Brewster County commissioners approve election order, seek new auditor and set budget and tax-rate hearings

Brewster County Commissioners Court on Aug. 13 approved a series of administrative and financial items, including an Order of Election for the November general election, a request for qualifications for a new outside auditor and scheduling public hearings on the county's FY2025 budget and the proposed 2024 tax rate.

County Judge Greg P. Henington opened the meeting at 9:32 a.m. in the Brewster County Courthouse chamber in Alpine and led the invocation and pledges. The court unanimously approved minutes from its July 23 and July 30 meetings (motion by Commissioner Ruben Ortega, seconded by Commissioner Sara Colando, vote 5-0).

Mary Bell Lockhart, chair of the Brewster County Democratic Party, and Monica McBride, chair of the Brewster County Republican Party, presented the Order of Election and a slate of election and alternate judges for the term Sept. 1, 2024, through Aug. 31, 2025. Commissioner Ortega moved to approve the Order of Election and the judges; both motions passed 5-0.

Judge Henington told the court that the county is evaluating replacing its current accounting software, NetData, with AcuView and that a final decision will be placed on the September agenda.

The court voted 5-0 to issue a request for qualifications and proposals for outside audit services after Judge Henington described difficulties with the county's current auditor, GRP, citing delays completing the FY2021 audit and GRP's statement that it would not continue the FY2022 audit until February 2025. Commissioner Mo…