasing poll worker pay from $12 to $15 an hour for the 2026 elections, citing neighboring counties’ rates and recruitment concerns. Commissioners also authorized the county clerk, as election official, to finalize and sign standard secretary‑of‑state contracts with the county Republican and Democratic parties to conduct the joint primary once polling locations and final language are confirmed.
County staff told the court the GIS work will not prevent mailings or basic election functions if delayed; it is intended to speed precinct assignments and reduce duplicate ballot styles. The voter registrar said the office currently has about $10,100 in its chapter 19 allocation and that any reimbursement will follow the state’s certification process.
The court’s actions put election offices on a path to finish technical mapping updates before candidate filing and the March primary, while increasing pay to help the county recruit poll workers for next year’s elections.
