Parker County Commissioners Court Budget Session – September 17, 2025

The Parker County Commissioners Court met in budget session on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the Parker County Courthouse in Weatherford, Texas. The agenda listed a start time of 8:15 a.m.; the public hearing opened at 9:02 a.m. and the meeting adjourned at 11:26 a.m. Presiding were County Judge Pat Deen and Commissioners Conley (Pct. 1), Holt (Pct. 2), Walden (Pct. 3), and Hale (Pct. 4), with County Attorney John Forrest and Deputy County Clerk Terri Moore present.

Public Hearing – Proposed Tax Rate FY2025-2026

• The public hearing opened at 9:02 a.m. and closed at 9:19 a.m. Richard Heiser, Commissioner Walden, County Judge Deen, Commissioner Holt, and Commissioner Hale presented information on the proposed tax rate. The minutes list the hearing as submitted; no vote on the tax rate is recorded.

Approval – Willow Park Road Repair Interlocal Agreement

• The court approved an addendum to the Municipal-County Contract for Road Repair with the City of Willow Park and Precinct Four through an interlocal agreement for road improvements. Motion by Commissioner Hale, second by Commissioner Conley; motion carried.

Capital & Non-Capital Budget Requests

• Approved the purchase of one tower that was specifically budgeted. Motion by Commissioner Holt, second by County Judge Deen. Vote: Ayes – Judge Deen and Commissioners Conley, Holt, and Hale; Noes – Commissioner Walden. Motion carried.
• Approved Constable 1's request for Motorola APX radios after the price increase of $570 each. Motion by Commissioner Conley, second by Commissioner Holt; carried.
• Approved the price increase of $570 each for Constable 3, Patrol, and EOC requests for Motorola APX radios. Motion by Commissioner Walden, second by Commissioner Hale; carried.
• Approved the purchase of a fixed asset printer for barcode labels for $1,445. Motion by Commissioner Walden, second by Commissioner Holt; carried.
• Received notification only on the Fund 10 Rollover clarification regarding the hailstorm property insurance claim. As stated in the minutes, the total allowed amount was 1,383,000,000, and accepting the $500,000 aesthetic claim reduced the total to be received to $937,773,086; this amount did not include damages to the Precinct 3 barn or the Jim Wright building.
• Approved the updated quote for Precinct 4's mechanic truck service for a single rear wheel. Motion by Commissioner Hale, second by Commissioner Conley; carried.

Salaries and Benefits for Non-Elected Employees

• Approved Judge Johnson's request for her staff to be paid on parity with the Court Coordinators of the other three courts. Motion by County Judge Deen, second by Commissioner Holt; carried.
• Judge Dean's request to increase pay for the Probate Auditor/Court Coordinator failed for lack of a second after County Judge Deen made the motion.
• Approved County Attorney John Forrest's request to increase investigator salaries in the workbook plus the 4% COLA. Motion by Commissioner Conley, second by Commissioner Hale; carried.
• Approved new programs in the county health plan, presented by County Treasurer Becky McCullough. Motion by Commissioner Holt, second by Commissioner Walden; carried.
• Approved creation of a Veteran's Administrative Assistant position alongside the current Veteran's Assistance Coordinator in anticipation of the current Coordinator's retirement; the position was to become a true officer once the current Coordinator retired, with the Court to interview the assistant as the potential replacement. Motion by Commissioner Hale, second by Commissioner Conley; carried.

Jim Wright House Update

• Commissioner Walden and Bill Warren of the Parker County Historical Commission provided an update on repairs to the Jim Wright house. Notification only.

Executive Session – Real Estate

• The court entered closed session at 10:10 a.m. under Texas Government Code Section 551.072 to discuss property at 1105 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford, Texas. County Attorney John Forrest, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Ashley Marineau, and Auditor Brianna Fowler entered and left at various times. The court reconvened in open session at 10:49 a.m. and took no action on the property.

Special Revenue Funds and Projects

• County Clerk Lila Deakle presented the FY26 Preservation, Restoration, and Records Archive Plan. The court approved the archive plan by motion of Commissioner Holt, second by Commissioner Walden; motion carried.
• Auditor Brianna Fowler notified the court that the Code of Criminal Procedure requires the District Attorney and Sheriff to provide the court a list of items and budget for the upcoming year for their forfeited funds. Notification only.

Precincts Fund 50 and Funds 1-4 Budgets

• The court took no action on the Precincts Fund 50 and Funds 1-4 budgets for FY2025-2026, on their Capital & Non-Capital Budget Requests, or on the Road & Bridge Allocation.

General Fund Budget FY2025-2026

• Budget Analyst Bianca Lord and Auditor Brianna Fowler presented budget adjustment updates for the General Fund. Notification only.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Willow Park road repair interlocal agreement.
• Approved one tower, radio price increases, a fixed asset printer, and Precinct 4's truck service quote.
• Approved staff parity, investigator salary increases, health plan changes, and a new Veteran's Administrative Assistant position.
• Failed to approve the Probate Auditor pay raise for lack of a second.
• Took no action on 1105 Santa Fe Dr., the precinct budgets, and the Road & Bridge Allocation.
• Adjourned by motion of Commissioner Conley, second by Commissioner Holt; motion carried at 11:26 a.m.