Parker County Commissioners Court Regular Meeting – September 9, 2025

The Parker County Commissioners Court met in regular session on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 8:30 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom at the Parker County Courthouse. The meeting recessed at 9:57 AM and reconvened at 10:08 AM, adjourning at 11:17 AM. Key items included discussions on a cybersecurity grant, parking lot reimbursement, insurance claims, and in-depth budget deliberations for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Approval Items

• I.A – OOG Cybersecurity Initiative Grant: James Caywood, IT Director, and Brianna Fowler, County Auditor, reported that the county was not awarded funds from the Homeland Security grant from the Governor’s Office. No action was taken.
• I.B – Reimbursement from General Fund to Precinct 3 (Sheriff’s Office Parking Lot): Brianna Fowler requested the shortage be covered by the General Fund. Chief Deputy Mark Arnett provided information. A motion by Commissioner Walden, seconded by Commissioner Hale, to pay for the actual work completed at the FEMA rate was carried.
• I.C – 2025 Insurance Claims: Kim Rivas, Purchasing Agent, requested rolling $110,483 to the FY2026 Budget to complete repairs on approximately fourteen vehicles damaged in a hail storm. Motion carried. A second motion approved using insurance revenue from buildings that will not be repaired to repair the CSCD Building, the Jail and Justice Center, and the Senior Citizens Building. A third motion approved the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) deductible and insurance payment for wind damage in Precinct 3 to replace a destroyed building; all motions carried.

Discussion Items – General Fund Budget FY2025-2026

• Salaries and Benefits for Non-Elected Employees: Brianna Fowler reported that a position previously funded by the Juvenile Truancy Prevention Grant would no longer be covered by the grant. The court approved covering the employee’s pay and insurance premiums, and also approved covering the $2,765 shortfall from the General Fund. County Treasurer Becky McCullough presented the County Attorney’s request to apply the 4% COLA to SB 22 supplements, also for Assistant District Attorneys, CPS Paralegal, and Investigators. Motion carried. Additionally, an order for increased pay for Court Reporters, Auditor’s Office Budget, District Court Coordinators, and CCL Court Coordinators was approved, with the 4% COLA applied to District and County Court Coordinators.
• Capital & Non-Capital Budget Requests:
  • Purchase of a vehicle with outfitting for Constable PCT 3 for $79,270 was approved.
  • An additional $2,000 for a ballistic shield for Constable 2 was approved.
  • A request for $250,000 in radio contingency for equipment at existing towers was discussed; no action taken.
  • Funding for flooding sirens and drones was approved; a line for drone software was added to make it county-wide.
  • An IT contingency request for an additional $40,000 was authorized, with the Auditor’s office given authority to override the budget as necessary.
  • Rollovers totaling $2,869,457 were approved as outlined.
  • A $91,604 rollover for Precinct 4’s utility bed for a mechanic truck was approved.
  • Technology fund contingencies for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 (Fund 57: $22,000) and Fund 76 ($15,001) were approved.
  • For the Juvenile Probation Fund, $4,000,000 was allocated to contingency for purchase, renovation, and associated expenses.
  • For the Jim Wright Building, $35,000 was allocated to the Budget and $65,000 to Contingency.
• Special Revenue Funds and Projects: Brianna Fowler presented interest allocations from the early payoff of the TXDOT Rick Williamson pass-through. A motion to split $900,000 among precincts ($300,000 to Precincts 1 & 4 each, $150,000 to Precincts 2 & 3 each) was approved, with Commissioner Conley dissenting (4-1). Bianca Lord, Budget Analyst, provided an update; no action taken.
• General Fund Budget (Fire Marshal Position): Brianna Fowler and Steven Watson, ESD 1 Chief, presented information. A motion to approve a one-year contract with ESD 1 for a Fire Marshal and to move the secretary position to 406 was approved 4-1, with Commissioner Walden opposing.

Discussion Items – Precincts Fund 50 and Funds 1-4 Budgets

• No action was taken on any of the sub-items (budget presentation, capital/non-capital requests, or road and bridge allocation).

Key Outcomes

• Votes recorded:
  • I.B (parking lot reimbursement) – Motion carried (no specific tally).
  • I.C (insurance claims) – All three motions carried.
  • II.D Salaries – Multiple motions carried.
  • II.C Capital – Multiple motions carried; radio contingency: no action.
  • II.E Special Revenue – Approved 4-1 (Conley no).
  • II.A Fire Marshal – Approved 4-1 (Walden no).
• The meeting adjourned at 11:17 AM.