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Treasurer warns of GovPay glitches after duplicate refunds leave county and courts scrambling
Summary
Hays County Treasurer Daphne Tenorio told commissioners that GovPay errors since late October have caused duplicate refunds, unreconciled returns and at least tens of thousands in shortfalls for county offices; the court directed staff to pursue contract remedies and temporary alternatives.
Hays County Treasurer Daphne Tenorio told the Commissioners Court on Jan. 13 that problems with the GovPay credit‑card processor have produced duplicate refunds, failed settlements and unreconciled transactions affecting tax offices and justice courts across the county.
"October 28 is where the story begins with GovPay," Tenorio said, describing reports that refunds and settlements did not process and that a third‑party processor made unexplained refunds to random cardholders. She said the treasurer temporarily asked offices to stop using GovPay and later allowed limited reinstatement after initial fixes; December transactions remain unresolved.
Tax Assessor‑Collector Jennifer Escobar told the court the tax office is out about $42,000 related to December processing problems and has asked GovPay and the vendor for documentation to support refunds. Theresa Cruz, assistant tax assessor‑collector, described online payments that "spin" and fail; court staff said the county must reverse posted transactions and recontact taxpayers before reconciling with state reporting.
Justice of the peace offices reported duplicate refunds and negative account balances; Judge Sandra Bridal said one precinct experienced more than $8,000 in affected transactions and asked for county letters that residents could use with banks. Tenorio recommended offices cease using GovPay and transition to Certified Payments or other processors while procurement and legal review proceed.
County Auditor Marisol Villareal Alonso warned the court that unreconciled transactions look like shortages in official reports and said reversing incorrect court transactions is necessary to avoid reporting false revenue to the state. First Assistant Jordan Pelsall told the court termination of the 2009 contract is an option, with a 30‑day notice; procurement and legal staff will evaluate stop‑work alternatives and possible contract claims.
Commissioners discussed technical limits on immediately disabling online GovPay links, the statutory timing that governs payments to other taxing entities, and the tradeoffs of shutting off online convenience during a high‑volume collection season. The court directed staff from the treasurer, tax assessor, procurement, legal and the auditor to report back with options, to draft county‑issued notices for affected citizens and to pursue procurement of alternate solutions.
No formal remediation outcome was finalized at the meeting; staff said written communications from GovPay are pending and that the county would continue to update the court and the public as reconciliations proceed.
