Harrison County auditor reports higher collections, rising expenditures for public safety

MARSHALL — Harrison County’s auditor told commissioners on April 8 that the county’s February 2025 un-audited financials show increased revenues and notable spending increases in public safety.

Auditor Darla Haynes reported a fund balance of $45,282,884 as of February 2025 and said the receipt of a confinement grant eliminated a prior negative balance in fund 490. She reported general fund collections of $23,524,23 compared with $22,849,170 in FY24—an increase of about $653,253—and said most of the revenue growth is in property taxes. Haynes also reported higher expenditures ($13,317,584 versus $10,7,821 in FY24), largely tied to public safety costs including Motorola communications work.

Following the report, the court approved a routine series of fiscal items: a line-item transfer (motion passed 5-0), payment of regular bills with a $30 correction to a travel invoice (motion passed 5-0), and payroll for March 28, 2025 (motion passed 5-0). The court also ratified a $20,435.84 refund to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department for unused salary adjustment grant funds (motion passed 5-0).

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about specific line items, debt associated with a tower in Harleton, and expectations that a federal Siri grant will cover the county’s remaining tower obligation in the next budget cycle. Auditor Haynes noted debt for a tower project (about $186,696) and said the county expects to retire the remaining obligation when grant funding is received.