Granbury asks Hood County to press DA after forensic audit; commissioners request formal response
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Summary
The City of Granbury and residents pressed the court to seek action after a forensic audit of the Hood County Appraisal District alleged millions were moved to unbudgeted accounts; the court unanimously requested a formal written response from the District Attorney about investigation plans.
Mayor Jim Jarrett and several residents urged the Hood County Commissioners Court to press the elected District Attorney for a clear plan after a forensic audit of the Hood County Appraisal District (HCAD) identified alleged misallocations.
Jarrett summarized the forensic-audit findings presented to the court: he said auditors found more than $3.3 million moved into unbudgeted accounts, including roughly $887,000 shifted into a retirement account and approximately $2.4 million moved to a building fund that was not approved by taxing entities; he noted about $1.9 million had been returned previously but an alleged $1.3 million remains to be accounted for. "The City of Granbury is requesting the assistance of the Hood County Commissioners Court in the recovery of $1,300,000 of city and county taxpayer funds," Jarrett said.
Speakers with law-enforcement and auditing backgrounds urged faster action. Retired federal agent Mark Lowry told commissioners he viewed the forensic findings as criminal in nature and recommended the court use its influence with the DA’s office, the district judge or the attorney general to advance the probe. Tim Bolton, who reviewed audit materials and Texas tax-code sections, urged the court to request the DA’s planned steps for investigating alleged wrongdoing by current and former HCAD board members and chief appraisers.
Commissioner Eagle moved that the court send a formal written request to the Hood County District Attorney asking whether he intends to investigate the HCAD matters; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously 5–0. County officials said the DA’s office and the sheriff’s office have handled parts of the inquiry and that the DA is seeking a fraud expert to review the forensic audit.
What the motion requires
- The county clerk and administration will prepare and transmit a formal letter to the Hood County District Attorney requesting a written response on whether and how his office plans to investigate the forensic-audit findings. - The court also discussed referrals to grand jury or district court or asking state authorities (Attorney General) or Texas Rangers if appropriate; no referral motion was made at this meeting.
Why it matters
The forensic-audit allegations — monetary transfers to unbudgeted accounts, formation of a corporate entity connected to HCAD projects, and significant budget adjustments — implicate multiple taxing entities in the county and could affect school districts and municipal budgets if the funds are determined to have been misallocated. Commissioners voted to request the DA’s response, signaling unified local concern and a desire for definitive prosecutorial or investigative action.
Next steps
County staff will prepare the formal written request to the DA and report back to the court when the DA responds. Mayor Jarrett indicated that additional financial documentation and audit materials would be supplied to support any further inquiries.
