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Coalition seeks $125,000 county revolving fund to execute $2.2M federal wildfire grant
Summary
The Hill Country Fire Coalition asked Kendall County for a one-time $125,000 capitalization to cover upfront costs on a $2.2 million US Forest Service reimbursable grant and a $13,000 administrative contingency; commissioners signaled support but asked for a written agreement and audit safeguards.
The Hill Country Fire Coalition told the Kendall County Commissioners Court on July 13 that wildfire prevention — including home assessments, defensible-space projects and outreach — is core public safety and requested a one-time $125,000 capitalization to serve as a revolving mitigation fund to bridge cash-flow timing on a $2.2 million U.S. Forest Service grant.
The presenter said the coalition has completed more than 150 property risk assessments, helped establish a Firewise community and delivered a roadside defensible-space project. The coalition emphasized that Texas A&M Forest Service requires grantees to pay expenses up front and submit proof of payment for reimbursement, a process the presenter said can take four to six weeks and has caused repeated cash-flow delays. “Because Texas A&M Forest Service administers the grant completely on a reimbursable basis, every expense must be paid prior to requesting reimbursement,” the coalition representative said. The request included a $13,000 figure to cover elevated administrative costs and a potential audit expense if the county required an IRS-style nonprofit audit.
Commissioners and county staff asked for accounting safeguards before approving cash. County Auditor Corinna advised a written agreement and a separate fund or accounting line to show expenditures and reimbursements clearly, emphasizing that the court should set expectations for the fund’s term and disposition. One commissioner said, “Why don't we just give them the $125,000 with the expectation in 2031?” while others favored a formal five-year agreement with auditing and reporting requirements. The court did not record a roll-call vote during the hearing; members directed staff and general counsel to draft agreement language and return with details as part of the FY27 budget process.
Next steps: staff were asked to draft a written agreement that specifies permitted uses, accounting controls, reporting cadence and whether the amount would revert to the county or remain with the coalition at the grant’s end. Commissioners also asked for an explicit separate account or fund code so the county can track cash flow and reimbursements.
