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Hays County approves $50,000 one-time support for food bank and amends language to cover generator purchase
Summary
The Commissioners Court approved a $50,000 one‑time amendment to the county's FY2026 social services contract with the Hays County Food Bank; the item was amended to specify use of tobacco settlement funds and to allow the money to help purchase a backup generator to protect stored food during outages.
Hays County's Commissioners Court voted to add a one‑time $50,000 allocation to the Hays County Food Bank's FY2026 social services contract to help respond to heightened need after the temporary federal SNAP interruption. The item was amended during debate so the funds would come from the county's tobacco settlement fund and to clarify that the money could assist with the capital purchase of a backup generator at the food bank facility.
Why it matters: Lisa Young, executive director of the Hays County Food Bank, told the court the organization has more than doubled distributions in recent weeks and has purchased extra food and staff capacity to meet the demand. She said the food bank has stockpiled meat and other perishable supplies and that a prolonged outage would jeopardize those reserves. Young estimated the generator cost at about $100,000 and said two community partners had pledged roughly half the cost; the $50,000 county contribution would allow the project to proceed.
Young said, “If that freezer and cooler goes out ... we will lose that three months' worth of food that I have hoarded, quite frankly. ... Added to your $50,000 if you so choose, we will combine and we will go ahead and have that generator built.”
Discussion: Commissioners questioned whether the request was an operating backfill or a capital facility expense; staff clarified the agenda was posted before SNAP benefits were reinstated, but that demand remained high. County budget staff said the funds would come from the tobacco settlement fund, not the general fund. Commissioners pressed for clarity about ongoing costs and whether the request was truly one‑time; the food bank said it has savings and investments but that inflation and urgent need had depleted reserves.
Outcome: The court amended section language to identify the purchase as assistance for a one‑time capital acquisition (generator) and approved the contract amendment unanimously. The food bank plans to combine the county funds with community donations to proceed with the generator purchase and to continue expanded distributions.
