Commissioners approve funding to restore returning Veterans Court program manager

Denton County Commissioners on Aug. 19 unanimously approved allocating funds to restore a second Veterans Court program manager position when the incumbent returns from military leave.

Alejandro briefed the court, saying the county had budgeted for only one program manager as a cost-savings measure while the other was on military leave. "The start uh date for the funding will be December 1st of 2026," Alejandro said. The restored position will ensure the returning service member has a job to come back to and will expand capacity to assist other specialty courts, Alejandro added.

Commissioner Edmonson moved the item and Commissioner Williams seconded; the motion carried unanimously. The court characterized the action as both a compliance matter and a staffing restoration: commissioners said federal leave rules require preserving positions and that the two program managers will help drug court and other specialty-court operations. No dissenting votes were recorded.

The approval was procedural and explicitly limited to funding the position; implementation and start-date logistics were left to court staff and the courts involved. The court noted the decision aligns with earlier commitments made during the budget review process.