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Commissioners approve budget amendment to reflect Senate Bill 22 funds after auditor correction
Summary
Karnes County Commissioners approved a budget amendment to move positions and related costs into Fund 196 to align with expected Senate Bill 22 grant receipts, after an auditor-corrected overage. Commissioners emphasized positions will not be filled unless grant funds are received.
KARNES COUNTY — The Karnes County Commissioners Court voted to amend the county budget to reflect anticipated funding from Senate Bill 22, approving a transfer that staff said will be adjusted to match the $175,000 expected grant.
Commissioner Beatatric introduced the item, saying she had been trying to understand why the supplemental positions and related costs were not included in Fund 196 when the budget was adopted and requested clarification from staff and the auditor. County staff explained they were told SB22 funds were coming and were asked how they wanted to use the money; the positions were placed as grant-funded roles tied to the prosecutor's allowable uses.
The court heard that an initial transfer list totaled about $196,629.57, which exceeded the anticipated SB22 allocation of $175,000. Officials identified components of the overage: a victim services intern salary listed at $11,957 and roughly $10,000 in health-insurance costs. The auditor subsequently corrected the figures so the amended transfer would align with the $175,000 figure, and staff said the corrected version removes the excess $21,629.57.
Miss Tapia (staff) explained the process as she had been told it: SB22 funds were expected, the auditor contacted staff about placement, and the positions were proposed to be placed in Fund 196. Commissioners pressed for a safeguard: several members said grant-funded positions should not be filled unless the grant funds are actually received. The court recorded that the positions would remain grant-contingent.
The court also discussed limitations on the sheriff's use of SB22 funds. Commissioners and staff said pay levels for some deputies already exceed thresholds eligible for SB22 salary supplementation, so those sheriff's funds were limited to equipment rather than personnel increases.
A motion to approve agenda item six as presented was made, seconded and approved by voice/hand vote; the court recorded the motion as carrying without a roll-call tally in the transcript. The county judge and commissioners agreed the corrected amendment would zero out the general-fund transfer and place the grant-funded positions in Fund 196, contingent on actual grant receipts.
The court proceeded to the next agenda items after the vote. The court did not specify exact hiring timelines; commissioners said hiring would not occur unless and until SB22 funds are certified and received by the county.
