Trinity County court authorizes negotiation with tax office over small past-due invoices

Trinity County Commissioners Court on Thursday discussed a small past-due balance flagged by the tax office and voted to authorize county leadership to negotiate a payment plan.

During discussion of agenda item 12, Speaker 2 said the county received notice of a $660.96 past-due balance and a separate $1,181.55 shorted payment from October 2024. Speaker 2 described a plan to allocate outstanding invoices to departments so accounts payable can enter them and issue checks, and recommended paying two months plus the current month while the county awaits regular property-tax cash flow.

Speaker 3 moved that court leadership — specifically Bonnie and the judge — contact the tax office to arrange a payment schedule; Speaker 4 seconded the motion. The court approved the motion by voice vote and directed the judge and county staff to report back with the tax office's response and any required follow-up.

The court did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote. The county did not set specific dates for payments during the meeting but Speaker 2 said paying May and June would amount to about $183,000 if the court chose to proceed immediately. Speaker 2 and other participants noted much of the funds currently available are restricted special funds (including FEMA-related funds) and cannot be used for general obligations without proper transfer or designation.

The court's action was procedural: staff were authorized to negotiate with the tax office and return with details rather than approving a single lump-sum payment at the meeting.