County approves SB22 budget amendment after debate over allowable uses for DA and sheriff funds

Newton County’s commissioners approved a budget amendment to allocate Senate Bill 22 (SB22) funds to the district attorney’s office after an extended discussion about allowable uses and prior-year reconciliation.

Staff said the DA’s SB22 allocation reported in the meeting was $175,000 and that, under recently issued state guidance, SB22 dollars for the DA can be used only for salaries and not for benefits or equipment. Staff described an immediate bookkeeping issue: funds previously budgeted to cover some employees’ benefits now appear ineligible, creating an estimated reconciliation exposure (transcript references about $5,642 in interest/reimbursement obligations for prior reporting periods). Commissioners discussed reallocating leftover SB22-eligible amounts to salaries and noted the sheriff’s office received approximately $350,000 under SB22, which state guidance now appears to treat differently from the DA funds in how courts can disburse them.

Speakers emphasized the state’s rules were issued after the funds were appropriated and that counties across Texas have faced similar implementation questions. The county judge and staff asked the county controller to reconcile allowable uses and to prepare any necessary transfers or reimbursements. A motion to approve the budget amendment for the DA’s SB22 allocation was made and seconded; the court approved the action.

Next steps: county finance and the DA’s office will finalize reallocation of eligible salary lines, reconcile any amounts identified for repayment or reclassification, and document the county’s SB22 spending to the state as required by the program rules.