Commissioners ratify retroactive auditor overtime after questioning of unauthorized payments

Gregg County commissioners on Tuesday voted to ratify a retroactive budget transfer that moves funds into an overtime line in the auditor’s office, after several commissioners pressed for answers about payments already made without prior court authorization.

The auditor told the court the transfer would move existing funds from salary lag, accrued leave and professional fees into an overtime line to reflect extra hours staff worked during a work‑day project roll out and to ensure funding for an upcoming retirement. The auditor said the payments had already been made and the transfer is an internal reallocation to cover the expenditure.

Commissioner McKinney and other commissioners questioned why overtime was paid for several months without an overtime line item in the auditor’s budget. One commissioner noted the court had paid three employees “about $10,587.37 in overtime” over five months and called the timing of the agenda item concerning because the transfer could be seen as condoning prior unauthorized payments.

The auditor said the overtime resulted from vacancies that required key staff to work additional hours and that the office was monitoring hours closely. The auditor described the payments as compliant with the handbook policy that allows overtime when comp time accrual thresholds are met.

After discussion, a motion to approve the transfer — and to require proper authorization for future overtime — was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The court’s action ratifies the internal budget transfer; commissioners directed departments to obtain prior authorization before committing to future overtime. The transfer was approved by voice vote and the item passed.