Cleburne County Quorum Court adopts ordinance creating New Jail Construction Fund

The Cleburne County Quorum Court voted unanimously on March 12 to amend the county’s 2026 budget and create a New Jail Construction Fund, passing Ordinance 2026-04.

JP Evans introduced the ordinance as "AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2025-23 WHICH ADOPTED THE BUDGET FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2026 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," and moved for its adoption. JP Malone seconded the motion. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from JPs Baugh, Beavers, Evans, Fletcher, Foust, Henegar, Malone, Martin, McClung and Tamburo; there were no nays. The ordinance was recorded as Ordinance 2026-04.

The action follows a Jail Committee update delivered earlier in the meeting. JP Evans reported that SouthBuild has begun the contracted work for the county’s jail project and that the county has received the first bill related to that work. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for March 31; SouthBuild is expected to attend.

County Judge Eric Crosby presided over the session. Committee and budget scheduling discussed elsewhere in the meeting indicated the Budget Committee will compare anticipated and actual 2025 numbers with the Livestock Association at a rescheduled meeting on March 27.

The ordinance amends the county budget ordinance for 2026 to establish a dedicated fund for jail construction; the transcript records the ordinance title and the unanimous vote but does not specify the exact appropriation amounts or funding sources. Those financial details were not specified in the March 12 record.

The court’s next regular session is scheduled for April 9, 2026, according to County Clerk Sherry Logan.