[A. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:08] >> COUNTY JUDGE: VERY GOOD MORNING. THERE YOU ARE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION WILL BE LED BY OUR VERY OWN PASTOR. IF YOU PLEASE ALL RISE. >> LET US BOW. HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US GRACE TO BE ALIVE. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR GIVING US STRENGTH TODAY AND FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY. TODAY I PRAY FOR THOSE WHO GIVE VOICES TO THE UNHEARD, SHOWING LIGHT ON THE UNSEEN, AND BRING UNITY IN SITUATIONS THAT WOULD TEAR US APART. WE ASK LORD FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR WISDOM TO SERVE AS WE LEAD. WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND IN JESUS NAME THAT I PRAY. AMEN. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU, SIR. >> TOGETHER: : I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOUR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ROXANNE WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THE CLERK: COMMISSIONER INNING GALLONS,. >> HERE GLOWN COHEN, SMITH, [E. PUBLIC COMMENTS] JUDGE BECERRA. >> COUNTY JUDGE: HERE. PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> THE CLERK: WE HAVE TWO. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ALL RIGHT. IF YOU WILL CALL THEIR NAME AND START A THREE-MINUTE TIME. >> THE CLERK: ANGIE UNGER. >> COUNTY JUDGE: OKAY. NEXT ONE. I DON'T SEE HER IN THE ROOM. >> THE CLERK: AMY KAMPF. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THERE WE ARE. >> HELLO. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE BECERRA, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL THRILLED TO SEE ME AGAIN. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE MAJORITY OF THIS COURT VOTING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE AXON CONTRACT LAST WEEK. I KNOW IT WAS SAID BY SOMEONE ON THIS COURT THAT WE HAD TIME TO DISCUSS THIS. THERE IS A WORKSHOP, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU KNOW, I'M NOT PAID TO COME HERE, AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE NOT PAID TO DO THIS WORK, AND SO I JUST FIND IT A LITTLE BIT HURTFUL WHEN IT'S ASSUMED THAT WE SHOULD KNOW EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON ABOUT THIS COURT. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN COMMUNITY BECAUSE AFTER Y'ALL VOTED TO ADVANCE THIS CONTRACT, THERE HAS BEEN A REAL OUTPOURING OF, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO TO ME PERSONALLY ABOUT HOW DISAPPOINTED PEOPLE ARE IN VOTING FOR THIS CONTRACT. SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ SOME OF THESE COMMENT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ABLE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND MAYBE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW IS WE WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL ON HOW THIS COULD BE USED. ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE DATA OR HOW IT GETS USED. OUR CIVIL RIGHT CONTINUE TO BE TRAMPLED ON. NOWHERE TO STAND ON THIS. DON'T BE CONFUSED BY THE PROCESS IF YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO FUND THIS, THEY ARE VOTING FOR MASS SURVEILLANCE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO Y'ALL. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY. WE SAID NO TO FLACK AND THEY'RE JUST TREATING US LIKE WE'RE STUPID. HOW WITH HE CAN ORGANIZE TO GET THESE BLOCKED TOO? TEXAS IS BECOMING A POLICE STATE. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT? LONG TERM AND WHAT LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE? WE HAVE ALL THIS TECH GOING IN BUT DETERIORATING ROADS. IT SEEMS LIKE PRIORITIES ARE SCREWED UP FOR THIS COMMISSION. JUST WASTING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS. WHY ARE PEOPLE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES IN HAYS COUNTY ONLY TO HAVE COUNTY VOTE TO SEND THE MONEY TO AN A.I. COMPANY. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN VOTED ON PUBLICLY THE COUNTY RESIDENTS. COOL, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE HOW THIS WILL FIX OUR LOW WAGES, INCREASE RENT. LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. INCREASE OF DESPERATION. MENTAL HEALTH AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. THIS IS WHAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS NEEDED TO RECALL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FROM OFFICE. THOSE WHO VOTED FOR INCREASED SECRET SURVEILLANCE OF HAYS COUNTY CITIZENS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE DURING THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE. WE ESPECIALLY SHOULD MAKE PUBLIC SERVICE A FULL-TIME CAREER AND HAVE BEEN AT THE-- IT'S TIME FOR NEW YOUNG FRESH LEADERS. [00:05:03] AT SOME POINT SOMEBODY-- OKAY. WELL YOU GET THE POINT. THERE ARE OVER ACTUALLY A FEW HUNDRED COMMENT ON THIS ONE POST AND MANY MORE AND OTHER PLACES. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. AND ANYTHING WRITTEN IN? [F.2. Presentation from executive leadership of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency regarding water infrastructure projects, capacity, timelines, budgets, contracts, developer commitments, and funding, including the status of major and future projects, reasons for delays or cost increases, and the Agency’s processes for awarding contracts and ensuring transparency and accountability. BECERRA] NO. WE'RE DONE. LET'S START WITH F2 REGARDING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, CAPACITY. TIMELINES BUDGETS. CONTRACTS, DEVELOP COMMITMENTS AND FUNDING INCLUDING THE STATUS OF MAJOR AND FUTURE PROJECT, REASONS FOR DELAYS OR COST INCREASES, AND THE AGENCY'S PROCESSES FOR AWARDING CONTRACT AND ENSURING TRANSPARTICIPATESY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ALL RIGHT. CANDICE WHAT DID YOU COME UP WITH O FOR OUR PRESENTER. >> JUDGE, PART OF OUR REQUEST, I REACHED OUT TO COMMISSIONER SMITH. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD REACH OUT TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE. COMMISSIONER SMITH, DO YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION HERE TODAY. >> JUDGE, I THINK THIS MAY BE THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COURT WHERE A COMMISSIONER OR YOU YOURSELF HAVE PUT ON THERE, AND YOU DID NOT REACH OUT. QUITE LITERALLY I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS. I SAW THIS WHENEVER THE AGENDA WAS POSTED BUT THE FACT IS THAT YOU PUT AN AGENDA ITEM ON, AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN INVITE THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I ASKED OUR EXECUTIVE TO DO THAT, REACHING OUT. THE AGENDA WAS POSTED WEDNESDAY AND I ASKED HER ALSO LAST WEEK TO REACH OUT, AND HE REITERATED FOR HER TO PLEASE COMMUNICATE THAT IS ALL I'M ASKING FOR. >> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY EASY TO DO. AGAIN JUST LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS ON HERE. VERY ILL-PREPARED. WE'RE GOING TO ASK A.I. TODAY AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BACKUP ON IT EITHER. THAT BEING THE CASE. I WAS PROACTIVE, AND SKIED OTHER GENERAL MANAGER TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION, AND I'M WILLING TO WALK THROUGH THAT AND TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS. BUT IN FUTURE, I KNOW YOU ONLY GOT SIX COURTS LEFT OR EIGHT COURT. I HAVE THE SAME NUMBER. BUT I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF US TO ACTUALLY DOT BACKUP AND DO THE WORK THAT IS NEEDED ON AN AGENDA ITEM. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WE HIRED A COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE. >> TO NOT DO OUR JOB. TO MANAGE THE COUNTY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: TO REACH OUT TO YOU BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THESE THINGS, AND TO KEEP THE WALKING QUORUM CONCERN COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY. I ASKED HER TO REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE LAST WEEK. IT IS MY SAFE PROTOCOL. >> I'M WILLING TO WALK THROUGH THIS, BUT IN THE FUTURE IF YOU WOULD TAKE TWO MINUTES TO PICK UP THE PHONE, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF US BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A LOCKING QUORUM ON. THIS YOU PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. IF YOU WANTED ME TO DO THIS, I WOULD MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO IT IN THE WORDS YOU SHARED WITH THE COURT MANY TIMES IN A SPECIFICALLY, ALL IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN IS A PHONE CALL. >> COUNTY JUDGE: AND SO, CANDICE, DID YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PHONE CALL. >> SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. OUR OFFICE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE ORGANIZATION, AND WE SPOKE WITH JENNIFER RYKER AS SHE SAID SHE WOULD ATTEND. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT CHANGED, AND WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PERFECT. >> WHEN DID YOU REACH OUT TO THAT OFFICE. >> THE CLERK: IT WAS LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE ON WEDNESDAY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: LAST WEDNESDAY, WE REACHED OUT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. >> COMMISSIONER: I'M GOING TO DISPUTE THAT. BECAUSE I CHECKED ON BOTH WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AS RECENT AS THIS MORNING. AND NO ONE HAS SPOKEN TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. THAT BEING THE CASE I CAN WALK THROUGH SOME PROJECTS HERE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: COMMISSIONER, JUST FOR ONE SECOND, IF YOU DON'T MIND BECAUSE I WANT TO-- I KNOW IT MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE DICEY, BUT I WANT OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHEN SHE SAYS SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE HER. AND SO MY PHILOSOPHY IS, I BELIEVE YOU UNTIL YOU GIVE ME A REASON NOT TO. CANDICE, JUST AS A FINAL TOUCH BECAUSE AGAIN I BELIEVE YOU, WHEN YOU REACHED OUT TO THEM LAST WEEK, IS THERE A DOCUMENTATION, E-MAIL OR SOME KIND OF TOUCH POINT THAT WE CAN REFERENCE AS FURTHER CONFIRMATION OF WHAT YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO. AGAIN, I BELIEVE YOU. >> THE CLERK: >> SO, SIR, FOLKS FROM MY OFFICE CALLED. THEY HAD COMMUNICATION. I DO UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER [00:10:03] SMITH'S COMMENTS. SO I DON'T WANT TO BE IN CONFLICT OF THOSE, BUT IF THE MESSAGE DID NOT REACH THE GENERAL MANAGER, WE DID MAKE AN ATTEMPT, SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REACH OUT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER, I'VE ALSO-- DOUBLE TOUCH THIS FOR ONE MORE MOMENT. YOU SAID YOU WERE FOLLOWING UP ON WEDNESDAY. YOU WERE FOLLOWING UP ON THURSDAY. YOU WERE FOLLOWING UP ON FRIDAY, AND IN THOSE FOLLOWUPS, DID YOU ASK THAT GENERAL MANAGER. >> COMMISSIONER: NO, BECAUSE IT'S NOT MY AGENDA ITEM. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BUT YOU ARE ON THE BOARD. YOU ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVE. >> COMMISSIONER: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT IF YOU ASKED ME THAT. AGAIN, I'M PREPARED TO GO THROUGH TODAY, AND I HAVE THE GENERAL MANAGER HERE IN CASE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THE GENERAL MANAGER IS HERE. >> COMMISSIONER: CORRECT. AT MY INVITATION BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T DO THE BACKUP AND YOU DIDN'T DO THE WORK NEEDED FOR YOUR AGENDA ITEM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO PRESENT THIS AS I HAVE ALREADY OFFERED THREE TIMES I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH IT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THE ONLY PROBLEM IS YOUR FRAMING IS ERRONEOUS AND AGGRESSIVE AND ASSUMING AND CHARGING, AND THAT IS NOT USEFUL. >> COMMISSIONER: JUDGE, IF WE MEASURED THINGS BY HOW USEFUL THEY WERE ON THIS COURT, THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT PERSON SITTING IN YOUR SEAT TODAY. NOW WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OR NOT? >> COUNTY JUDGE: READY? >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU. EVERY FIVE YEARS BY LAW WE LOOK AT A C.I.P. OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. ACTUALLY THAT IS WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT EVERY FIVE YEARS. WE HAVE ACTUALLY DONE IT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE 2020 WE ARE CURRENTLY FINISH UP OUR SECOND. WE DO THEM MUCH MORE REGULARLY THAN IS REQUIRED BY LAW. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE HAYS COUNTY PORTION OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM THAT WILL BRING ROUGHLY 10,000 L.U.E. OR MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE WATER CAPACITY THAT IS COMING INTO HAYS COUNTY. THOSE PROJECTS ARE CENTERED IN THE DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA. HOWEVER, THE LARGEST PROJECT IS NOT OF THOSE FOUR THAT IS THE EXPANSION OF OUR WATER TREATMENT FACILITY. THAT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY RIGHT NOW ON A GOOD DAY RUNS ABOUT 18.5 MILLION-GALLONS. CAPACITY IS 20 MILLION PER DAY. HOWEVER, PHYSICALLY WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE A 0 MILLION TBALON A DAY PLANT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN PRODUCE 20 MILLION. IT PROCESSES 20 MILLION. THERE IS ADDITIONAL WATER IN THERE THAT IS UNUSABLE. ONCE YOU REMOVE THE SEDIMENTATION, AND PROCESS THE RAWATER. AT FULL CAPACITY WITH THE EXPANSION THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, WE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 32.5 MILLION-GALLONS WORTH OF CAPACITY ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE A SYSTEM-- A COMMUNITY THAT IS ON OUR SYSTEM THAT WILL BE GOING OFF OF OUR SYSTEM AND ON TO THE LAKEWAY SYSTEM IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS ACTUALLY THAT COULD PROVIDE UP TO 2 MILLION-GALLONS OF ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM. WE HAVE SPENT OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SPENDING A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS TO IMPROVEMENT THE CAPACITY WITHIN THE P.U.A. SYSTEM. THE LARGEST FOUR PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING-- THOSE FOUR LARGE PROJECTS, THE LARGEST OF WHICH IS OUR WATER TREATMENT FACILIY ARE ALL TO COME ON-LINE AT THE LATEST ANY OF THEM ARE COMING ON-LINE IS SUMMER OR MAYBE EVEN SEPTEMBER OF 2028, AND THAT IS THE LAST ONE. ALL ARE SLATED BY AT LEAST DECEMBER OF 2027 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A CROSS-COUNTRY-- WHAT WE CALL A CROSS-COUNTRY TRANSMISSION LINE WHICH WOULD CONNECT HAMILTON POOL ROAD. OUR MAIN TRANSMISSION LINE INTO THE DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA FROM THE NORTH. RIGHT NOW AND I'M SORRY. THAT IS CROSS-COUNTRY TRANSMISSION MAIN. OUR HAMILTON POOL TRANSMISSION MAIN WHICH IS ANOTHER LARGE PROJECT IT'S SLATED FOR DECEMBR. THAT WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS SLATED FOR COMPLETION DECEMBER OF 2027. THERE IS ONE THAT AGAIN THE THREE THAT ARE FOR SPECIFICALLY THE NORTH HAYS DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA THAT SHOULD BE OF INTEREST IS WHAT WE CALL 290 TRANSMISSION MAIN. THAT IS THE MAIN WATER LINE THAT GOES INTO DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS. WE ARE DOUBLING THE SIZE AND CAPACITY OF THAT. IT'S CURRENTLY-- WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE SECTION OF THAT THAT [00:15:01] HAS GONE OUT FOR BID AND WILL BE AWARDED THIS WEEK. IT IS SLATED FOR COMPLETION IN 2028 AS WELL. WE CALL THAT THE PARALLEL TRANSMISSION MAIN. WE HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS 1340 ELEVATED STORAGE FACILITY WHICH IS ANOTHER ELEVATED STORAGE TANK LOCATED IN DRIPPING SPRINGS. I'M NOT SURE OF THE COMPLETION DATE FOR IT, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S SUMMER OF '28. YEAH. SUMMER OF '28. AND THEN THOSE ARE THE MAIN ONES FOR THAT PORTION OF THE COUNTY. AGAIN IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED TIMELINES FOR THOSE, THE BIGGEST DELAY THAT WE'VE HAD BY FAR IS OUR ACTUAL WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, AND THAT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY. THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE THERE ARE THE FACT THAT WE GOT ABOUT A MILE-- WE GOT SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND ABOUT A YEAR IN WITH THE CITY OF BEECAVE. AT THE TIME WE HAD TWO OF THE MEMBER FROM THE CITY WHO EXPRESSED THAT-- THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES. WE CHOOSE TO GO WITH MILTER FACILITY INSTEAD OF A TRADITIONAL WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THERE, AND UNFORTUNATELY WHENEVER YOU ABOUT BUILD A BUILDING THAT HOLDS THOSE MEDIA TO TAKE THEM OUT AND MOVE ON TO CLEAN THE FILTER THOSE KIND OF THINGS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A 70-FOOT BUILDINGS. THEY HAD ASSURED US WE WOULD NOT NEED A 70-FOOT-- THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING THAT FACILITY. AT THIS TIME WE HAD TO SCRAP THAT AND GO WITH THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT PLANT BECAUSE THE CITY WOULD NOT OFFER THAT VARIANCE. WE HAD TO GO THROUGH A REDESIGN PROCESS ON IT. WE'RE ALSO IN DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW WITH THE CITY OF BLAKEY. THEY ARE GREATLY EXPANDING THEIR FACILITY, AND WE ARE LOCATED OUR SYSTEM IS LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO IT, AND WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW TO ACTUALLY EXPAND THAT FURTHER WHENEVER THEY DO THEIR RECONSTRUCTION SO WE CAN HOOK INTO THEIR FACILITY AND WE WOULD PROCESS ADDITIONAL WATER THERE. WE'RE ALSO IN CURRENTLY IN TALKS WITH THE GUADELOUPE RIVER AUTHORITY FOR BRACKISH GROUND WATER THAT IS UNUSABLE RIGHT NOW AS POTABLE WATER. HOWEVER, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF MUNICIPALITIES AND WATER SYSTEMS WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING-- IT HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET. CONTEMPLATING A PROJECT WITH THEM TO MAKE THAT BROWN WATER AND ACTUALLY PROCESS IT ON SITE AT ITS REMOVAL SITE AND PUT POTABLE WATER INTO THEIR SYSTEM. AND THEN TRANSPORT THAT TO OUR SYSTEM VIA THE CITY OF BUDA. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BY THE END OF 2028. WE'LL HAVE SYSTEM CAPACITY FOR OVER 32.5 MILLION-GALLONS PER DAY UP FROM 18 MILLION. I CAN TELL YOU OF THE SYSTEMS IN COUNTY, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT WE'VE BEEN PROBABLY IF NOT THE MOST PROACTIVE, ONE OF THE MOST PROACTIVE. I THINK THE GOLD STANDARD WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO HAS HAD TO BE PROACTIVE IN THEIR PROCUREMENT OF WATER IN THE EXPANSION OF THEIR SYSTEM, IT'S DEFINITELY-- IT'S DEFINITELY THE CITY OF KYLE WOULD BE THE GOLD STANDARDS. KYLE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING WATER FROM THE EAST, WHATEVER SOURCES THEY COULD. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS, I CAN OFFER TIMELINES ON THOSE OR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM AS WELL. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I'M GRATEFUL TO THE GENERAL MANAGER IS HERE. CAN WE GET TO PUT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THAT IS WHY I SAID WHAT I SAID. I SEE YOU NOW. THANK YOU. CAN WE GET OUR GENERAL MANAGER TO APPROACH THE PODIUM PLEASE. FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC IF YOU WILL PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE. >> JENNIFER RYKER. COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY AGENCY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, JENNIFER. I HOPE THIS DOESN'T COME ACROSS AS A GRILLING AS HAS BEEN MY INITIAL RECEPTION. MY AIM IS TO SHED LIGHT ON, SHARE WITH, AND COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC AS THE SECOND PERSON ON THIS PORT THAT REPRESENTS THAT FOOT PRINT THAT YOU HELPED SERVE. IT IS MORE OFTEN THAN I WOULD LIKE. I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. YOU ANSWER TO A BOARD. SO MY AIM IN SAYING ALL OF THIS IS SO THAT YOU THE TONE FEEL [00:20:02] ATTACKED OR THAT SOME OF MY FRAMING OF QUESTIONS MIGHT FEEL CHARMEDFEEL-- CHARGED BUT THAT T MY INTENT. EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND AND I SEE IN THE MEDIA OR IN A TEXT OR FROM THE COMMUNITY OR FROM ANOTHER WATER SUPPLY ORGANIZATION, IT SEEMS TO BE, OKAY. IT'S MY PERCEPTION, WEST TRAVIS COUNTY, P.U.A. I WANTED TO SHED LIGHT ON GENERALITIES SO THAT PEOPLE COULD, I GUESS, BE UP TO SPEED ON THE OVERALL SUMMARY OF YOUR ROAD MAP AND WHAT IS GOING ON, AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO FIRST IS DO YOU AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THE COMMISSIONER HAS JUST SAID, EVERYTHING IS ACCURATE ON THAT FRONT. >> I DO, YES. >> COUNTY JUDGE: OKAY. GOOD, THANK YOU. MY FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU IS HOW MANY LUE WHICH ARE LIVING UNIT EQUIVALENTS DID THE PUA COMMIT TO AFTER THEY KNEW THE SYSTEM WAS APPROACHING ITS PRACTICAL CAPACITY? DO YOU KNOW THAT ANSWER? >> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER AS FAR AS TIMELINES. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 23, ALMOST 24,000 L.U.E. COMMITMENTS TODAY. SOME-- THOSE ARE ACTIVE COMMITMENTS. WE DO HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS THAT WE INHERITED FROM THE L.C.R.A. AND/OR COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BUILT OUT YET. SO BIG PROJECTS THAT MIGHT BE COMING IN 10 TO 15 YEARS BEFORE THAT CAPACITY HITS OUR SYSTEM. >> COUNTY JUDGE: OKAY. THEN IF CUSTOMERS ALREADY LIVING IN HOMES NEED PROJECTS THAT WON'T BE COMPLETED UNTIL 2027, 202 FOR RELIABLE SERVICES, WHY WEREN'T THOSE PROJECTED COMPLETED BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT WAS APPROVED. THESE ARE QUESTIONS, I'M ASKING THEM FOR THE PUBLIC. >> CAN YOU REFRAME THE PUBLIC. >> COUNTY JUDGE: FOLKS LIVING IN HOMES TODAY ARE APPARENTLY SHORT ON WATER SUPPLY BECAUSE OF PROJECTS THAT AREN'T READY TO SERVE THEM, AND SO WHY WERE THEY THEY APPROVED IF WE WEREN'T, WEST TRAVIS, WERE PART OF THE BODY, WHY ARE WE APPROVING THEM IF WE KNEW WE WEREN'T READY FOR THEM? >> JUDGE, I THINK THE-- LET ME JUST CLARIFY SOMETHING. THE WAY THAT C.I.P.S WORK IN PROJECTS, THOSE PROJECTS ARE FOR THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PLANNED RIGHT NOW ARE FOR TWO REASONS. ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OR IMPROVED SYSTEM RELIABILITY. SO WE DON'T AS A BOARD AND AS A SYSTEM WE DON'T APPROVE PROJECTS BASED ON-- WE HAVE TO UNDER STATE LAW WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS FIRST. WHEN WE'VE HAD ISSUES AND I WILL LET GENERAL MANAGER RYKER CLARIFY, THE PREFACE OF THAT QUESTION IS WELL WHY WEREN'T THESE PROJECTS DONE BEFORE THOSE PEOPLE WERE HOOKED UP. THE FACT IS THAT WE BASE PROJECTS AND THE PAYMENT OF THOSE PROJECTS UNDER STATUTE WE CAN'T-- IN ORDER TO DO A NEW PROJECT, WE CAN'T JUST RAISE OUR RATES TO DO A PROJECT. WE'RE VERY DIFFERENT THAN A REGULAR WATER UTILITY. WE HAVE TO PLAN-- OFF ANY FUTURE PROJECTS OFF OF FUTURE CONNECTIONS BECAUSE UNDER STATUTE, P.U.A.S ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T PASS THOSE COSTS OFF TO OUR RATEPAYERS BY STATUTE. IT STATES VERY CLEARLY WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR CURRENT RATEPAYERS POTABLE WATER, HIGH QUALITY POTABLE WATER AT THE LOWEST WOULD BE RATE. ANY OF THOSE PROJECTS YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM OFF OF CONNECTION FEES WHICH ARE FUTURE-- WHICH ARE OUR FUTURE CONNECTIONS, NOT CURRENT CONNECTIONS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> COUNTY JUDGE: 100%, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR FRAMING. >> COMMISSIONER: WELL, NO, IT'S NOT FRAMING. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YOUR FRAMING OF-- SINCE I MAY NOT KNOW, THAT IS THE FRAMING I'M REFERRING TO, AND LUCKILY FOR ME I HAVE BEEN THE COUNTY JUDGE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF THE FUNDING SOURCE IS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT ROAD MAP AND I UNDERSTAND THE BACKWARDNESS OF IT. >> COMMISSIONER: NO. IT HAS TO BE. THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING IT HAS TO BE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I UNDERSTAND THE WAY IT IS AT THIS MOMENT. NEVERTHELESS IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN'T STOP ACCEPTING NEW SERVICE APPLICATIONS UNTIL MARCH 2026? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WHO DECIDED TO JUST FAIRLY RECENTLY REALIZE TO STOP BECAUSE YOU GUYS WEREN'T IN A-- ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CAPACITY. >> I WOULD SAY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR THE CURRENT CUSTOMERS. SO WHEN WE OUR DO OUR C.I.P. EVERY THREE YEARS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE AND GROWTH AND SO WE BELIEVE OUR SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR TO SERVE OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS. THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING SPECIFICALLY THIS SUMMER IS IRRIGATION DEMAND IS EXCEEDING [00:25:04] WHAT WE CAN PRODUCE FROM THE PLANT, AND WE HAVE TATA FROM OUR SMART METERS THAT VERY CLEARLY SHOWS. IN DECEMBER, WE HAVE PLENTY OF WATER. IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. IT'S THE SUMMER IRRIGATION DEMAND THAT WE CANNOT KEEP UP WITH. THAT IS WHY OUR WATERING RESTRICTIONS ARE SET THE WAY WE ARE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO REFILL OUR PUMPS AND OUR STORAGE TANKS OVERNIGHT, AND SO WHEN IRRIGATION DEMAND HITS OVERNIGHT, WE'RE BATTLING. WE CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP WITH THE USE FROM EACH DAY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I'VE HEARD THIS ON A FEW FRONTS AND I'M ALSO FAMILIAR WITH THE STATEMENT THAT WE MUST TAKE CARE OF CURRENT CUSTOMERS FIRST. CURRENT CUSTOMERS FIRST. SO THAT IS WHY YOU KEEP MAKING THE NEWS, AND THAT IS WHY PEOPLE KEEP BLOWING UP MY PHONE EVERY TIME THEY WAKE UP TO NO WATER OR NO ATER OR BOIL-WATER NOTICES. WHAT CAN WE TELL THEM MOVING FORWARD? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH THE VIEWING PUBLIC REGARDING THE PEPPERING OF WARNINGS FROM PROVIDED WATER BY WEST TRAVIS COUNTY P.U.A. >> WELL LIKE I SAID, THE CURRENT CONDITIONS, MY RESPONSE WOULD BE, IF OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD FOLLOW OUR WATER RESTRICTION GUIDELINES, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE HAVING LOTS OF ISSUES, WE INCREASED RESTRICTIONS TO STAGE 3. OUR TANKS HAVE BEEN FULL SINCE WE DONE THAT. TO ME AND I SEE IT EVERY DAY, I THINK THAT FOLLOWING THE RESTRICTIONS DOES WATER, AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE. ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT. BOIL-WATER NOTICES, YES, THEY ARE A RESULT OF TANKS RUNNING DRY, BUT THEY'RE A RESULT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS. SO SOME OF THE BOIL-WATER NOTICES FROM THE PAST ARE CONSTRUCTION RELATED. IF SOMEBODY HITS OUR WATERLINE, WE'RE REQUIRED TO ISSUE THAT BOIL WATER NOTICE. IT'S NOT OUR CHOICE. WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT. >> COMMISSIONER: I WANT TO SAY FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS, MAYBE FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS THAT WE HAD-- THAT I WAS ON THE BOARD, THE TWO LARGEST WATER NOTICE WE HAD, AND I THINK WE ONLY HAD THREE DURING THAT PERIOD, THE FIRST ONE P.E.C. HAD A SYSTEM FAILURE TO THE SYSTEM THAT SUPPLIED OUR WATERFRONT, AND SO WHEN IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND THEY CUT OFF THE ELECTRICITY FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS, HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR SYSTEM. THE OTHER ONE WAS A BORING COMPANY THAT DRILLED ABOUT EIGHT-INCH HOLE INTO OUR MAIN WATER SUPPLY LINE, AND WE LOST 12 MILLION-GALLONS IN 18 HOURS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND WE WERE ABLE TO ASSESS THAT. BUT THOSE ARE THINGS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE P.U.A. AS WELL. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I WILL MAKE THIS-- DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY? >> NO. I HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR PROJECTS IF YOU HAD ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO IS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS THE MOMENT, AND I KNOW IT WILL PASS EVENTUALLY, ESPECIALLY AS IT GETS COOLER, BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S THE MOMENT, I WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. I WROTE IT DOWN. EVERYTHING IS BEING RECORDED SO I CAN ALWAYS REWIND. GIVE ITO TO NEW AN E-MAIL. WILL YOU COMMIT TODAY TO GIVING THIS COURT QUARTERLY OUTSTANDING L.U.E.S WHICH ARE LIVING UNIT EQUIVALENTS COMMITMENTS SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE. SO WE CAN SEE WHAT MAJOR PROJECTS YOU HAVE. ORIGINAL ONES, CURRENT, AND BUDGET FOR, AND ANY CHANGE ORDERS, AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE STOPPED SINCE MARCH OF '26 JUST RECENTLY, BUT ANY CONTRACT AWARD DOCUMENTATION AS WELL. WOULD YOU COMMIT TO THAT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE A MORE FLUID FLOW OF INFORMATION SO THAT WE COULD PUBLICIZE IT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. >> YES. WE CAN DO THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE A WRITTEN REPORT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I THINK AN E-MAIL WOULD BE PERFECT BUT HONESTLY, I DO GENUINELY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME FOR COMING. I DON'T WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE COMMUNICATION. I DON'T CARE TO SLICE THINGS UP NEEDLESSLY, W, BUT MY AIM IS WHOLESOME. IT IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO YOUR CUSTOMERS. IF YOU GAVE IT TO US IN AN E-MAIL I'M THE COUNTY JUDGE UNTIL JANUARY, HOWEVER THAT LOOKS, AND MY HOPE IS THAT CANDICE WILL CONTINUE IT BECAUSE AS IT GETS COLDER WE WON'T NEED IT AS OFTEN FOR HABIT FORMING. THE SHERIFF GIVES US A REPORT EVERY WEEK ON JAIL CAPACITY. THEY'RE USEFUL PIECES OF INFORMATION. >> COMMISSIONER: I WOULD SAY JUDGE WE OPERATE BY THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT. WE GET UPDATES ON THE BOARD ON EVERY ONE OF THESE PROJECTS AT [00:30:01] EVERY ONE OF OUR MEETINGS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC SPEAK AT ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS. THEY'RE WELL ATTENDED, AND AGAIN WE'RE A THIRD OF THE PROCESS. AND SO ANYTHING THAT TRANSPIRES THROUGH THE P.U.A. WE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE WE ARE AN ENCRAT INTRICATE PART OF IT. OTHER MEMBER. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, THEY HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS. THEY DON'T GET PAID TO BE HERE OR KEEP UP WITH OUR AGENDA OR OR ACRONYMS OR ALL THE OTHER BOARD MEETINGS WE'RE TIED TO. I APPRECIATE THAT ONE SUMMARIZED PLACE AND TIME. I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL. >> NO PROBLEM. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU SO [F.1. Adopt a Proclamation declaring September 25th as Dolly Parton Day in Hays County. BECERRA] MUCH. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ROXANNE PLEASE OPEN F 1. ADOPT A PROCLAMATION DECLARING SEPTEMBER 25TH AS DOLLY PARTON DAY IN HAYS COUNTY. >> SO MOVE. >> THE CLERK: REST SOLUTION PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2026 AS DOLLY PARTON DAY IN HAYS COUNTY. DOLLY PARTON ROSE FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF EAST TENNESSEE TO BECOME ONE OF AMERICA'S PLOAS BELOVED SONG WRITERS, ENTERTAINERS, BUSINESSWOMEN AND PHILANTHROPISTISTS WITHOUT EVER FORGETTING WHERE SHE CAME FROM OR THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED SHAPE HER. ACROSS GENERATIONS DOLLY HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC, HUMOUR, HONESTY AND A DEEP RESPECT FOR WORKING PEOPLE WITH SONGS LIKE NINE TO FIVE BECOMING PART OF THE AMERICAN STORY. DOLLY TOOK SOMETHING DEEPLY PERSONAL, HER FATHER'S STRUGGLE WITH LITERACY AND TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY CREATING THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY TO PLACE FREE BOOKS IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. AN EFFORT THAT HAS NOW REACHED FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS HER LIFE IS PROOF THAT SUCCESS AND SERVICE DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE APART. THAT A PERSON CAN DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, HAVE A LITTLE FUN ALONG THE WAY AND STILL REMEMBER TO REACH BACK AND BRING OTHERS WITH THEM. AND WHEREAS HAYS COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY BUILT BY WORKING FAMILIES, DREAMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES, ARTISTS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND NEIGHBOURS WHO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF HARD WORK AND LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND WHEREAS A FEW PEOPLE HAVE THAT COMBINATION OF GRIT, GEN RASITY, INDEPENDENCE AND JOY QUITE LIKE DOLLY PARTON. AND WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 25TH MAY BE WRITTEN AS 9/25 OR 9-2-5 MAKING IT JUST ABOUT THE MOST FITTING DAY IMAGINABLE FOR HAYS COUNTY TO TIP ITS HAT TO DOLLY. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER COURT HEREBY PROUD LEPREAU CLAIMS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2026 AS DOLLY PARTON DAY AND HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS IN RECOGNITION OF DOLLY PARTON'S EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN MUSIC, LITERACY, PHILANTHROPY AND TALENT. HARD WORK AND GENEROUS HEART. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HAYS COUNTY REHN COURAGED TO MARK THE DAY IN TRUE DOLLY FASHION. READ A BOOK WITH A CHILD. HELP A NEIGHBOUR. SUPPORT A WORKING FAMILY. TURN UP A GOOD SONG AND LEAVE SOMEBODY'S DAY A LITTLE BRIGHTER THAN YOU FOUND IT ADOPT THIS THE 8TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BEAUTIFULLY READ. THANK YOU, ROXANNE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THE CLERK: COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> YES. >> THE CLERK: INNING GALLONSBY. >> YES. >> THE CLERK: SMITH. >> YES. >> THE CLERK: COHEN YES. >> THE CLERK: JUDGE BECERRA. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YES. ANGIE. IF YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ANGIE UNGER. I AM THE FOUNDER OF BRIDGES OF LITERATURE. I AM A MOTHER. I PROUDLY SUPPORT PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 25, OR 9- 9-2-5. BEFORE CHILDREN CAN BUILD THEIR FUTURE. THEY MUST FIRST BE ABLE TO IMAGINE IT, AND BOOKS GIVE THEM THE LANGUAGE TO DO THAT. DOLLY TRANSFORMED HER FOUR'S STRUGGLE INTO LITERACY INTO THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY PLACING FREE BOOKS INTO THE HAND OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. SHE SHOWED US THAT LEADERSHIP IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW WE RYE. NINE TO FIVE. BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HELP RISE WITH US. THAT IS WHY I FOUNDED BRIMS OF LITERATURE. FOR YEARS I HAVE USED LITERATURE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS GENERATIONS, BACK GROUNDS, AND BELIEFS BECAUSE COMMUNITIES GROW STRONGER WHEN WE UNDERSTAND ONE [00:35:03] ANOTHER'S STORIES. THIS RESOLUTION ASKS READING TO A CHILD. HELPING A NEIGHBOUR, SUPPORTING A WORKING FAMILY, ENJOYING A GOOD SONG, AND LEAVING SOMEONE'S DAY BRIGHTER THAN WE FOUND IT. THAT IS MORE THAN A CELEBRATION. IT IS A MODEL FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. THE STRONGEST BRIDGES ARE NOT ALWAYS BUILT OVER RIVERS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE BUILT BETWEEN PEOPLE. AND SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS TO BEGIN WITH ONE BOOK. ANYWAY. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THIS PASS, AND I WHOLE GEE SUPPORT DOLLY PARTON DAY IN HAYS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS? >> COMMISSIONER: I'M A FAN, OF COURSE, DOLLY PARTON, AND I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COURT HELPS FUND FIVE LIBRARIES, AND THROUGH OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM, I'M HAPPY THAT WE DO THAT. PERSONALLY I WROTE A BOOK ABOUT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AS HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONER SO OBVIOUSLY I ADVOCATE FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR OWN GOVERNMENT AND BEING EXPOSED TO THAT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER: EVERYONE LOVES DOLLY THAT MADE DOLLY SO SPECIAL. SHE WAS ABLE TO NO MATTER WHAT WAY YOU VOTED OR WHAT SIDE YOU WERE ON, SHE WAS ABLE TO HAVE A SMILE ON HER FACE, AND DO GOOD WORK AND BE ONE OF THE GREATER PERFORMANCES OF ALL TIME. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YOU BET. >> COMMISSIONER: SO I THINK I TRIED TO PASS ON TO MY DAUGHTER. MY DAD AND MOM WERE THE TWO BIGGEST DOLLY FANS I EVER MET. I WAS ABLE TO GO TO FIVE CONCERTS BY THE FIVE I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, AND THEN WHENEVER I LIVED IN D.C. I GOT TO SEE HER SIX TIMES WHILE I WAS THERE. BUT I TRIED TO GET THAT TO ME MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER. HER FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS GIFT SHE HAS EVER GOTTEN WAS A 1974 DOLLY PARTON BARBIE DOLL THAT SOMEBODY GAVE TO MY MOM BACK THEN, AND I'M HAVING IT RESTORED RIGHT NOW THAT IS WHAT I GAVE HER FOR CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR. THEY WERE PRETTY DEVASTATED LAST WEEK. BUT JUST A HUGE FAN OF SOMEONE WHO COULD ALWAYS REACH OUT AND CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE AND NEVER FORGOT WHERE SHE CAME IN. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WHEN I HAD THIS HORRIBLE NEWS OF MAGNIFICENT SOUL PASSING, HER UPBRINGING AND EVERYTHING ELSE. MY WIFE IS AVID READER. I REALIZE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF READING SOMETHING AND GRABBING A BOOK, AND THAT DOLLY'S DAD COULDN'T EVEN READ AND DOLLY HAS DONA DONATED SO MY BOOKS EVERYWHERE, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE SPIRIT THAT WE CAN ALL ASPIRE TO. THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FIND ONE MORE REASON TO COME TOGETHER AND BE REMINDED THAT A COMMUNITY IS BETTER TOGETHER. SENSE OF COMMUNITY, SENSE OF PLACE, AND I DON'T KNOW. JUST DO SOMETHING, AND SO THANK YOU, GUYS FOR SUPPORTING THIS. IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR US TO TAKE A PICTURE. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME UP FOR A DOLLY RESOLUTION PICTURE, JUST COME ON UP. IT JUST TAKES TWO SECONDS. COME ON. YOU CAN DO IT. CANDICE, THANKS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WONDERFUL. WONDERFUL. NO MORE. >> ONE, TWO, THREE. ONE, TWO, THREE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOST GRATEFUL. I APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ALL RIGHT. JUST RIGHT NOW FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. ERIC WILL NOT BE HERE TODAY, OUR H.R. DIRECTOR, AND I WAS ASKED NOT TO OPEN K5. ANYONE WATCHING, ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, I'VE BEEN ASKED NOT TO OPEN K5. SO YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT BE TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY BUT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT ON THE 15TH. OKAY. ALL GOOD. >> SIR. WE STILL DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING IT. >> COMMISSIONER: WE CAN STILL OPEN IT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: SO SOMEONE HERE OR WRITTEN? >> IN PERSON. >> COUNTY JUDGE: OKAY. [00:40:02] LET'S DO THAT. LET'S GET THE. [K.5. Discussion and possible action to approve the FY27 Hays County Civilian Salary Chart and FY27 Market Adjustment and Base Pay Procedures, including phased implementation of market adjustments effective October 1, 2026, and April 1, 2027; authorize the Payroll Office, in coordination with Human Resources, to establish necessary job codes and update job titles associated with existing job codes consistent with the approved FY27 Civilian Salary Chart. SMITH/COHEN] >> DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROACH THE HAYS COUNTY CIVILIAN SALARIES CHART AND FY 27 MARKET ADJUSTMENT AND BASE PAY PROCEDURES INCLUDING FACED IMPLEMENTATION OF MARKET ADJUSTMENTS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026 AND APRIL 1, 2027 AUTHORIZE THE PAYROLL OFFICE IN COORDINATION WITH HUMAN RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH NECESSARY JOB CODES AND UPDATE JOB TIGHTLESS ASSOCIATED WITH EXISTING JOB CODES CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVED FY 27 CIVILIAN SALARY CHART. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE ASK THE FIRST SPEAKER TO COME ON UP. >> THE CLERK: ELAINE CARDANUS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I DON'T SEE HER HERE. WHO ELSE. >> CYNTHIA. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THE COLONEL. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YOU EARNED IT. >> THANK YOU. AND I THINK ELAINE WAS PLANNING TO BE HERE AROUND 10:00. BUT THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. WELL LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF. I AM THE ASSISTANT COUNTY CLERK. THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. YOU KNOW HOW STRONGLY I ADVOCATE FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR PAY. AND I'M HERE TODAY AGAIN TO CONTINUE TO STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE HR MARKET STUDY AND THE RECOMMENDATION PRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. THIS ISN'T A NEW ISSUE. FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER ARE COURT HAS HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE COMPENSATION STRUCTURE. THE COURT RECORD DOCUMENTS THAT HISTORY. YEAR AFTER YEAR THE ISSUE HAS BEEN STUDIED, DISCUSSED, DEFERRED AND IN TOO MANY INSTANCES KICKED DOWN THE ROAD. WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS COURT HAS COMMISSIONED TWO COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES OF THE COUNTY COMPENSATION PROGRAM. BOTH STUDIES REACH THE SAME CONCLUSION. THE MAJORITY OF HAYS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE COMPENSATED BELOW MARKET VALUE. WHEN I CAME TO THE COUNTY FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO, I BROUGHT WITH ME EXPERIENCE AS AN H.R. DIRECTOR. I LOOKED AT THE COUNTY'S COMPENSATION STRUCTURE AND IN RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME REACHED THE SAME CONSTRUCTION. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY. THE COUNTY HAD POSITIONS THAT WERE SIMPLY NOT BEING COMPENSATED COMPETITIVELY. SO THIS IS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE KNOW. NOW WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COURT TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP NOT SIMPLY BY SAYING THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT BY DEMONSTRATING IT THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS. I HAVE HEARD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POTENTIALLY CARVING UP THE PROPOSED COMPENSATION PLAN TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE OR EASIER TO ABSORB. I UNDERSTAND THE BUDGETARY PRESSURES, BUT I WOULD CAUTION THE COURTS AGAINST PIECEMEALING A COMPENSATION PLAN THAT WAS DESIGNED TO CORRECT A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM. WE HAVE SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT APPROACH BEFORE WITH THE MAG STUDY. INCREMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS TO AN INHERITLY FLAWED STRUCTURE DO NOT NECESSARILY CORRECT IT. THEY PERPETUATE IT. WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO ESTABLISHING A NEW BASELINE. ONE THAT BRINGS THE COUNTY COMPENSATION PROGRAM INTO A COMPETITIVE POSITION WITH THE MARKET AND GIVES US A FOUNDATION WE CAN RESPONSIBLY MAINTAIN GOING FORWARD. THAT SANZ OPPORTUNITY WORTH TAKING. OUR EMPLOYEES ARE THE COUNTY'S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET. THEY PROVIDE THE SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON EVERY DAY. THEY DESERVE A COMPENSATION SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF THEIR WORK AND ALLOWS HAYS COUNTY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN AN INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE LABOUR MARKET. SO I'M ASKING THE COURT TO BE BOLD, BE LEADERS. DON'T JUST TELL OUR EMPLOYEES YOU VALUE THEM. SHOW THEM. ADOPT THE H.R. MARKET STUDY AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE '27 BUDGET. LET'S STOP DELAYING THE SOLUTION AND FINALLY CORRECT THE COUNTY'S COMPENSATION PROBLEM. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD ON TIMING TOO. SO IF WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE PUSHED IT WAY OUT OF SEQUENCE, IF DOCTOR SHOWS UP WE'LL GIVE HER THAT TIME TO SPEAK. SO THE CONVERSATION, SCOTT, WAS AROUND THE-- I HEARD A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TALKING ABOUT OPTION 1, OPTION 2. CAN YOU FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC HELP US ENCAPSULATE THE DOLLARS TIED TO EACH ONE? >> YES, JUDGE. SO THE OPTION 1-- SORRY. SCOTT, BUDGET OFFICER. [00:45:03] THE OPTION 1 WOULD BE A FULL IMPLEMENTATION 10.1 WHICH YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT $6.8 MILLION AS THE INCREMENTAL FISCAL IMPACT ON THAT, AND THEN THE OPTION 2 WOULD BE THE DESTAGGERRED APPROACH THAT WOULD GIVE A 50% INCREASE ON 10.1, AND THEN ON 4.1, IT WOULD GET THE REMAINING 50%, AND THAT WOULD HAVE AN INCREMENTAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY 4.8 MILLION. >> COUNTY JUDGE: 4.8 MILLION. SO WE WOULD FOLLOW THE H.R. MODEL, THE RECOMMENDATION, OPTION 2 TO STAGGER IT WHERE WE WOULD PUT EVERYBODY WITHOUT COMPRESSION OF PAY, AND WITH PROPER MARKET ANALYSIS 50% ON 10.1, 50% ON 4.1, AND WE HAVE THESE DOLLAR AMOUNTS INCLUDED WITH OUR HAYS COUNTY EPTORSMENT NEGOTIATIONS AS WELL? >> SO THAT NUMBER, THAT 4.8 DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT. THE C.B.A. NEGOTIATIONS WOULD BE ROUGHLY 2.3 MILLION. >> COUNTY JUDGE: 2.3 MILLION, AND I WILL GO ON THE RECORD AS MANY TIMES AS ANYONE EVER WANTS, I FULLY SUPPORT ALL OF OUR CO-WORKERS INCLUDING THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, C.B.A., HCLA. HAYS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION, I SUPPORT THEM FULLY. I BELIEVE IN THEM COMPLETELY, AND IT IS THROUGH THESE COMPETITIVE LENSES THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO STAFF AND SUPPORT AND OCCUPY THESE SPACES, AND I FEEL THAT WE OWE IT-- I BELIEVE IN IT 100%. THERE IS NO BUT. I BELIEVE THAT WE OWE IT TO OUR NONLAW ENFORCEMENT CO-WORKERS TO HAVE A SIMILAR STRIDE IN THAT EFFORT BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BENEFIT FROM IT, AND WHEN SHERIFF CUTLER WAS DESCRIBING THE ISSUES AND HEARTACHE HE WAS HAVING WITH CORRECTION OFFICERS AT THE TIME, WE AS A COURT FULLY SUPPORTED ALL OF HIS REQUESTS, AND INCREASE THAT PAY TO MAKE IT ALL THE EASIER, ALL THE BETTER, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT BOILS DOWN TO MONEY. SOMEONE HAS TO FEED THEIR FAMILY. BUY MILK. PAY FOR GAS. SO I JUST FEELS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE FIGURE OUT A WAY TO NOT CREATE A-- NOT CONTINUE A LOPSIDED MODEL THAT WE HAVE. YES. I WAS THE GUY THAT PUSHED FOR THE MATCH STUDY ORIGINALLY SO THAT WE COULD SEE WHERE WE WERE. JUST SEE HOW FAR WE WERE. AND WE WERE OFF BY A LOT, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT EVERY TIME. IT'S AWESOME AND IT'S PRODUCTIVE AND EVERYONE IS TAKEN CARE OF. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. THE BE BOLD STATEMENT IS A GOOD STATEMENT. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN FIND $4.8 MILLION WITHOUT AS COMMISSIONER HAMMER AND I HAVE STATED WITHOUT RAISING THE TAX RATE, AND SO I HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING THAT WE CAN GO TO HELP WITH THAT. AND THAT IS HERE. WE COULD STOP PAYING FOR ADVANCED DESIGN WORK THAT MAYBE BECOME OBSOLETE DUE TO FURTHER CODE CHANGES, UTILITY UPDATES. SHIFT IN COUNTY LEADERSHIP OR PRIORITIES. ENFORCE A 30% SCHEMATIC DESIGN CAP. FREEZE ALL FUTURE ROADWAY PROJECTS OR VERT IRKAL PROJECTS AT THE 0% DESIGN PHASE SKI SCHEMATICS. 30%. THE FOOTPRINT WITHOUT SINKING MONEY INTO DETAILED CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS THAT WILL REQUIRE EXTENSIVE REVISIONS LATER. FOR FUTURE COUNTY BUILDINGS, FACILITIES OR OTHER STRUCTURES ELIMINATE CUSTOM EARLY STAGE ARCHITECTURAL SOFT COSTS. YES, MA'AM. WERE YOU GOING TO SAYING IS. OKAY. I'M IN TUNE TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO SAY. >> COMMISSIONER: DO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. >> I WILL SPEAK TO THE IDEA AND THEN I WILL SPEAK THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. STOP. >> JUDGE, WHAT WAS AFTER THE 30% DESIGN PHASE ON-- ELIMINATE AND I DIDN'T CATCH THE REST. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YES, MA'AM. LET ME GO BACK TO IT. ELIMINATE CUSTOM EARLY-STAGE ARCHITECTURAL SOFT COSTS. WANT SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE AND ONE-OFF. SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE 200% MORE EXPENSIVE. JUST TO LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN SAVE MONEY. THAT IS A SYSTEMATIC CAPACITY. ONE ITEM. IT COULD BE FIVE. BUT LOOKING AT THAT. SO THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE REPEAT, BUT ESTABLISH THE 80%. [00:50:07] STRICT POLICY TRIGGERS THAT HALTS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES UNTIL CONSTRUCTION IS FUNDING AT LEAST 80%. SOME OF THE SPOTS WHERE I THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT WITHOUT TOO MUCH TEARING INTO IT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE BORROWD $100 MILLION FOR THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. WE PAID $2.5 MILLION JUST TO HAVE THAT MONEY. NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO PAY $5 MILLION. AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN LAID A SINGLE BRICK, AND TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WE'RE LOOKING AT 4.8. PERISHABLE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, I REALLY LIKE THAT PHRASE. PER PERISHABLE. WE HAVE ONE DESIGN FOR US. MAX STUDY COULD BE AN EXAMPLE, AND THEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AGAIN BECAUSE TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY DO THE WORK. WE WANT TO WATCH THE PERISHABLE SERVICES EXPENSE. WE HAVE-- THIS IS NOT A JAB. WE HAVE A BUILDING. IT'S CALLED CURRENTLY THE EAST SIDE CAMPUS, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT $4.25 MILLION. WE'RE IN APPROXIMATELY 75 MILLION-DOLLAR BUILDING COST, AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE DIRT YET FOR IT. OPPORTUNITIES AN EXAMPLE FOR US TO SAY WELL DO WE NEED TO GIVE THIS PROJECT MANAGER $4.25 MILLION WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DIRT YET. 439 MILLION ROAD BOND THAT WE WERE ALL HAPPY TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT. WELL IF WE GRAB SOME OF OTHER MONEY THAT-- BECAUSE THAT MONEY IS ON ITS FINAL STAGES OF BEING CLEARED UP. WE COULD SAVE JUST 5 MILLION-DOLLARS NEXT YEAR. AND IT'S NOT A JAB, BUT AGAIN THESE ARE JUST EXAMPLES, YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION. $3.25 MILLIONS THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT YET. WE'RE MOVING. >> MOVING FAST. TUCKER IS A GOOD TESTAMENT TO THAT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: PERFECT. CONTRACT SERVICES. NONE IS. OKAY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE RM150 WEST EXTENSION. 32 MILLION-DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO AN EXTENSION. WE HAVE OVER $30 MILLION SITTING IN THAT ACCOUNT. >> COMMISSIONER: OKAY. BEFORE WE KEEP GOING. I JUST WANT BECAUSE I AGREE. IT'S NICE TO LOOK AT ALL THINGS, BUT I.N.S. RATES IN THE BUDGET. THAT MONEY CANNOT BE USED FOR SALARIES. IT'S DIFFERENT. I.N.S. MEANS INTEREST-- JUST FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, AND IT IS NOT TRANSFERABLE LIKE THAT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BUT THERE ARE SOME PLACES WHERE. I'M GIVING UP SHOTGUN IDEAS FOR THOUGHT PROVOKING EFFORTS. >> COMMISSIONER: IF I MAY, I'M REALLY SORRY. THE WAY THIS AGENDA ITEM IS POSTED-- IT'S NOT FOR BUDGET. IF THESE-- THE LIST JUDGE THAT YOU WERE GOING THROUGH, IF THAT IS A PORTION IN EXCHANGE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: SALARY. >> COMMISSIONER: IT NEEDS TO BE TIED SPECIFIC YEOL IF THERE ARE IDEAS ON THINGS TO MESS WITH THE TAX RATE. IT NEEDS TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CIVILIAN PAY CHART AND SALARIES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YOU ARE WONDERFUL FOR CLARIFYING. THAT IS WHY I KEEP GOING BACK TO SOMEWHERE IN THESE SPACE, THESE ARE JUST IDEAS WE CAN GET $4.8 MILLION. >> COMMISSIONER: I JUST WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND I THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> I DO THINK WE ARE LOOK AT CONTRACT SERVICES. THAT IS A MORE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION OF US LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LICENCES, AND GOING THROUGH AND HAVING A BETTER APPROACH THAT THAT. THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. I WISH WE COULD DO IT IN ONE WEEK OR TWO. THAT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST COURT, AND I THINK TUCKER AND I SAID WE WOULD TRY TO TACKLE THAT TOGETHER BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO FUND SALARIES BASED ON CUTTING JUST CERTAIN-- WE HAVE SUBSCRIPTIONS SOMETIMES WITHIN THE SAME DEPARTMENT MULTIPLE SUBSCRIPTIONS. SO LET'S GET A HANDLE ON THAT. I THINK THAT IS A GREAT WAY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THE GENERAL MESSAGE HERE IN SUMMARY. 4 MILLION-DOLLARS WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR CO-WORKERS LIKE WE DO WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. I FEEL GOOD WITH THE WAY WE TREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT. I KNOW THEY'RE WELL PAID AND I KNOW IT'S RIGHT. I WANT TO FEEL GOOD ON THE CIVIL SIDE, AND THAT IS WHY I KNOW THAT WE CAN PULL $4 MILLION OUT [00:55:01] OF OUR SEAT CUSHIONS. THAT IS THE GIST OF MY MESSAGE. >> THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY THOUGH, JUDGE, I THINK THERE IS AGREEMENT ON THE COURT THAT WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN TWO VOTES TO ADOPT AND HAVE A TAX RATE THAT WOULD INCLUDE THESE. WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE BEAT A DEAD HORSE AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT WE RAISE THE TAX RATE TO PAY FOR IT. BUT I THINK THERE IS GENERAL CONSENSUS ON THE COURT THAT WE WANT TO DO IT IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. I THINK WE'VE TAKEN A NUMBER OF VOTES ON THAT ALREADY. AT LEAST TWO BUDGET AMEND MM MENTVOTES RELATED TO HAVING THAT INCLUDED. THE QUESTION AGAIN IT JUST COMES FROM WHERE DO YOU PAY FOR IT TO SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS. I THINK THAT IS BOATER SUITED FOR OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION. BUT TO SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS NUMBER 1 IF WE LOOK AT OUR UNDER LYING TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. THERE IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE LINE OF THE BUDGET THAT IS INCLUDED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BRIDGE. IF WE DEDICATED FUNDS IN THERE. WE CAN'T TAKE MONEY FROM THE BRUJ TO PAY FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN GENERAL. WE WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST THAT RATE. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE C.O. MONEY AND WE LOOK AT THE OTHER MONIES, RODON BRIDGE HAS GIVEN MORE THAN ANY DEPARTMENT. ANY DEPARTMENT IN THIS BUDGET. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED FOR C.O.S OR ANY OF THE MONEY THAT WAS BONDED MONEY, THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC VOTED ON. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS THAT STATES WE HAVE TO USE IT ON THOSE PROJECT. WE CAN'T TAKE MONEY OUT OF THERE TO USE IN OUR GENERAL FUND. THAT IS AGAINST STATE AND FEDERAL LAW, AND IT'S AGAINST BETTER LENDING PRACTICES. SO WE CAN'T DO THOSE. SO WE HAVE TO-- SEAT CUSHIONS, THE COUCH GETS A LOT SMALLER. I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE AN OVERALL REVIEW OF OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS OF OUR-- OF ALL OF OUR EXISTING CONTRACTS. ONE OF THE FIRST CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH CHRIS, OUR NEW I.T. DIRECTOR WAS, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THAT WE HAVE, AND I THINK WE CAN GET ECONOMIES OF SCALE IF WE RUN EVERYTHING THROUGH THE I.T. DEPARTMENT WHICH HASN'T BEEN DONE IN THE PAST. SO I AGREE WITH YOU ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHENEVER WE GET INTO OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP WE CAN GET FARTHER IN-DEPTH. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I WANT TO RECAP THE THINGS YOU HAVE SAID FOR CLARIFICATION FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, THOSE TRYING TO KEEP ALONG. I UNDERSTAND. I'VE DEDICATED-- I UNDERSTAND THAT RODON BRIDGE ALLOCATE ADD PENNY FOR US. I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE DO A BOND THAT IT IS A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS, AND I AM VERY CLEAR THAT CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THOUGH ARE NOT A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS. I WOULD NEVER SUGGEST SOMETHING LIKE A CONTRACT WITH THE VOTERS TO BE USED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CO-WORKERS, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID ALTHOUGH IT'S TRUE, THE VIEWING PUBLIC SOMETIMES MAY GET IT ON AS IF IT WAS ALL ONE. I WANTED TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT. THERE ARE THREE TO FOUR DIFFERENT PIECES THAT YOU MENTIONED SO THAT THEY COULD UNDERSTAND. COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> COMMISSIONER: WELL THIS IS FOR THE H.R. PRESENTATION, RIGHT? WE NEED TO SEE THAT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: OKAY. YEAH. >> COMMISSIONER: I SUPPORT EMPLOYEES, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOREVER, AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THAT BASELINE AS SHE MENTIONED. THIS HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FOR 20 YEARS. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. BY OUR EMPLOYEES AND CREATE THAT BASELINE AND START PAYING PEOPLE PER THEIR EXPERIENCE OR SKILL SET, THEIR EDUCATION, WHAT-- THEIR PERFORMANCE. THAT IS THE MODEL THAT I HOPE THAT WE MOVE TWARDZ IN THE FUTURE. AS COMMISSIONER SMITH MENTIONED, THE COURT IS COMPLETELY BEHIND THAT. IT'S JUST HOW DO WE DO THAT, RIGHT. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT. AND THAT IS WORKING WITH OUR PROCUREMENT AGENT AS WELL AND GETTING A LIST OF ALL THOSE, AND SEE WHAT IS OVERLAPPING AND MAYBE EVEN RENEGOTIATE SOME OF THOSE THINGS. SO THERE IS DEFINITELY OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE, AND I HEAR THE FRUSTRATION, AND AS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THESE BUDGET HEARINGS, AND BACK AND FORTH, AND PRIORITIZE, AND IT'S HARD. IT IS VERY HARD. BUT JUST KNOW I THINK THIS COURT IS DOING ITS VERY BEST TO MOVE [01:00:01] OUR COUNTY FORWARD BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING. WE KNOW WHERE THE GROWTH IS COMING. EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICE. COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. ALL THESE SERVICES ARE BEING IMPACTED. WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE. THE WIRE. WE ARE PROBABLY THE LAST, WHAT, TODAY. >> COUNTY JUDGE: 13TH. >> WE'RE CLOSE. WE'RE CLOSER THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU MAY HEAR HERE. I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE COURT WILL DO THE RIGHT-- MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. >> COUNTY JUDGE: COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> COMMISSIONER: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL SCENEI WANT TO FIRST SAY FOR YEARS AND SOME OF THESE COMMENTS ARE GOING TO BE REPETITIVE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING EMPLOYEE SALARIES, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS ORGANIZATION AS WE HAVE ALL RECOGNIZED, THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS EVERY DAY WHICH ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY. AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE GOOD STIEWRDZ OF OUR TAX DOLLARS. I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO INVEST IN THE WORK FORCE THAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY. JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE ALL AGREED OR WE AGREED THAT ADDRESSING EMPLOYEE SALARIES HAVE A PRIORITY AND SUPPORTED THE TAX DOLLARS THAT-- I'M SORRY-- AND SUPPORTED INCLUDING FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO DO SO. THAT PRIORITY HAS NOT CHANGED FOR ME. I THINK TOO OFTEN WE HAVE TAKEN A PIECEMEAL APPROACH RECOGNIZING THE ISSUE, DISCUSSING SOLUTIONS, AND THEN POSTPONING MEANINGFUL ACTION UNTIL THE NEXT BRUNT BUDT CYCLE. THE UNDERLYING CHALLENGES REMAINS. TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE BEYOND TEMPORARY FIXES AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN OUR EMPLOYEES IF WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET, THEN OUR ACTION SHOULD REFLECT THAT BELIEF. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO TAKE THAT STEP AND DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE HAYS COUNTY EVERY DAY. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROCESS, I REALLY WANT TO ALLOW SOME PEOPLE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND TO ENSURE WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO THE COURT IS ACCURATE AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF, YOU KNOW, HAYS COUNTY, AND SO I WOULD ASK, JUDGE, THAT-- COME TOGETHER AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE STUDY THAT WAS DONE, AND ENSURE WE'RE DRESSING THOSE SALARIES APPROPRIATELY. I REALLY WANT TO THANK, ERIC. HE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB. BOTH HE AND SCOTT WOODLAND HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND I KNOW IT'S THEIR FIRST TRUE BUDGET. IF WE GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER, THEN BRING US SOMETHING BACK NEXT WEEK, OF COURSE, IT'S THE FINAL DAY, BUT I THINK DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, I HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ALSO MAYBE ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. WE TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYBODY'S OPTIONS, AND THEN WE TRY TO DETERMINE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT AS FAR AS THE SALARY I REALLY WOULD LIKE Y'ALL TO COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I AGREE. WE'VE SAID NUMEROUS TIMES THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS ORGANIZATION. I BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO STOP PIECEMEALING THIS PROCESS AND MOVE FORWARD. >> COUNTY JUDGE: JUST BEFORE I GO TO COMMISSIONER HAMMER. SCOTT, CAN REMIND ME, I DON'T HAVE THAT ON THE TOP OF MY MEMORY HERE. ELECTION EQUIPMENT IS HOW MUCH? >> THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPTIONS INCLUDING ANOTHER OPTION THAT WAS SENT OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT THE FULL PRICE-- ONE SECOND, JUDGE, I WANT TO. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I APPRECIATE THAT. THE FULL PRICE. JUST ROUND NUMBERS. >> FULL PRICE OR THE THREE-YEAR APPROACH? >> I'M GOING TO GIVE BOTH THOSE OPTIONS SHORTLY. >> JUDGE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SCOTT, AND WITH JENNIFER DOINOFF TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT OPTION WHERE THEY COULD MAYBE BECAUSE IN THE SCENARIO I WOULD BE PROPOSING WE WOULD DROP THAT FIRST PAYMENT BY $300,000 TO ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY TO BRING OUR TAX RATE DOWN. [01:05:01] I KNOW THAT IS IMPORTANT. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR ALL OF US. BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER. WE REDUCED OUR TAX RATE CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. HAS THAT HURT THE COUNTY FINANCIALLY, PROBABLY BUT WE FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE HAD A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN LIKE COVID AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND IT WAS, AND WE DID IT. HOWEVER, WE DIPPED INTO RESERVES SEVERAL YEARS, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO STOP DOING THAT. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TAX RATE. BUT THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO ENSURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. >> I AGREE. JUDGE, THE ONE-TIME COST, IF IT WAS PAID ALL AT ONCE WOULD BE 2.616 MILLION. >> THAT COULD BE BROKEN UP INTO THREE-YEAR PAYMENTS OF 959,000. THERE WAS A THIRD OPTION SIMILAR TO THE PAYMENT SEPTEMBER TO ME THIS WEEKEND. THAT WOULD BE A 650,000 FIRST-YEAR PAYMENT WITH ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS DUE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: OKAY. COMMISSIONER HAMMER. >> COMMISSIONER: SO I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. SHE HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD. WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR LOWS, ONE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING IS CORRECT AND JUSTIFIED BECAUSE I SEE DISCREPANCIES ON BOTH SIDES WHEN I LOOK AT THE SALARY STUDY. I WANT TO SAY THESE THINGS SO MAYBE WHENEVER Y'ALL REACH A POINT WHERE YOU GUYS CAN WORK ON THEM. SO I WENT BACK. SEPTEMBER 16TH OF 2025 IS WHEN AT THE SDECIDED WHAT MARKETS TO. WE CAME OUT WITH THE STRONG COMPARISONS. THOSE ARE 30 TO 40% WITHIN POPULATION AS WELL AS BUDGET, AND WE CAME UP WITH CEDAR PARK. GUADELOUPE COUNSELEE. THOSE WERE SUPPOSED TO OUR STRONG COMPARISONS, RIGHT, THAT WE WOULD HELP FIGURE OUT IF WE WERE BEING PAID APPROPRIATELY OR NOT. WE ADDED IN JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE. WE ADDED IN LARGER COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY IS 4.5 TIMES OUR SIZE. BEAR COUNTY IS 7.2 TIMES OUR SIZE AND WILLIAMSON IS 2.5 TIMES OUR SIZE. BUT TO BE A ABLE TO BALANCE THAT OUT. WE ALSO ADDED IN THE SMALLER LOCAL COUNSELEES. IN THIS STUDY, YOU SEE THEY'RE ALL USED AS ONE-TO-ONE COMPARISONS, AND TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK THAT IS QUITE APPROPRIATE. SO IF YOU LOOK BECAUSE THE SCHALLER COUNTIES DON'T HAVE AS MANY POSITIONS AS LEFT ARMER COUNTIES DO. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, IT'S 46.5% OF THOSE POSITIONS HAVE LARGE COUNTIES ONLY WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO SMALLER COUNTY REPRESENTATION. SO YOU ARE LOOKING AT A VERY DISPROPORTIONATE-- THE CURRENT MARKET SAMPLE IS VERY DISPROPORTIONATE AND MOSTLY COMPOSED OF THOSE LARGER COUNTIES. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY MEANING THAT THE LARGER COUNTIES PAY MORE. IT'S NOT. I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES WHERE IT DOESN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY. BUT IT SHIFTS THE MARKET AND THE WAY THAT WE DO PAY OUT SOME OF OUR PEOPLE. IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE ELECTIONS, THERE ARE CERTAIN LARGER COUNTIES ARE FROM OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR P PERSPECTIVES. SO KIND OF WHAT COMMISSIONER INGALSBE, A VERY MUCH MORE-- I PUT THIS OUT, BUT SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL POSITION LEVEL COMPARISONS, 71.2% OF THE COMPARISONS FROM THE LARGER COUNTIES, ONLY 2.8. THIS IS OVERALL. 28.8 COME FROM SMALLER COUNTIES. THAT 46.5 JUST LARGE COUNTIES NO SMALLER COUNTY REPRESENTATION. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD USE THE LARGER COUNTIES AS VALUABLE DATA POINTS. BUT I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD NECESSARILY CARRY THAT SAME WEIGHT, IF YOU CAN WEIGHT THEM AT 15% THE SMALLER COUNTIES AT 25%. THE WEIGHTING WILL REALLY HELP DETERMINE WHAT THESE ACTUAL SALARIES WILL BE. >> C >> COMMISSIONER: I DISAGREE WITH THAT. THE REASON I DISAGREE WITH THAT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW THEY'RE WAITED. THE FACT IS WHENEVER WE LOOKED AT THOSE AND THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WITH THE MAG STUDY WAS WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT STUDY COMPETITORS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. [01:10:05] WE ADDED, TRAVIS. TRAVIS. EVEN ADDING TEXAS STATE. >> BEAR COUNTY WE LOSE PEOPLE TOO. >> COMMISSIONER: TWO YEARS AGO, WE LOST ALL OF OUR COURT REPORTERS TO BEAR COUNTY AT ONE TIME. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THAT IS TRUE. THAT IS TRUE. I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM VERY MUCH BUT... >> COMMISSIONER: SIX OF THEM. >> COMMISSIONER: IT'S DIFFERENT. >> COMMISSIONER: NO. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OPINION. THAT IS FINE. I CAN DISAGREE WITH IT. THEY CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT TO COME BACK TO US WITH. I'M FINE WITH THAT. BUT THE REASON A NUMBER OF THOSE THINGS WERE ADDED IN THERE WAS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING-- WE'VE LOST EMPLOYEES TO KYLE. WE'VE LOST EMPLOYEES TO SAN SAN MARCOS. THEY KNOW THEY CAN DO THE SAME JOB HERE AND GET PAID 10 TO 15% MORE THERE. AND MAINTAIN STATE-WIDE-- THEIR RETIREMENT IS THE SAME RETIREMENT SYSTEM. THEY CAN-- BUT WE DO AGAIN THOSE LARGE COUNTIES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS AREA, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES FROM HERE AT LEAST A HALF DOZEN AT ONE TIME THAT ALL LEFT AND WENT TO BEAR COUNTY BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE 20 AT THAT 25,000 A YEAR MORE IN THE SAME JOB SPHWHRITION REMEMBER HOW I SAID I LOOKED AT A LOT OF THESE POSITIONS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THE LARGER COUNTIES ARE PAYING MORE. >> COMMISSIONER: I'M JUST SAYING. >> COMMISSIONER: WHAT TYPE OF LIKE ACTUAL DATA SET ARE YOU GOING TO WORK WITH TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A COUNTY OR A CITY IS MORE COMPARABLE TO OTHERS? >> COMMISSIONER: WELL I THINK THAT WE WHENEVER -- >> COMMISSIONER: PROBLEM. >> COMMISSIONER: TODAY. WE-- IN 2022 AND 2023, WE HAD A HORRIBLE ATTRITION PROBLEM TO THE POINT WHERE I BELIEVE WE HAD 46 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OUT OF 100 IN TRANSPORTATION. WE HAD TO DO A ONE-TIME SALARY BONUS JUST TO KEEP THE ONES THAT WE HAD. WE DON'T HAVE AN ATTRITION PROBLEM BECAUSE WE DID THE MAG STUDY IN 2022/23. WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE-- AND WE DID MASSIVE PAY INCREASES AT THAT POINT, AND WE STILL DID IT PIECEMEAL ENOUGH THAT WE DIDN'T HIT ALL THOSE POSITIONS. MY CONCERN, AND AGAIN I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SAY GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN, BUT MY CONCERN IS, WE HAVE A ENTIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THEIR PURPOSE, LARGE PURPOSE OF THEIR PURPOSE AND THEIR EXPERTISE WAS IN LOOKING AT HOW THIS WAS DONE. I CAN UNDERSTAND DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THIS. I HAVE ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE STUFF IN THERE, BUT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND THE REASONING BEHIND USING THOSE-- THERE ARE ONES THAT WILL DRAG IT DOWN. >> COMMISSIONER: THEY WON'T. THEY WON'T DRAG IT DOWN 20%. IT'S QUITE SURPRISING. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE S.H.R.M. AND WORLD AT WORK. THOSE ARE ACTUALLY THE MEASURES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO DETERMINE HOW WE RATE OUR SALARIES, AND THOSE ARE WAY OFF! SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHENEVER YOU PUT IN THE SMALLER LOCAL-- THERE IS NO POINT OF PUTTING THAT IN THERE THEN. JUST DO THE LEFT ARMER COUNTIES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF BASELINE. YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THESE-- I UNDERSTAND WE LOST PEOPLE TO BEAR COUNTY. WE'LL LOSE PEOPLE TO EVERY SINGLE COUNTY AROUND US. THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO CREATE AN ENTIRE SALARY STUDY MARKETED AROUND THOSE THREE MASSIVE COUNTIES. >> COMMISSIONER: I DON'T THINK-- THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF US PUTTING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT WE HADN'T IN THE PAST. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WHAT I'M GOING TO DO NEXT IS ASK DOCTOR TO SPEAK. WE JUMPED SO FAR FORWARD THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO COME HERE IN TIME. IF YOU DON'T MIND. WE'LL GIVE YOU YOUR THREE MINUTES. >> JUST THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU. I'M LAIN THE HAYS COUNTY CLERK. AND I CAME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ERIC OUR H.R. DIRECTOR AND THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE. I THINK HE HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB, AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED TO HEAR TODAY THAT EVERYBODY SUPPORTS IN PRINCIPLE THE IDEA OF TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF. WHAT I WANTED TO DO TODAY IS TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR HIM AND ALSO SHARE SOME OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND FROM MY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. I THINK YOU ALL KNOW I HAVE AN MBA AND I WORKED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN THE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING WORLD FOR SEVERAL DECADES. WHAT PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW, I WENT HALFWAY THROUGH A MASTERS, AND H.R. BEFORE I SWITCHED TO AN M.B.A. AND MY WORK DID INCLUDE A LOT OF H.R. I DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IN TRAINING THAT OUR H.R. DIRECTOR ERIC HAS. BUT I DO HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ABOUT IT THAT I [01:15:03] WANTED TO SHARE. I DO THINK THAT IT'S FRUITLESS AT THIS POINT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SALARY STUDY. IT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. I THINK IT'S WELL DESIGNED. IT'S A CROSS SECTION. WE'LL NEVER FIND COUNTIES THAT ARE IDENTICAL TO US. I THINK THAT ONE-- I THINK OVERALL AS I THINK THAT WALT WAS SUGGESTED. I THINK IT'S FAIR AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT TO BRING US IN LINE. I THINK ERIK HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. HE IS OUR EXPERT. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE REALLY COMPETENT IN THAT POSITION THAT KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS KIND OF THING AND HAS THE TRAINING AND EXPERTISE AND I HOPE YOU CAN SUPPORT THAT AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON HIS RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH I THINK ARE VERY SOUND. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SHARE THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, ONE OF THE DRIVING PRINCIPLES WAS THAT ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOMES ARE DIRECTLY CORRELATED WITH EMPLOYEES SATISFACTION. AND BY SATISFACTION I MEAN FEELING VALUED AND RESPECTED WHICH CERTAINLY TIES TO BEING COMPENSATED FAIRLY. NOT JUST THE LIVING WAGE BUT BEING COMPENSATED FAIRLY. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE ALL ON-BOARD WITH THAT. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHERE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN WE HAD AN INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY THAT WAS BASED ON MANUFACTURING, IF A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WENT OUT, YOU RECOGNIZED THAT AS A PRIORITY, TAKE CARE OF IT AND GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY OR EVERYTHING WOULD FALL APART IN YOUR BUSINESS. WE'RE DOING THAT TO SOME EXTENT WITH THE ELECTIONS EQUIPMENT. BUT NOW OUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET IN A SERVICE ECONOMY WHICH WE LARGELY ARE IS OUR HUMAN ASSETS, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM SO THAT THEY FEEL RESPECTED AND VALUED AND DO TOP PERFORMANCE. NOW IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THAT TRANSLATES INTO PROFITABILITY. BUT IN THE SERVICE SECTOR AND IN THE NONPROFIT, THAT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH OTHER OUTCOMES. IT HAS TO DO WITH FINDING EFFICIENCIES, COST SAVINGS. INNOVATION. ACCURACY ALL IMPORTANT PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN OVER AND OVER THAT THOSE RESULT FROM EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, AND CONVERSELY FAILING TO MEET THOSE NEEDS, THOSE PERSONAL NEEDS FOR FEELING VALUED HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. AND I THINK WALT TOUCHED ON SOME OF THEM. IT WAS AWFUL A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE JUST BLEEDING EMPLOYEES AND CONTRE THE CREW. PEOPLE WOULD WALK OUT OF INTERVIEWS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. IT WILL COST OUR COUNTY IF WE DON'T CARE OF THIS AND WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE. I REALLY ENCOURAGE TO CONTINUE. I RESPECT VERY MUCH YOUR DECISIONS AND THE WORK AND THOUGHT YOU ARE PUT INTO IT. I THINK OUR COUNTY WILL ONLY BENEFIT BY THIS IN THE LONG RUN AND SAVE MONEY OVERTIME IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT NOW. THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. >> COUNTY AUDITOR. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE H.R. DEPARTMENT JUST A LITTLE EXPLANATION AS FAR AS COUNTY AUDITOR. THE COUNTY ADYOITOR ARE INDEPENDENT. SO WHEN WE ARE INFORMED THERE WOULD BE A NEW MARKET STUDY PERFORMED, I DID ASK THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO LET ME SEE MY POSITIONS BECAUSE WE ALWAYS FOLLOW THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOMMENDATION. AS OPPOSED TO JUST GETTING A FLAT INCREASE FROM THE DISTRICT JUMGHTS. I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS. SO I DID LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL POSITIONS, AND I DID NOTICE SOME THAT APPEARED TO BE SKEWED. AND I BROUGHT THAT TO HIS ATTENTION, AND IT JUST APPEARED THAT THE COMPARISON MAY HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD, AND ACTUAL SALARY THAT WAS ENTERED INTO THE RAW DATA SCHEDULES WAS REALLY NOT A COMPARABLE SALARY. LAST WEEK WHEN I MET WITH HIM, I SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED THAT INCORRECT COMPARISON, AND HE DID MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT. I HAD RECEIVED SOME COMPLAINTS FROM SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE MINIMUM AMPLESAMPLES AND HOW T THE AVERE USED. I POINTED THAT OUT TO ERIC. THIS WEEKEND HE DID WORK AND TRIED TO GET THE TRUE MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SO THE AVERAGES WOULD BE GOOD NUMBERS TO START. WITH I JUST GOT THAT INFORMATION THIS MORNING, BUT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIAL ASSISTANTS WERE ONLY BEING COMPARED TO THE TOP 3 COUNTIES BEAR COUNTY, TRAVIS, AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY. SO I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL DOESN'T HAVE AN ASSISTANT IN ANOTHER COUNTY, AND WHY WAS THAT DATA NOT PULLED [01:20:01] INTO THE RAW DATA SO WE COULD GET A GOOD AVERAGE OR GOOD STARTING AVERAGE MINIMUM, AND IT WAS THAT JOB DESCRIPTION DIDN'T MEET 70%, AND SO I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE MAG STUDY DID IT. IF THEY MATCHED EVERY COUNSELEE AND EVERY CITY. 10 COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT WERE IN THE RAW DATA, BUT THEY WERE NOT ALL USED. FOR EXAMPLE THIS ONE EXAMPLE THAT I SAID AN ASSISTANT TO ELECTED OFFICIAL ONLY HAD THREE COUNTIES. SO IT APPEARS THAT IT'S SKEWED UP FURTHER TO THE RIGHT OF THE BELL CURVE. IF THAT IS HOW THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO GO FORWARD, WE BASICALLY AGREE TO DISAGREE. I THINK THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO IS AN ASSISTANT TO THIS ELECTED OFFICIAL OR WHO HANDLES THAT OFFICE WHEN THAT OFFICIAL IS NOT THERE. THAT COULD BE THE COMPARISON. DID MAG COMPARE SOMEONE ELSE FROM THAT COUNTY? I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA. I DON'T KNOW IF ERIC HAS ACCESS TO THAT DATA. BUT IT IS THAT THE PATH THE COURT WANTS TO GO OR IS THE COURT OKAY WITH JUST COMPARING THE TOP 3 COUNTIES FOR SOME POSITIONS LIKE COMMISSIONER HAMMER SAID THERE IS SEVERAL WHERE THEY ARE THAT IT LOOKS SKEWED TO THE RIGHT. HOW WOULD THE COURT LIKE TO PROCEED. ERIC IS DOING HIS JOB IN MATCHING THE 70% AND HE DOESN'T GET A FULL 70% MATCH, BUT I FEELITY SKFEELIT'S SKEWED. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WE SHOULD BE EVEN HANDED, TRANSPARENT AND CONSISTENT. >> THAT IS THE ISSUE. THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS THAT HAVE ALL OF THEM AND SOME THAT JUST HAVE THE TOP 3. EVEN IF YOU DO WANT TO ADD THOSE IN, WHICH IS FINE. IT'S SO DISPROPORTIONIATE AND THE ENTIRE STUDY IS FOUGHT IN THAT WAY. I THINK IF YOU PUT A WEIGHTING ON IT. >> CANDACE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY AS COMMISSIONER INGALSBE AND COMMISSIONER HAMMER HAVE SAID TO WORK THROUGH HER ISSUES WITH ERIC AND SEE WHILE WE KNOW THAT EVERY COUNSELEE IS DIFFERENT SO THERE IS GOING TO BE THOSE CHALLENGES WHERE THEIR POSITIONS WE CAN'T FIND AN EXACT POSITION IN THE COMPARABLE CITIES AND COUNTIES WE'RE LOOKING AT. I THINK WE CAN WALK THROUGH THE JUSTIFICATION AND BRING THOSE EXAMPLES BACK TO THE COURT. ONE OF THE THINGS JUST AS Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY STATED. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE NEXT WEEK TO GO THROUGH THOSE ISSUES. TO BRING BACK RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT KNOWING THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS EVERYTHING. BUT I DO-- I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT IN REGARDS TO THE STRATEGY. WE KNEW THE FIRST PART OF THIS H.R. WOULD GO AND LOOK COUNTYWIDE TO LOOK FOR WHERE WE SHOULD BE. THE INTENT WAS THAT IS JUST THE FIRST STEP. DURING FY27, WE WERE GOING TO MEET WITH EACH OF THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND REALLY GO MORE INTO DEPTH ABOUT THEIR DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT BETTER THAN H.R. OR OURSELF WOULD SAY KNOW, AND BRING BACK THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS ANY INEQUITIES OR AREAS WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE FOR FY DE 28. WE KNOW THIS IS NOT A PERFECT PROCESS. BUT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP TO GET US GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO WE WILL DEFINITELY MEET AND BRING THAT BACK WITH THE GROUP AND HOPEFULLY RESOLVE IT NEXT WEEK. >> COUNTY JUDGE: FOR A VOTE ON THE 15TH. COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER: BASICALLY I WANT TO SAY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT. IF YOU LOOK AT A DEPARTMENT, YOU CAN HAVE ONE POSITION WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT HAVE ALL OF THE COUNTIES AND ALL OF THE CITIES REPRESENTED, AND THEN THE NEXT POSITION, SAME DEPARTMENT ONLY LARGE COUNTIES. I MEAN THAT IS JUST NOT EQUITABLE. THAT IS NOT FAIR. THAT IS NOT THE WAY-- WE SHOULDN'T PUT THAT INTO POSITION. I WOULD LIKE TO, WHATEVER Y'ALL DECIDE ON, WE WILL NEED TO SET ASIDE MONEY TO DO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. EVEN IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS LATER ON BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A PAY SCALE IN FRONT OF US THAT WE ALL VOTE ON SO WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT. MAYOR, YOU DO NEED THAT FROM THE COURT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: YES. THAT WAS MY QUESTION. >> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO ADOPT THAT. >> COMMISSIONER: I SAY WE SET ASIDE THE MONEY AND THE TAX RATE AND WE CAN COME BACK AT A LATER TIME. >> COUNTY JUDGE: WE CAN ALWAYS AMEND. >> COMMISSIONER: WELL THAT IS MY QUESTION. CAN WE DO THAT. >> WE HAVE IN THE PAST ADOPTED A BUDGET WITH FUNDS SET ASIDE AND THEN WHEN MAG CAME, WE WENT AHEAD AND IMPLEMENTED THAT CHART LATER IN THE YEAR. IT DOES DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION, AND SO WE DID HAVE THOSE-- THEN WE CAME BACK [01:25:02] AND DID THE 10% WHILE WE WERE WAITING AND WAITING. WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT SITUATION. I BELIEVE THERE ARE-- THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES THAT WE CAN CARVE OUT AND SEE, OKAY. WHY DID THIS ONE GROW SO MUCH. I DID THAT, AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPARED TO THE TOP 3 COUNTIES, AND SO LIKE IS THAT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE COURT TO VOTE ON. >> COUNTY JUDGE: I HOPE NOT. >> SO I THINK ON THE 15TH, THE IDEAL OPTION WOULD BE ONE TO SET ASIDE THE FUND WHICH THE COURT HAS ALREADY AGREED TO THE 4.8, UNLESS THAT CHANGES, AND THEN ACTUALLY THE PROCESS THAT WE WILL USE. SO YOU HAVE LISTED OFF-- I HAVEN'T SEEN THE ACTUAL LIST, BUT THERE ARE POSITIONS WHERE YOU HAVE CONCERN. I THINK WE HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS KIND OF COME UP WITH THE PROCESS OF HOW WE LOOK AT THOSE POSITIONS, AND WE BRING THAT BACK TO THE COURT THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL LIST OF DATA COMPARISONS, THIS IS THE PROCESS WE'LL USE. WHETHER IT'S A WEIGHTED PROCESS OR BASED ON JUSTIFICATION THE TYPE OF POSITION, IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE'VE ALL SEEN CANDIDATES TO THESE COUNTIES THAT WE DO NEED TO COMPARE OURSELF HERE TO MAKE THAT JUSTIFICATION FOR THE COURT. I WOULD SAY FOR TIMING PURPOSES, THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE COURT IS SEPTEMBER 15TH, BUT THEN AFTER THAT. SEPTEMBER 29TH, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS WHEN WE TRULY BRING-- IF WE CAN'T RESOLVE ON THE 15TH, THE 29TH, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS THE SALARY STRUCTURE. SO PAYROLL IS ABLE TO GET THAT READY FOR THE OCTOBER 15TH. >> COUNTY JUDGE: SO TODAY, DO YOU NEED A MOTION? IF SO, HOW MUCH DETAIL DO YOU NEED INTO IT OR JUST ALLOCATE 4.8 MILLION TO OPTION EFFORT. >> THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WENT-- ACTUALLY, TO, NO, YOU ALY DID IT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: IDEALLY ON THE 15TH. >> YES. >> COUNTY JUDGE: NO ACTION AT THIS TIME. GOOD CONVERSATION. GOOD DIRECTION. OKAY. SO I HAVE A COURTROOM WITH SOME FOLKS IN IT. DO YOU WANT TO PICK SOME PREFERENCE TO CHERRY-PICK OUT. LET'S OPEN K1. >> DISCUSSION AND MOB ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 2024-2027 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS AND THE HAYS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION RELATED TO THE CONTRACTUAL YEAR 3 PAY PLAN UPDATE. >> SECOND. >> COUNTY JUDGE: AND THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES. >> I CAN START IF YOU WANT TO. >> OKAY. >> JORDAN CIVIL FIRST ASSISTANT. JUST TO SET THE BACKGROUND, THIS IS PAY PLAN UPDATE IS SOMETHING WE DO USUALLY AFTER YEAR 2 OF OUR CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GOING INTO YEAR 3 OF THE AGREEMENT, AND WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE PAY PLAN UPDATE AFTER YEAR 2 TO HELP WITH ALL OF THIS MARKET STUFF THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. AS A REMINDER ON THE COUNTY'S BARGAINING TEAM. YOU HAD CANDACE, COMMISSIONER HAMMER AND COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, CORRECTION. LARGER GROUP. THROUGH OUR NEGOTIATION MEETINGS WE HAD NEFERL, WE WERE ABLE TO TULTIZE ERIK, SCOTT, THEY MADE THEMSELVES ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS OF ALL TEAMS WHICH WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY GRATEFUL THEY DID A LOT OF WORK FOR US AS FAR AS MARKETS AND RUNNING NUMBERS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES POOR SCOTT HAD TO RERUN NUMBERS, BUT THE SHORT OF IT IS WE DID THOSE NEGOTIATING TEAMS DID COME TO AN AGREEMENT CONTINGENT ON THE COURT'S APPROVAL TODAY AS FAR AS THAT UPDATE FOR THE PAY PLAN FOR YEAR 3. I'M GOING TO GIVE APPROXIMATE NUMBERS, AND SCOTT WITH CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BECAUSE WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON A LOT OF NUMBERS. THE NEW SCALE WOULD EQUATE TO ROUGHLY I 2% COLA FOR MAXED OUT COLLECTIONS TRACK EMPLOYEES. THAT WOULD BE A ONE-TIME PAYMENT IN OCTOBER. AND THAT AGAIN IS A 2% COLA FOR MAXED OUT CORRECTIONS TRACK EMPLOYEES. ROUGHLY I THINK IT E KUWAITED TO ALMOST A 4%-ISH-- SCOTT CAN CORRECT ME IN A MINUTE. PAY ENCREASE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SECTION. OR TRACK, EXCUSE ME. WITH PAY PARODY ON AN HOURLY RATE FOR THE CONSTABLE TRACK. AS WELL AS I BELIEVE IT'S ROUGHLY 3.5% INCREASE FOR THE [01:30:02] ECO MANAGER POSITION. BUT SCOTT CAN CORRECT ME IF ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS WERE INCORRECT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: SCOTT BUDGET OFFICER. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALONG THE RIGHT LINES JORDAN. FOR THE OPERATING OR KIND OF DEPUTIES TRACT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE YOU HAD INCREASES RANGING FROM 2.8% TO 3.67% DEPENDING ON THE POSITION. AND THEN FOR THE CONSTABLES YOU HAD RANGES OF 2.9% TO 3.67% AND ONCE AGAIN THOSE RANGES WERE DETERMINED BASED ON MARKET DATA. . AND CALCULATIONS DONE BY ERIC AS WELL AS THE CP18. AND THEN FINALLY JORDAN WAS CORRECT WITH THE E EMERGENCEY COMMUNICATION OFFICERS IN THAT GROUP. HE ONLY HAD A 3.5% INCREASE GOING TO THE MANAGERS. >> AND I DO KNOW THERE ARE REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY NEGOTIATING TEAM THAT'S SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU. BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HCLEA IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR WANTS MORE DETAILS THAT WE DIDN'T ALREADY JUST BRIEF YOU ON. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BEAUTIFUL. COMMISSIONER I'LL START ON THIS END. >> WELL JUDGE, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK AS JORDAN SAID. FROM SCOTT, ERIC AND MARISOL AND I WANT TO THANK THE HAYS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION. YOU KNOW AT TIMES IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING EVERY EMPLOYEE OF HAYS COUNTY BUT I APPRECIATE THE NO-- NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD BUT WE'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND I'M HAPPY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. >> JUST WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER HAMMER AND INGLESPIE FOR BEING ON THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AND ALL OUR STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMING TOGETHER AND SETTLING ON THIS AGREEMENT. AND I THINK YA'LL-- WE CARE. WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE AND DO RIGHT BY EVERYONE. SO I APPRECIATE YA'LL'S WORK. >> COMMISSIONER HAMER? >> IT WAS A GREAT MEETING ONCE EVERY SIX OR SO WEEKS COMING TO AN AGREEMENT. I DEFINITELY THINK WE PUT YA'LL IN CHARGE TO PROTECT US TO KEEP US SAFE. YOU GUYS WERE A BADGE AND A GUN EVERY DAY AND WE RESPECT YA'LL AND WHAT YOU DO. SO I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR US AND WE'LL SEE YA'LL AGAIN IN THREE MONTHS FOR THE WHOLE THING ONCE AGAIN. >> COUNTY JUDGE: COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK YA'LL FOR COMING TODAY. AND YA'LL'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION. I KNOW IT'S NOT PART OF YOUR JOB ON A BASE LEVEL. I KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES-- AND I'M SAYING THIS TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION, YOUR COLLEAGUES CHOSE YOU TO REPRESENT THEM. IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK. AND I APPRECIATE IT. I'D ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE CLEATS HERE AS WELL. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. ONE QUESTION I HAD AND THIS-- JORDAN YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, I NOTICED IN THE SALARY CHART. IN 2024, WE ADDED POSITIONS TO THE CBA. THAT WERE NON-UNIFORM POSITIONS. IS THAT CORRECT? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ECO TRACK? YES. >> YES. AND THOSE ARE INCLUDED? >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. >> FOR THE MANAGER 3.5%. >> SO ALL OF THE SALARIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAY PLAN. BUT THE CHANGE WAS TO THE ECA MANAGERS. LONG STORY SHORT, THAT-- ALL THE ECA MANAGERS WERE CAPPED OUT. THAT WAS NEW, KIND OF PLAN PLAGUE WITH THE SALARIES. AND SO ALL THE ECA MANAGERSES WERE CAPPED OUT. SO THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO FIX THAT DISPARITY. BUT ALL OF THE ECO POSITIONS ARE IN THE PAY PLAN. >> OKAY JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN THE BUDGET WAS WE ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO ENSURE THAT THE SHE IS RIFF AND EACH OF THE CONSTABLES EACH RECEIVE 1% MORE IN THEIR PAY THAN ANYONE-- ANY OFFICER THAT IS UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION. OR THE SALARY THAT WE HAD SET IN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS STEP PLAN. AS OF NOW, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE ELECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE ADOPTION OF THIS? AND THEN-- I WOULD ASSUME THAT AFTER THIS IS ADOPTED, IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME CHANGE AS WELL? DO YOU ALL KNOW THAT? >> SCOTT-- BUDGET OFFICER. SO THE EMPLOYEES THAT WULD BE AFFECTED BY THAT ARE THE SHERIFF OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER ONE. AND THEN I BELIEVE THERE WERE TWO CONSTABLES. I BELIEVE THAT CONSTABLE FOUR AND CONSTABLE THREE WOULD BE AFFECTED. [01:35:01] >> BUT AFTER THIS ADOPTION NEXT FISCAL YEAR WOULD THE OTHER CONSTABLES BE IMPACTED AS WELL? >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. >> OKAY. JUST A QUESTION. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE WASN'T THAT GREAT DUE CAUSE. WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY AT WITH THE 3% TO BE LOWER. THAN WITH THE NEW RATES ARE GOING TO BE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> COUNTY JUDGE: STEPHANIE IS HERE AS WELL FROM OUR 911. WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPROACH THE PODIUM? PLEASE. WE ARE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF DEPARTMENTS THAT MAKE UP THE RESPONSE. AND THERE'S NO WORLD WHERE WE CAN'T GIVE YOU A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF. SAY A FEW WORDS AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WAY THINGS HAVE UNFOLDED IN THIS LANE. >> STEPHANIE ROBINSON I'M THE CCC DIRECTOR WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE COST SHARING IN THESE SALARY INCREASES. WE HAD ADOPTED A BUDGET WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OR PARTNERS KIND OF ANTICIPATING SOME INCREASES. BUT I BELIEVE THAT ERIC AND SCOTT AND TEAM OBVIOUSLY SAW WHERE THE NEED WAS. OUR MANAGERS WERE ALL CAPPED OUT AND THEY WERE UNDER THAT VALUE. SO WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. SO I THINK OVERALL IT WENT EXTREMELY WELL AND GREATAL FOR THE TEAMS THAT WERE PUT TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT WORK. >> COUNTY JUDGE: GOOD. AND WHAT ABOUT-- WELL I WON'T ASK THAT QUESTION. NEVER MIND. ANYTHING FOR STEPHANIE WHILE SHE'S ON THE-- AT THE PODIUM? >> KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. AND ALSO, I HOPE YOU NOTICED WE LOOKED AT AND I THINK I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY. ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR NOT NECESSARILY MUTUAL AID BUT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED FOR YA'LL TO BE ABLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND AND THEM TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO US ON THOSE-- IN THOSE BORDER AREAS. AND IT'S SOFTWARE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY USE WITH KAMAL AND GUADELOUPE COUNTY IF THEY CHOSE TO ADOPT IT. WHERE IT'S NOT MUTUAL AID. IT DOESN'T E KUWAIT TO MUTUAL AID BUT THE INDIVIDUAL ENTITIES STILL HAVE TO DO IT. BUT IT GIVES US THE ABILITY THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO ACTUALLY-- YOU'D EXPLAIN IT BETTER. HOW ABOUT THAT. I'M STRUGGLING HERE. >> ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD BE LIKE WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE HUB. WHERE WE COULD CONNECT TO AND ANY OTHER 911 COULD CONNECT TO THAT HUB AND HAVE MUTUAL AID WE COULD WORK WITH IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. >> COUNTY JUDGE: THANK YOU. AND THAT'S AS FAR AS WE'LL GO BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AGENDA-- FOR THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE BECAUSE YOU RUN SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR COUNTY AND SINCE YOU WERE HERE I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE HONER AND RESPECT YOU DESERVE AND GIVE THAW TIME ON THE POED DWROUM SAY A FEW WORDS. >> APPRECIATE IT. >> COUNTY JUDGE: BUT THOSE ARE THE WRONG WORDS. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH STEPHANIE FOR ALL YOU DO. WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED ON THIS ITEM? >> VOTE. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY WRITTEN THAT YOU NEED JORDAN? >> EXCUSE ME. NO IF THE COURT IS SO INCLINED TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT WHICH BRINGS IN THIS ADDITIONAL EXHIBIT A THEN THAT WOULD BE ALL THAT WE WOULD NEED. >> COUNTY JUDGE: ALL RIGHT DANY ANYTHING FROM YOU JUST IN CASE. GOING ONCE? YOU HAVE A CHANCE HERE'S YOUR TIME. JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC PLEASE. >> TWISTING YOUR ARM TO TALK. >> NAME AND TITLE FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> DANNY ARIDANDO WITH COMBINED LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATIONS OF TEXAS. WE REPRESENT 8CLEA. >> WES LAW WITH THE HAYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PART OF THE BARGAINING TEAM, UNIT. >> ON BEHALF OF-- AND REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS. I KNOW SCOTT AND ERIC DID A LOT OF WORK. THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE I CAN TELL YOU WHEN WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AROUND THE STATE, IT ISN'T ALWAYS THAT PLEASANT. BUT I CAN SAY BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND WITH THE ASSOCIATION THAT WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET ALONG AND WORK AND GET THINGS DONE IN THE MANNER WHICH WE DID. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED. >> THE ONLY THING I COULD DO IS REITERATE THE SAME. AS JORDAN POWELL HAS ALREADY SAID AND DANNY ALREADY SAID WE REAL APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK. WE HEARD THE DISCUSSION BEFORE. [01:40:02] AND SCOTT HASS PUTS IN A LOT OF HOURS. AND WE APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. MOST DEFINITELY AWESOME. ROX ANNE PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER HAMER? >> YES. >> ENGLSBE? >> YES. >> SMITH? >> YES. >> COHEN? >> YES. >> JUDGE BECERRA. >> YES. >> JORDAN. CANDACE. IS THERE ANOTHER ITEM YOU'D LIKE TO POP TO. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL DOW. -- YOU DO. WE'LL DO VOTES. WE'LL GET CARLOS OUT OF HERE. OKAY OPEN UP ROADS ONE BY ONE. [I.1. Discussion and possible action to accept the Subdivision Bond No.800234419 for street and drainage improvements in the amount of $2,027,329.41 for Mason Subdivision, Phase 1. HAMMER/A.JONES] >> I1. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACCEPT THE SUBDIVISION BOND NUMBER 800 234419 FOR STREET AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 2$2,270,329 FOR MASON SUBDIVISION PHASE ONE. >> SO MOVED. >> ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. ACCEPTING BOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. >> I'M RECUSING MOOIGS ON THIS VOTE SAID SUBDIVISION IS ADJACENT TO MY PROPERTY. >> SMITH? >> YES. >> COHEN? >> YES. [I.2. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Supplemental Work Authorization No. 1 to Work Authorization No. 1 between Hays County and LJA Engineering, Inc. (2026-PSA-27) for the Goforth Road Segment 1 project from Cotton Gin Road to west of Bebee Road in Precinct 1. The Supplemental Work Authorization decreases the Work Authorization amount by $447,029.04. INGALSBE/A.JONES] >> HAMMER. >> YES. >> BECERRA. >> YES. I2. >> DISCUSS POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER ONE TO WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER ONE BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND LJ ENGINEERING INC 2026-PSA-27 FOR THE GO FORTH ROAD SEGMENT ONE PROJECT FROM COTTON GIN ROAD TO WEST OF BB ROAD IN PRECINCT ONE. THE SUPPLEMENTAL WORK AUTHORIZATION DECREASES THE WORK AUTHORIZATION AMOUNT BY $447,029.04. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> GOOD JOB. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COHEN? >> YES. >> HAMER? >> YES. [I.3. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Work Authorization #2 for Fiscal Year 2027 between Hays County and HNTB Corporation for General Engineer Consulting Services in the amount of $8,283,669.00 related to road projects identified in the sale of the 2025 Certificates of Obligation, and authorize a discretionary exemption pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 262.024 (a) (4). COHEN/HAMMER/A.JONES/HUNT] >> INGALSBE? >> YES. >> JUDGE BCHL ECERRA. >> YES. I3. >> 3. DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER TWO FOR 'TIS CALL YEAR 2027 BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND HNTB CORPORATION FOR GENERAL ENGINEER CONSULTING SERVICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,283,669 RELATED TO ROAD PROJECT IDENTIFIED IN THE SALE OF 2025 CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND AUTHORIZE DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 262. 024A4. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMENTS? SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ALL THIS NEXT YEAR, IS THIS-- RIGHT IT'S COS. ONE YEAR'S WORTH OF MANAGEMENT. AND ARE WE GOING TO DO HALF A BILLION? NO. SO JUST ONE OF THE PLACES WE CAN CONSIDER NOT TAKING AWAY FROM BUT LOOKING INTO. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. [I.4. Discussion and possible action to authorize the execution of Work Authorization #11 for Fiscal Year 2027 between Hays County and HNTB Corporation in the amount of $695,640.00 to continue providing General Engineer Consulting (GEC)/Program Management Services for the Hays County 2016 Road Bond Program pursuant to RFQ 2021-Q07. COHEN/HAMMER/A.JONES/HUNT] >> I4? >> I4. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER 11 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 BETWEEN HAYS IS COUNTY AND HMTB CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $695,640 TO CONTINUE PROVIDING GENERAL ENGINEER CONSULTING GEC PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE HAYS COUNTY 2016 ROAD BOND PROGRAM PURSUANT TO RSQ 2021-Q07. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. Ô> COMMISSIONER HAMMER? COHEN? >> NO THIS IS FOR THE 2016 BOND PROGRAM. SO FIN THASH UP. >> THAT'S ALMOST DONE. >> CALL THE ROLE. [I.5. Discussion and possible action to execute Work Authorization #12 for Fiscal Year 2027 between Hays County and HNTB Corporation in the amount of $795,611.00 related to identified Transportation funded projects, and authorize a discretionary exemption per Texas Local Government Code 262.024 (a)(4). COHEN/HAMMER/A.JONES/HUNT] >> I5. >> I5. DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION TO EXECUTE WORK AUTHORIZATION NUMBER 12 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND HMTB CORPORATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $795,611 RELATED TO IDENTIFIED TRANSPORTATION FUNDED PROJECTS AND AUTHORIZE DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION FOR TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 262.024 A 4. >> SO MOVEED. >> SECOND. >> SO THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STUFF THAT WE'VE ALREADY--. >> THIS IS FOR LIKE-- AARON'S DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE IDENTIFY. >> EVERYTHING UNDER THE ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND IN OUR REGULAR BUDGET. SO WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE MANNING SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION'S DEPARTMENT ITSELF. AND DID NOT GO THROUGH INDIVIDUAL FUNDING ITEM. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. [G. CONSENT ITEMS] [01:45:03] >> YES I MOVE WE OPEN ALL SLATE AGENDA. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. >> SECOND. >> ANY ITEMS YOU WANT TO DISCUSS FOLKS? ANYTHING? IF NOT PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. TO-- K. THREE. YOU STILL HAVE THAT THREE. YES. DID I MISS AN F? I'M SORRY DAPHNE I DON'T KNOW [F.3. Presentation from the Hays County Treasurers Office regarding IRS Abatement, a potential New Banking Platform, and the Addition of Higher Anti-Fraud practices. Possible action may follow. BECERRA/TENORIO] WHAT I'M THINKING. PLEASE OPEN F3. >> F3. PRESENTATION FROM THE HAYS COUNTY TREASURER'S OFFICE REGARDING IRS ABATEMENT. A POTENTIAL NEW BANKING PLATFORM AND THE ADDITION OF HIGHER ANTIFRAUD PRACTICES. POSSIBLE MAY FOLLOW. >> SORRY DAPHNE. >> YEAH. GOOD MORNING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY JUDGE. EFORE I START I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY Select to skip to this part of the video">EFORE I START I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND. OKAY NOW I'LL GET TO WORK. SO LAST WEEK I CAME IN AND I SPOKE ABOUT THE IRS LETTER WHICH YOU'VE ALL-- I THINK YOU'VE ALL RECEIVEED. SO I WANTED TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS AND TAKE A LITTLE SLOWER APPROACHES TO WHAT HAD HAP HAPPENED. ALLOW ME TO UPLOAD THE W2 INFORMATION. THAT PROCESS IS A 30 TO 45 DAY PROCESS. MY DAY STARTED JANUARY 3RD. THE CLOCK STARTED TICKING. WHEN WE GOT TO THE W2 PROCESSING I KNOW WE HAD NOT RECEIVED THAT PASSWORD IN TIME. SO WOULD ALLOW ME TO SUBMIT BY PAPER WORK WHICH WE DID. HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING. WANT TO SAY WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST LETTER STATING THAT WE HAD NOT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION, E ELECTRONICALLY. SO I SENT THEM A COPY OF THE VARIANCE WHICH HAD GIVEN US PERMISSION TO PROVIDE THE PAPER WORK. AND WE HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING ELSE. LAST YEAR FROM THE IRS ASKING TO MEET WITH THEM. SO WE COULD ABATE AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE HALF A MILLION DOLLAR PENALTY THAT WAS BEING ASSESSED TO US. I DID FULFILL ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE REQUIRE TO DO. PROVIDED ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION. GAVE THEM A BINDER ABOUT THIS BIG THAT WE DELIVER TO THEM AS WELL AS THE ELECTRONIC FORMAT TO THEM. AT THAT TIME WE PROVIDE ALL OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED AND PROVIDED FOR ABATEMENT. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY LETTERS. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THROUGH. AND WE GOT A LETTER STATING THAT THEY HADN'T RECEIVED THE LETTERS. THE BINDER. THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THEN GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH THEN PROVIDED THE INFORMATION AGAIN. THEN THE IRS WAS REPLACE SOD WE STARTED THE PROCESS, AGAIN. SO WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS AVOIDING FOR ABATEMENT. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS MAY HAVE AS TO WHERE WE ARE WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING WITH THE IRS. I WANT TO SAY THREE WEEKS AGO? MARIS IS OL THAT'S RIGHT? CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW IRS AGENT WHO HAD REVIEWED EVERYTHING. DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE WE WERE. SAID THERE HAD BEEN A DENIAL LETTER. SO WE ARE STILL IN THE ABATEMENT PROCESS. AND CURRENTLY WE ARE SITTING AT $800,000 FINE. WE HAVE EVERYTHING PROVIDED AND WE'RE JUST IN A HOLDING PATTERN. THE NEXT STEP AFTER THIS. IF AND WHEN THIS IRS LETTER APPEARS. WE NEED TO APPLY FOR APPEAL. UNTIL WE RECEIVE THAT LETTER OF DENIAL. WE ARE STILL IN THE ABATEMENT PROCESS. ACCORDING TO AGENTS WE HAVE WORKED FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL ABATEMENT APPROVAL. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING I WANT TO SAY ANOTHER THREE WEEKS WITH THE IRS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS. BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU KIND OF AN UPDATE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? AND I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT FOR TWO YEARS. SO IT KIND OF OFFLOADS DIFFERENTLY FOR ME. LET ME KNOW IF I CAN ANSWER ANY [01:50:04] QUESTIONS? YES, PLEASE. >> I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF QUES QUESTIONS. I UNDERSTAND THE INITIAL PROCESS AND ALL OF US WHO WERE HERE AT THE TIME REMEMBER THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO ADDRESS BACK THEN RELATIVE TO PAYROLL AND W2S AND A NUMBER OF THINGS. BUT MY QUESTION IS THIS. IF IN 2025 NEGOTIATING TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS. WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT EITHER A BUDGET OFFICE. >> WE HAVEN'T. IT'S TAKEN CARE OF SO WE COULD PROVIDE-- WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE TAKING THIS L LONG. TALKING TO THE IRMENT IS IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THIS. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS PRETTY SIMPLE. ABATEMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED ONCE. SO WE WERE JUST PLANNING ON PROVIDING EVERYTHING AT ONE PACKAGE COMPLETED. ZBLILD JUST SAY ANY TIME THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING RELATED TO OUR BUDGET. THOSE ARE THE TWO OFFICES THAT NEED TO BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. >> AND I AGREE WITH YOU SIR. AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WAS A MIS-STEP. AND I CAN ASSURE THAT THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. >> SO AT THIS POINT, I HAVEN'T SEEN AND YOU SAID I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE SEEN THE IRS LETTER. SO AT THIS POINT, WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT IS STATED THAT WE TOW IRS? >> IT IS-- >> AND THE REASON I ASK THIS IS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET. IF WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS. IT'S GOING TO HAVE NO MATTER WHAT THIS COULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR TAX RATE. >> SHE HAS A TRACK RECORD-- PAPER TRAIL OF IT BEING--. >> AND WE HAVE BROUGHT IN. >> MISTAKE AND DELAY FROM THE IRS I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE TO PAY ANY OF THAT. >> I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I CAN'T FIND ACTUAL LETTER IN THIS BINDER IT'S 800 AND-- NO 8 $2,000. >> OKAY SO CONCERN THAT I HAVE JUDGE TO YOUR POINT IS THE TREASURER JUST SAID SHE'S WAITING ON A DENIAL LETTER FROM HIM AND THEN WE CAN APPEAL. AM I CORRECT? >> SO THERE'S TWO TRACKS HERE. WE ARE IN THE ABATEMENT PROCESS. OKAY. AND WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A VERBAL ABATEMENT APPROVAL. OKAY. SO THEN-- WE'RE DONE. HOWEVER. WHEN WE SPOKE TO THE SECONDARY AGENT THIS IS WHY IT'S KIND OF A MESS. WHEN WE TALK TO THE SECONDARY AGENT SAID THAT WE HAD BEEN DENIED AT THE ABATEMENT. AND I SAID WHERE'S THE LETTER? EVERYTHING AT THE IRS IS DONE WITH THE LETTERS. WHERE'S THE LETTERS SHOWING WE HEY REACHED OUT LOOKING THAT LETTER. THAT LETTER DOESN'T EXIST. SO TECHNICALLY WE'RE STILL IN THE ABATEMENT. SO IF AND WHEN-- AND IT'S A HUGE IF, IF WE GET DENIED, WHICH THE EXPECTATION IS WE DON'T, THEN WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. WE'RE IN A HOLDING PATTERN. ALL OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE NEED. EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED. WE HAVE PROVIDED EVERYTHING. AND ONE OF THE SAVING GRACES IS THAT LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED SHOWING WE HAD PERMISSION TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING IN WRITING. AND THAT IS OUR SAVING GRACE. >> WE RECEIVED THAT LETTER. DID-- AFTER WE RECEIVED THAT LETTER, DID THEY GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING THAT THEY NEEDED AT THAT POINT? ORB BECAUSE THE VIOLATION-- IS THE VIOLATION JUST THAT WE DIDN'T DO IT ELECTRONICALLY? >> YES. BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO IT E ELECTRONICALLY. AND I WILL SAY THAT WE HAD TRIED. BUT WE-- THAT'S THE VIOLATION IS IT WAS NOT ELECTRONICALLY. FIRST PENALTY WAS $250,000. WHEN WE RESPONDED TO THE ORIGINAL PENALTY, I PROVIDED A COPY OF THE VARIANCE LETTER. GIVING US PERMISSION TO PROVIDE IT IN WRITING. SO WE PROVIDED IT TO THEM IN '23. AND WE HADN'T HEARD ANYTHING. WE JUST WENT ALONG WITH OUR MERRY WAYS IN 2025 IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT PURSUING A PENALTY FOR NON-E ELECTRONIC FILING. >> WITH THAT HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD NOT TO ADDRESS IT IN THE BUDGET. I HATE TO SAY THAT. BUT-- AT THE VERY LEAST WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO-- WE HAD NO GUARANTEE. RIGHT NOW CORRECT. WE HAD NO GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY. I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE JANUARY 1. I'M ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN ANSWER BEFORE JANUARY 1. SO THAT BEING THE CASE WE ARE [01:55:01] SENTENCING THE FUTURE COURT IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT IN THIS BUDGET MAYBE IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH OR SOME TIME NEXT YEAR. AND IF WE ARE DENIED THOSE PENALTIES WILL JUST KEEP RACKING UP UNTIL WE PAY THEM. AT-- IF IT STARTED OUT AT QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS. THE ESCALATION ON THIS. YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IF IT'S MAY OF NEXT YEAR WHEN WE GET THAT AND SO I HAVE A CONCERN. DO YOU HAVE A SCHEDULE AS FAR AS IF IT'S NOT PAID ON THOSE IRS LETTERS THERE IS A SCHEDULE THAT SHOWS BY THIS DATE, OKAY. >> I DO VO V MY MEETING IN THREE WEEKS WITH THE IRS AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS ADDRESSED DURING THAT MEETING AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. >> WHAT YOU JUST PRESENTED COMMISSIONER SMITH SAYING HE'S SADDLING A FUTURE-- HE'S THINKING THE DIALOGUE THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL SADDLING OF A FUTURE COURT. THE FUNNY THING IN FRAMING BEHIND THAT IS THIS IS ACTUALLY YOUR SADDLING OF A PREVIOUS TREASURER. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I FEEL AS A GUY, AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS TOLD I OWE $1.1 MILLION IN TAXES THAT HAS BEEN ALMOST ALL OF IT. THAT WAS TRULY A MISTAKE FROM THE IRS. AND I BELIEVE I'M AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST. I BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE INTRINSICALLY GOOD. WE HAVE RESERVES BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD EARMARK MONEY FOR THAT PURPOSE. BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WILL BE RESOLVED BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PAPER TRAIL. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND ADDITIONALLY WE DID BRING IN THE GENERAL COUNSEL TO START REVIEWING WITH THE SAFE SIDE AT THE LAST MEETING AS DID OUR AUDITOR'S OFFICE SAT IN WITH THE LAST MEETING AND TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST IT'S THE LIKELIHOOD AND I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. T THE-- OF IT BEING AT THAT LEVEL WAS PRETTY SLIM. >> THAT MEETING IN THREE WEEKS. I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR GENERAL COUNSEL OUR AUDITOR AND OUR BUDGET OFFICER ARE ALL IN THAT MEETING. >> YES, THEY WERE SIR. >> YES, SIR, THEY WILL. >> WHEN WAS THE VIOLATION. LIKE WHEN ARE THEY SAYING THAT WE--. >> IT WAS-- THE 2022 W2. SO I CAME IN IN 2023. IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROCESS THEM. THE IRS PASSWORD WAS NOT GIVEN TO ME IN TIME BY THE IRS. IT IS NOT OAH LOCK. YOU DON'T GO ONTO LINE AND SAY I WANT A PASSWORD. YOU LOG IN AND YOU COMPLETE AN APPLICATION PROCESS. IT IS MAILED TO YOU. SO THAT PROCESS DID NOT HAPPEN IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE DID REACH OUT TO THE FORMER TREASURER TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. WE WERE DECLINED. SO THAT'S WHERE THE VARIANCE WAS VERY HELPFUL. >> SORRY 2022. JANUARY 31ST 2022. >> FILING OF THE W2 WHICH ENDED DECEMBER 31ST. >> I SEE YOU. >> WE HAVE WORKERED EXTENSIVELY WITH THE IRS HAND IN HAND TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS. WE ARE IN A CRUNCH TIME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE CURRENT IRS AGENT IS SCHEDULED TO BE TIRING. SO WE ARE HOPE TO FEEL GET THIS DONE PRYER TO HIS RETIREMENT. SO THIS HAD-- THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO GET RERESOLVED AS WELL. >> COMMISSIONER? >> YEAH IT'S A CONCERN. AND JUST COMMISSIONER SMITH IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS? AND WHAT BUDGET LINE WOULD IT COME OUT OF, SCOTT? IF WE HAD TO PAY THAT? >> I'M GOING WITH MARYSOL FOR GUIDANCE. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A FEE OR FINES AND PENALTIES LINE. BUT I'M NOT 100% SURE THAT THAT'S WHERE. >> WE DO NOT BUDGET FOR PENALTIES AND FINES WE BRING THOSE TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT BUT WE ASK THE DEPARTMENTS TO FIND IT IN THEIR BUDGET. SO WE DON'T HAVE 800,000 SITTING AROUND. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT. CHECK AND SEE IF IT WOULD CONSTITUTE AN E EMERGENCY WHERE WE WOULD HAVE TO DIP INTO OUR RESERVES. YOU KNOW THAT ABATEMENT APPROVAL THAT YOU SAID WE RECEIVED. DO WE HAVE-- IS IT-- WAS THAT [02:00:01] IN THE LETTER? >> LETTER FORM. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE STILL PENDING. . BECAUSE THEY GAVE US THE VERBAL WE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. WE ASKED FOR A LETTER. THEN WE WERE TOLD WE RECEIVED A DENIAL. ASKED FOR THE LETTER RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE PROCESS THAT HAS STARTED WE'VE GONE THROUGH TWO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS AND ONE GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH. SO EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS IT'S LIKE OPENS UP THE BOX ALL OVER AGAIN WITH SOMEBODY NEW. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW. BUT I WILL STATE THAT OUR COM COMMUNICATION OR OUR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE IRS IS VERY SOLID AND HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. WE ARE WORKING VERY WELL TOGETHER HAND IN HAND TO RESOLVE THIS. P. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING A REPORT BACK IN THREE WEEKS OR SO. >> ABSOLUTELY I'D BE HAPPY TO DO SO. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIT IN ON THE ZOOM CALL I'D BE HAPPY TO PUT IN ON THE ZOOM CALL AS WELL. NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I WILL ASK THAT YOU ALLOW ME TO LEAD THAT MEETING. BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO LISTEN IN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING US UPDATED. >> YES I'M SORRY. >> WHEN THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION. RETIRING DECEMBER 31ST. WHEN IS HE RETIREING? >> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE I JUST KNOW HE WAS PENDING RETIREMENT. SO WE LOST OUR FIRST PERSON SO SHE HAD KNEE SURGERY SO SHE WAS TAKEN OUT FOR HEALTH REASONS. THE CASE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS NOW GOING TO RETIRE. NOW LET ME TELL YOU I KNOW WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING THIS MONEY IN THE BUDGET. ONCE THE APPEAL GOES THROUGH, WE'RE NOT DONE. NEXT STEP RIGHT NOW THIS IS WHERE WE'RE HEADING TO. THIS IS WHERE MY NEXT STEP IS. TO GO TO THE CONGRESSMAN-- THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT WE HAVE TWO NEW ONES COMING IN AFTER NOVEMBER. THEN THAT WILL BE THE NEXT THING TO WORK WITH OUR CONGRESSMAN IN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE IRS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING AS WELL. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> DO TO SAY SOMETHING EARLIER A CHANCE. >> POSSIBLE FIRST ASSISTANT. I WILL SAY THAT WE DID RECEIVE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE LAST IRS CALL. OUR OFFICE DID RECEIVE AN INVITE AND TWO OF OUR ATTORNEYS WERE IN ON THAT CALL. THEY-- I THINK IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO SAY THEY WERE OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RESOLUTION. ON THAT NOTE THOUGH WE ONLY RECEIVE-- OFFICE RECEIVES TWO TOTAL DOCUMENTS. SO IF WE COULD GET A COPY OF EVERYTHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. AND THEN NO ONE FROM OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED AN INVITE TO THE CALL THAT YOU MENTIONED IN ROUGHLY THREE WEEK IFS WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> MAY I RESPOND TO JORDAN? >> OF COURSE. SO YOUR GENERAL COUNSEL SAID THEY WERE GOING TO COME BY THE OFFICE. AND REVIEW ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND GET WHAT THEY NEEDED. EVENTUALITY IRS WOULD SEND IT O OUT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ONE MORE THING. PERFECT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN RAINBOWS AND LOLLIPOPS BUT IT HASN'T BEEN. AS YOU YOU MAYBE KNOW OUR BANKING SYSTEM HAS DONE A PLATFORM CHANGE. THIS HAS HAD SOME HI CUPS. WE HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH RETIREE DEBITS. WITH HSA WITHDRAWALS AND TRANSFERS. >> CHILD SUPPORT. I'VE SEEN THEM. >> IT IS-- IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. BUT I WILL TELL YOU I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES FROM PEOPLE WE NEED TO CHANGE BANKS BUT I AM NOT THERE. WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THE PLATFORM CHANGE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT. BUT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH IT. I AM STRONGLY BEHIND SAGE CAPITAL. I WILL TELL YOU AT 6 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IS WHEN OUR FIRST ACH REVIEWS HIT. THAT'S WHEN I'M ONLINE. I WILL TELL YOU THAT ABOUT-- I CAN CALL MY VICE PRESIDENT AT 6:30 OR 5:30 IN THE MORNING AND SAY THERE'S AN ISSUE AND I GET A PHONE CALL BACK. THAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP IS BUILT WITH TRUST AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M WILLING TO CONTINUE WITH. I HAVE HAD NO DIFFICULTIES OTHER THAN THESE ISSUES. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THESE HICCUPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH SAGE CAPITAL BANK AND I STAND FIRMLY BEHIND THEM. >> BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP TO SPEED AND JUST FOR DOUBLE DOWN, IF YOU WILL ALSO WHEN YOU FORWARD YOUR COMMUNICATION PIECES. PAPER WORK TO OUR CIVIL DIVISION, ALSO FORWARD IT TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. >> SURE WILL. >> TWO BIRDERS ONE STONE. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A 15 MINUTE RECESS THEN WE ARE COMING BACK TO THE WORKSHOP. >> VERY GOOD, ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK FROM A SHORT [K.6. 11:00 A.M. - Hold a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 proposed tax increase. Possible action to follow. BECERRA/WOODLAND] [02:05:07] RECESS. PLEASE OPEN K6. >> K6, 11 A.M. HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED TAX INCREASE. POSSIBLE ACTION TO FOLO -- FOLLOW. >> ALL RIGHT I AM OPENING THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST PLEASE APPROACH THE PODIUM. I SEE NO MOVEMENT. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. SCOTT, CANDACE, WHAT SAY YOU MY FRIENDS? >> SO WE ARE NOT ASKING THE COURT FOR ANY ACTION TODAY. SCOTT I THINK HE HAS A HANDOUT FOR YOU TO GO OVER OUR PREVIOUS TAX BREAKS AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BUT ESSENTIALLY THE COURT WILL BE MAKING THEIR FINAL APPROVAL OF THE FY 27 BUDGET AS WELL AS THE TAX RATE ON OUR NEXT MEETING SEPTEMBER 15TH. >> SCOTT WOODLAND BUDGET OFFICER. QUICKLY I WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON TAX RATES. AND WHAT THE PURPOSE IS. PROPERTY TAX AND THEN GO FOR THE HANDOUTS WITH THE FOCUS ON THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING. WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. WHAT WAS CONTAINED ON THAT FORM. AND THEN ALSO JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR ITEMIZED TAX RATE AND WHERE WE'RE STANDING ON THAT. AND JUST FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW, THE COURT KNOWS THIS, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, THERE'S REALLY THREE WAYS THAT YOU CAN FUND EXPENDITURES IN A COUNTY. IT'S THROUGH REVENUE WHICH THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS THE VAST MA JORTY OF THE REVENUE GENERATED BY A COUNTY. THEN YOU COULD ALSO CUT OTHER EXPENDITURES TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW EXPENDITURES. AND THEN THIRD OPTION WOULD BE TO TAKE FROM YOUR RESERVES AND APPLY THAT SPENDING TO NEW EXPENDITURES. THE DISCUSSION FOR TODAY IS REALLY ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATES. AND GOING OVER WHERE WE SIT. SO THE FIRST DOCUMENT I HANDED OUT IS THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE. AND JUST THE IMPORTANT NUMBERS FROM THERE. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT THIS IS REALLY A TAX OFFICE FORM. IT WAS PRODUCED OUT OF THE TAX OFFICE SOFTWARE. REALLY IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE COMPLIANCE. AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE IS. BUT THE NUMBERS THAT WERE USED IN THE SOFTWARE WERE REVIEWED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE. AND GENERATED THESE FIGURES WITH THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. IS THE RATE THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST COURT OF FUND 1.25 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS E VALUATION. THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WHICH IS GETTING ALL THE SAME PROPERTIES LAST YEAR. AND IMPLEMENTING THAT THIS YEAR. THAT IS WHAT WOULD GENERATE THE SAME REVENUE AND THAT RATE THIS YEAR WOULD BE 37.14 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS. AND THEN FINALLY IS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. THAT IS THE RATE WHERE IF WE WERE TO GO OVER THAT RATE. THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE IN THE ELECTION IN ORDER TO ENACT A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT WAS 49.26 CENTS OR HIGHER. >> WELL BELOW CAP. >> OH YES. THAT'S BECAUSE COMMISSIONER INGALSB ECHL SAID IT LAST TIME. WE HAVE BEEN GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT WE BANKED THAT CREDIT OF BEING FISCAL STEWARDS AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THAT RANGE. >> THERE'S A THREE-YEAR LOOK BACK THAT YOU DID NOT TAKE AND ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO YOUR CURRENT YEAR. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE THERE IS A LARGE GAP THERE BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED AND WHAT THAT VOTER APPROVAL RATE WOULD BE IF YOU LOOK DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM YOU WILL SEE THE INFORMATION ON THE TAX RATE. THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD TAX VALUE. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THAT IS THE TAX VALUE. SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE GONE OVER BEFORE WITHOUT THE EXEMPTIONS IN THERE. FOR THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD GONE OVER BEFORE WE PULLED OUT. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHO GETS ONE EXEMPTION. AND THEN LOOKING AT THE TOTAL TAX LEVY THERE. AS FAR AS THE TAX LEVY GOES WE'RE GOING TO GENERATE ROUGHLY $9 MILLION MORE. ONE THING TO ON THE FORM IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM THERE. THIS COMES DOWN TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF PROPERTY TAXES. AND WHAT THE PURPOSE OF PROPERTY TAXES ARE. IN MY VIEW IT'S REALLY TO [02:10:02] DETERMINE THESE SERVICES THAT COUNTY IS GOING TO PROVIDE. IF YOU WANT TO OFFER THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WHAT IS REQ REQUIRED. THEN YOU CAN KEEP THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE ON A RELATIVELY LOW SCALE. IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND ADD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES OR PROVIDE ENHANCED SERVICES, THEN THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE HAD OF WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO COME FROM. AND THAT'S WHERE POTENTIALLY PROPERTY TAX WOULD COME INTO PLAY. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO NOTE ON HERE IS THAT OUR INDIGENT HEALTH OR LAW ENFORCEMENT. IS REALY ABOUT PROVIDING COUNCIL FOR OUR DEFENSE. BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE PUBLIC HEARING, THERE'S ACTUALLY NO NEW REVENUE COMPONENT TO THAT. SO THE STATE THROUGH THEIR NO NEW REVENUE RATE ACTUALLY SAYS HEY IF YOU ARE SPENDING MORE ON THESE INDIGENT THINGS. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU CAPABILITY TO RAISE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OVER WHAT IT WOULD REALLY BE. AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO NOTE HERE IS-- THROUGH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE ARE GENERATING THAT THEY WOULD GIVE US ESSENTIALY .666 CENTS TO INCREASE WHICH THE ONLY WAY THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT THOUGH WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY INCREASE OUR RATE. SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS SAYING THAT 6. 6 CENTS COULD BE INCREASED DUE TO THAT INDIGENT SPENDING. BUT THE ONLY WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THOSE RATES. AND THAT'S-- LIKE I SAID THAT'S REALLY A TAX FORM. SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS. OTHERWISE I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT DOCUMENT I HANDED OUT. WHICH IS THE HAYS COUNTY ITEM TAX RATE. SEW THIS IS WHAT'S BEING GENERATED. >> NOT NECESSARILY A QUESTION BUT A STATEMENT. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO-- IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD PREVIOUS RELATED TO HEALTH CARE DISTRICT. WHENEVER WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT ESTIMATES WE SPEND RIGHT NOW ARE. IF THIS IS THE ACTUAL SPEND THAT WE HAVE, IT'S ABOUT TWICE WHAT WE WERE THINKING LAST WEEK. BECAUSE WE SAID LAST WEEK WE SPENT ABOUT WHAT WAS STATED WHEN WE HAD THE CONVERSATION SPENT ABOUT $4 MILLION. SPENT ABOUT $8.833 MILLION ON INDIGENT HEALTH CARE. I'M GLAD WE TABLED THAT ITEM. WHAT ALL IS INCLUDED IN THAT. >> COMMISSIONER SMITH TO TOUCH UPON THAT I DID DO A ANALYSIS OF THAT NUMBER. I WILL SAY THAT NUMBER IS SKEWED A LITTLE BIT. DUE TO THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING PAYMENTS. SO THE NUMBERS POLLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF NO NEW REVENUE ARE POLLED FROM JULY 1 THROUGH JUNE 30TH DATE. AND SO IT HAPPENS THAT IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR WE PAID IT ALL AT ONCE TOWARDS END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AND THEN IN FY26 WE'VE BEEN MAKING QUARTERLY PAYMENTS. SO WE-- BY PICKING UP THAT RANGE, WE ACTUALLY PICKED UP ALL LAST YEAR'S PLUS TWO QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR. SO IT IS SKEWED A LITTLE BIT JUST DUE TO THE CASH FLOWS OF IT. SO I DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD. OKAY, GOING BACK TO HAYS COUNTY ITEMIZED TAX RATE. YOU WILL SEE THROUGH HERE THAT THE-- WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROPOSED TAX INCREASE, WE WOULD BE GENERATING ROUGHLY $133.5 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND. $50.5 MILLION IN OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND. AND ROUGHLY $18.5 MILLION IN OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND. FOR A TOTAL OF 202-- ROUGHLY $202.5 MILLION. ONE THING TO LOOK AT UNDER THAT IS THE ASASESSED TAXES. YOU WILL SEE THAT NUMBER IS HIGH DUR TO COLLECTION RATE OF 98.5% WHICH LINES UP WITH WHAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY COLLECTED. BUT THE TOTAL ASSESSED TAXES ON THAT AMOUNT WOULD HAVE BEEN THAT $205 BILLION. BUT WE WILL ONLY BUDGET FOR THE 202 KNOWING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THAT IS NOT COLLECTED. THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS I'D LIKE TO DESCRIBE FOR YOU IS THE BOTTOM PART WHICH IS THE TAX-- PROGRAM. THOSE ARE REALLY MAKING UP THE MAJORITY OF THAT. THAT IS SHOWING MONEY THAT IS BEING GENERATED THROUGH OUR TAX LEVY AND OUR TAXES. THAT WILL NOT ACTUALLY COME TO THE COUNTY. THIS MONEY IS GOING OUT TO THE DIFFERENT TIFFS AND TERS AROUND THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THAT AREA IN THAT SECTION. [02:15:04] SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN REVIEWING THESE DOCUMENTS. AND THEN FINALLY REALLY I WANTED TO TOUCH UPON THE PROPERTY TAXES AS A-- WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THE THREE WAYS THAT YOU CAN PAY FOR EXPENDITURES. REALLY THE PROPERTY TAX WAY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE REPEATED EXPENDITURES. THE PROPERTY TAX WAY IS THE MORE SUSTAINABLE WAY TO GO. BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A FUNCTION GOING FORWARD. I GUESS A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE LIKE THE INCREASED HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. IF YOU WERE TO RAISE TAXES TO COVER THAT, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE COVERED IN FUTURE YEARS. WHEREAS IF YOU WERE TO PAY THAT OUT OF RESERVES, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT FOR ONE YEAR. BUT EVENTUALLY THOSE RESERVES WILL RUN LOW TO THE POINT WHERE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BECOME A VIABLE OPTION. SO JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND AND OBVIOUSLY FOR US REALLY THAT THREE MONTH MARK WOULD BE IF WE EVER GOT CLOSE IT WOULD BE HEY, NO, STOP, WE NEED TO STOP PULLING FROM OUR RESERVES. AND EITHER REDUCE COST OR FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE SUCH AS PROPERTY TAXES OR ANOTHER ITEM. ONE ITEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET, OUR ONE-TIME DEFICIT COSTS ARE ROUGHLY $3.27 MILLION VERSUS $7.65 MILLION IN FY26. SO THAT IS THE COUNTY TRYING TO BE GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS AND TO REDUCE THAT DEFICIT SPENDING OR AT LEAST DEFICIT BUDGETING I SHOULD SAY. AND PART OF THAT IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A POTENTIAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. WITHOUT THAT INCREASE, IF WE WANT TO DO THE SAME ITEMS THAT PROVIDE THE SAME FUNCTIONS AT THE SAME LEVEL, WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL-- I SHOULD SAY AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL MUCH MORE FROM THOSE RESERVES IN ORDER TO DO THOSE SAME ITEMS. AND THEN FINALLY I JUST WANT TO KIND OF CONCLUDE ON SOME OF-- AS I SUBSCRIBED EARLIER, THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND ENHANCED SERVICES. ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT THROUGH ARPA, I THINK THE COUNTY DID A GOOD JOB OF DOING PILOT PROGRAMS AND SEEING HEY HOW CAN WE APPROACH SOME IS OF F THESE CHALLENGES TOWARDS THE COUNTY? AND SEVERAL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID INCLUDED THE PRE-TRIAL DIVISION. THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. AND THOSE ALONG WITH THE POSITIONS AND OTHER ITEMS ADDED TO ARPA AMOUNTED TO A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF ROUGHLY $5.56 MILLION AS FAR AS WHAT THE BUDGET IMPACT IS ON FY 27. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO NOTE ON THERE IS THAT THESE AREN'T REQUIRED SERVICES BY THE COUNTY. THESE WERE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE EXPERIMENTED ON TO SEE IN ARPA, ARE THESE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO-- ARE THEY GOOD FOR THE COUNTY? AND ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS THAT WE DID PULL THOSE IN. AND THAT THOSE THINGS WERE INCORPORATED INTO OUR EVERYDAY OPERATIONS. AND LAST YEAR, THE TAX RATE WAS INCREASED TO COVER SOME OF THOSE COSTS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPLETELY OFFSET. AND THEN THIS PAST YEAR WE'VE ALSO DECIDED TO ADD THE DUI AND DRUG COURTS. AND REALLY IT'S JUST POSING A QUESTION TO THE COURT OF-- IF THAT'S THE KIND OF COUNTY WE WILL DO THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN THOSE ENHANCED SERVICES. THE POTENTIALLY PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IS THE SUSTAINABLE ROUTE FOR US TO GO. BUT LIKEWISE I'M NOT ADVOCATING OR EITHER POSITION. IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE WANT Select to skip to this part of the video">OR EITHER POSITION. IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE WANT TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE LOW, IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY CONSIDER SOME OF THOSE ENHANCEMENTS OR ADDITIONS. NOT NECESSARYLY TAKING AWAY BUT GOING FORWARD MAYBE THOSE ARE NOT THINGS THAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN. AND THAT'S KIND OF THE BATTLE THAT YOU RUN INTO BETWEEN SERVICES AND PROPERTY TAX RATES AND KIND OF WHERE WE WANT TO LAND AS A COUNTY. WHICH IS A DECISION THAT IS ENTIRELY UP TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> AND SCOTT YOU SAID PDO MENTAL HEALTH CORD WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE YOU MENTIONED? >> THE PRE-TRIAL DIVISION AS WELL. >> DRUG COURT. ONE THING I WOULD SAY ON THOSE SPECIFIC TO THE SPECIALTY COURTS, YOU KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT ARE COURTS ON-- THEY ARE ON PAPER ONLY. AND I SAY THAT-- ONCE YOU HIT A CERTAIN-- $225,000 MAYBE $250,000 THERE HAS TO BE FOR [02:20:05] EXAMPLE PROSECUTION COURT. WE PROBABLY CROSS CUTE LESS THAN TEN OF THE CASES BUT ON PAPER WE HAVE OF THAT COURT UNDER STATE LAW. IN ORDER TO MAKE THESE COURTS SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S WHERE WE'VE MADE THE INVESTMENT. WE COULD HAVE TODAY A VETERANS COURT THAT DOESN'T REALLY DO ANY GOOD. BUT IT WOULD BE A COURT ON PAPER. I THINK THE COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE TO THE SPECIALTY COURTS. MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND THE VETERANS COURT I THINK WE MADE THOSE COMMITMENTS KNOWING THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME BUDGETARY ORIFICE CALL IMPACT OVER TIME. AND I THINK IT'S OUR COUNTY COURT OF LAW JUDGES WHO HAVE REALLY LOOKED AT WHAT THOSE INDIVIDUAL SPECIALTY COURTS ARE AND WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE THE MOST IMPACT HERE IN HAYS COUNTY. I THINK THAT'S THE REASON THAT JUDGE HALL CAME FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR EXCLUSIVE DWI COURT. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THOSE OTHER COURTS THAT WE'RE NOT FUNDING RIGHT NOW. AT A RATE THAT-- OR A FOCUS THAT WE'VE SET WITH THIS WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> AND TO ADD ONTO THAT ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THEY ARE ARE ADVANTAGEOUS AND I BELIEVE WE WILL SEE COST SAVINGS IN THE LONG RUN. BUT TO GET THEM OFF THE GROUND FUNDED TO BEGIN WITH WILL TAKE SOME INITIAL N'MENT. >> I THINK THE HARDEST PART ON THOSE AND THE AGREEMENT AMONGST ALL THE JUDGES AT A FEDERAL LEVEL WE'VE LOOKED AT WHAT'S CALLED DYNAMIC SCORING. AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT HERE. BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO REALLY QUANTIFY IT BY DYNAMIC SCORING. IT'S HOW MUCH SOMETHING COST IF WE MAKE A LARGER INVESTMENT ON THE FRONT END. SO IN OTHER WORD IFS WE MAKE A LARGER INVESTMENT ON THE FRONT END ON THESE COURT, DOES IT SAVE US IN JAIL COSTS? DOES IT SAVE US IN PROSECUTION COSTS? IN QUANTIFYING THOSE NUMBERS, IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. BUT ESPECIALLY SPECIFIC TO HEALTH CARE AT A FEDERAL LEVEL THAT'S HOW THEY'VE TRIED TO LOOK AT IT. BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO PHYSICALLY QUANTIFY IT. >> AND SCOTT YOU MENTIONED ARPA FUNDING. I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO-- I GUESS THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR OR THE END OF DECEMBER, THIS YEAR-- EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ALLOCATED. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SPENT? >> TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, SO TECHNICALLY ALL THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT I BELIEVE IT WAS ROUGHLY $44 MILLION. THAT THAT DIRECT MONEY HAD TO HAVE BEEN OBLIGATED AS OF DECEMBER 31ST OF THE LAST YEAR. AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE DID THAT. THAT WE OBLIGATED THAT FULL AMOUNT. NOW THE NEXT COMPLIANCE IS THAT THOSE FUNDS THEN HAVE TO ALL BE SPENT. DOWN BY DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR. WHICH I KNOW THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS WORKING DILIGENTLY ALONG WITH OUR CONSULTANTS TO TRY TO GET ALL THAT MONEY SPENT DOWN. NOW THERE IS A THIRD COMPONENT OF IT WHICH IS THE INTEREST EARNINGS. SO THERE HAVE BEEN INTEREST EARNINGS GENERATED. BECAUSE WE SPEND $44 MILLION ALL AT ONCE. I HAVEN'T TAKEN-- THE LAST I HEARD AND I HAVE TO LOOK BACK UP ON IT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT INTEREST INCOME WOULD BE THE COUNTY'S TO KEEP. THAT THERE'S NOT A SPENDING DEADLINE PER SE. AT LEAST NOT YET. THEY MAY COME OUT AND SAY HEY YOU HAVE X YEARS TO SPEND THIS AT SOME POINT. BUT THAT WOULD BE OUR MONEY TO KEEP. WITH THAT BEING SAID WE HAVE ALREADY I KNOW, BUDGETED SOME OF THOSE FUNDS. THEY ACTUALLY A GOOD DEAL OF THOSE FUNDS TO TRY TO KEEP OUR EXPENDITURES LOW IN THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR. >> TO THAT POINT IF YOU REMEMBER-- AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH SCOTT LAST WEEK, WE LOOKED AT THOSE OVERALL FUNDS. AND WHEN WE CLOSED OUT LAST FISCAL YEAR. WHEN WE CLOSED OUT THE COMMITMENT FOR THE ARPA FUND PS, WE EACH HAD A LITTLE BIT LEFT IN THERE IF YOU REMEMBER. AND SO BY RESOLUTION, WHENEVER WE HAD THE BUDGET DISCUSSION AND I RECONFIRMED IT WAS WITHIN COURT, THAT WHATEVER PORTION OF THOSE FUNDS THAT WE DUMPED INTO THAT POT AT THE END OF ARPA, THE INTEREST WOULD BE DIRECTED TO EACH ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL PRECINCTS PURSUANT TO HOW MUCH WE'VE FUNDED IT. SO IN OTHER WORD IFS THERE WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS LEFT IN ARPA FUNDS TO-- AND I KNOW IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT. BUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FUNDS AND PRECINCT TWO GAVE 20,000 AND ONE GAVE 20,000 AND THREE DIDN'T GIVE ANY BUT FOUR GAVE 60. THEN OF THOSE FUNDS, THAT'S HOW [02:25:02] THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE-- OF THAT INTEREST EARNED WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED BACK TO THE PRECINCT. BECAUSE I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF US STILL HAD SOME-- GOT A PORTION OF THAT BACK. >> AND THE REASON I BRING THIS UP AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN'T UNTIL EVERYTHING IS RECONCILED, THE ONLY HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM WE HAVE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IS SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE. I KNOW WE INCREASED THEIR FUNDING BUT IF THERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE INCREASING THEIR ALLOCATION WITH ARPA FUNDING. >> THAT SOUNDS GOOD COMMISSIONER INGALSBE. LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT IS PRUDE TONIGHT WAIT UNTIL WE'VE 9PAID UP EVERYTHING AND DONE OUR FINAL REPORTING. BUT AT THAT POINT, I'D LIKE TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S LEFT OVER. HOW IT GETS ALLOCATED OUT. AND I THINK THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THERE'LL BE SOME FUNDS POTENTIALLY THERE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> WHAT ELSE FOR YOU SIR? >> THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANT TO COVER. I WANTED TO COVER THE PROPERTY TAXES. DISCUSSING THE DIFFERENCES ON HOW WE CAN SPEND MONEY AS A COUNTY. AND KIND OF THE SUSTAINABILITY BEHIND IT. AND YEAH JUST KIND OF-- THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT WOULD BE WHERE DO WE WANT TO END UP AS A COUNTY? AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE? >> SO WELL DONE. GENUINELY GRATEFUL FOR THE ARTICULATION AND THE FINEST GRANULAR WAY THAT YOU'VE DONE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> PLEASE OPEN K3. >> K3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF TWO CONTRACT AMENDMENTS BETWEEN HAYS COUNTY AND TYLER TECHNOLOGIES. ONE FOR NG911 INTERFACE AND ONE FOR REPORT WRITING SERVICES. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT AND STEPHANIE SINCE YOU'RE HERE LET'S HEAR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. TELL THE VIEWING PUBLIC. >> STEPHANIE ROBINSON DIRECTOR OF CRCC WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS AMENDMENTS. ONE IS FOR PORT WRITING WE HAD A SPLIT GO LIVE SO WE'RER DOING-- WE HAD $10,000 ASSOCIATED FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING. WE'RE NOW SPLITTING THAT OUT TO TWO DIFFERENT $5,000 PAYMENTS. AND THE SECOND ONE IS FOR NG911 WE HAD THAT IN THE CONTRACT FOR INTERFACE BACK IN 2018. THAT WAS NEVER COMPLETED. THERE'S SOME STUFF WITH OUR LOCAL REGIONAL 911 PROVIDER AND SO WE FELT LIKE WE COULD JUST TAKE THAT OFF THE PLATE. THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE US A CREDIT ALL THE WAY BACK TO OUR 2018 CONTRACT. >> NICE. WONDERFULLY DONE. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OR STEPHANIE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO? ALL GOOD? WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE. >> DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION FOR HAYS COUNTY TO FORMALLY ACCEPT PROPOSE DEDICATION OF .411 ACRE DRAINAGE EASEMENT INCLUDING 0.0675 ACRE TXDOT PROPOSED PARCEL 29A DRAINAGE EASEMENT. IDENTIFIED ON THE FINAL PLAT OF FM2001 RETAIL CENTER SUBDIVISION RECORDED AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 26007307 OFFICIAL RECORDS OF HAY SCHT COUNTY, TEXAS. FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF THE FM2001 GAP ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. AND TAKE OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WELL WRITTEN. SELF-EXPLANATORY. Ô> SORRY JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS EASEY. CAN I MAKE ONE SMALL E IT DID. IN THE AGENDA ITEM ON THE SECOND LINE IT SAYS PARCEL 29E. IF WE COULD AMEND THAT IT SHOULD BE 29B AS IN BOY, E AS IN EDWARD. BACK TO BACK KIND OF WEIRD BUT IF WE CAN CLARIFY THAT WONDERFUL. >> I MOVE WE AMEND IT TO 29 BOY EDWARD BE. NOT JUST E. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE FOR BOTH. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN WE'RE DONE WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR N1 AND THEN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> K2. >> OH YEAH. I TEXTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOO. WE'RE NOT READY FOR IT. WON'T OPEN IT. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT N1. >> N1. DISCUSSION RELATED TO THE HAYS COUNTY INMATE POPULATION. TO INCLUDE CURRENT POPULATION COUNTS AND COSTS. >> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS MY OFFICE THE JAIL CAPACITY EVERY WEEK. AND OUR CURRENT CAPACITY REMAINS AT 464 INMATES. JAIL STANDARDS RECOMMEND HOLDING 10% OF THAT CAPACITY OPEN WHICH LOWERS OUR ACTUAL CAPACITY TO 417. THE JAIL'S DAILY AVERAGE WAS HOWEVER 523 AND WEAK WAS 530 ON SEPTEMBER 1ST. THE ESTIMATED COSTS FOR [02:30:01] OUTSOURCING INMATES THIS WEEK IS $66,420. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTSOURCED MALES IS 93 AND FEMALES ARE 0 AND THEY ARE ALL HOUSED IN HASCELL COUNTY. [M. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS] WE HAVE 33. PAPER-READY INMATES. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PLEASE OPEN M1. >> M1 EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 551 .071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION REGARDING PENDING AND/OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HAYS IS COUNTY'S POTENTIAL INTERVENTION. RELATED TO HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER NINE VERSUS SAN MARKOS HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL 26-2025-DCE PENDING IN THE 453RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT IN HAYS COUNTY. POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION MAY FOLLOW IN OPEN COURT. >> IF YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO THIS AGENDA ITEM. PLEASE CLEAR THE COURTROOM. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.