Ward County approves emergency budget amendments, moves $100,000 to hospital indigent care

The Commissioners' Court of Ward County unanimously adopted emergency amendments to the 2025 budget at its Nov. 24 meeting, saying in the amendment language that "an emergency has arisen, and a grave public necessity exists" in various county and hospital funds. Commissioner Larry Hanna moved to approve the amendments and Commissioner Guy Thames seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

The amendment reallocated multiple account-level line items across the General Fund and Road & Bridge Fund. Key adjustments include a $100,000 increase to Indigent Health Care made payable to Ward Memorial Hospital, a $20,000 increase to Attorneys—District Court for indigent legal care, a $10,712 shift to the sheriff's information-technology salary line, and a $123,000 decrease in Permanent Improvements. Several parks, library and facility utility and maintenance lines were also reallocated, as shown in the amendment schedule filed with the court.

The budget amendment was presented as an emergency measure in written agenda text and supported by the Court's unanimous vote. The Court reviewed but did not take additional action on the hospital's monthly financial report during the meeting. Next procedural steps were not specified in the minutes; the amendment was entered into the county's official records.