Parker County Commissioners Court Budget Meeting - August 13, 2026

The Parker County Commissioners Court convened in budget session on August 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom of the Parker County Courthouse. The meeting, presided over by County Judge Pat Deen (with Commissioner Conley serving as Judge Pro Tem during Judge Deen's absence from 11:00 AM to 11:13 AM), addressed the FY2026-2027 general fund budget, precinct budgets, various budget adjustments, and public service funding requests. The court also approved changes to employee insurance and approved new positions. The meeting adjourned at 11:57 AM.

Consent Calendar

(No consent calendar items were identified. All items were individually considered.)

Public Comments & Testimony

The meeting featured presentations from multiple public service organizations and county officials. Speakers and their positions (as indicated by their requests and subsequent approvals) included:

• Ruth Swain, Child Protective Services Board: requested $34,600 (approved).
• Patty Wilson, Executive Director Freedom House, and Lead Advocate Carol Sutton: requested funding the same as expiring (approved).
• Kristine Carlson and Linda Authier, Parker County Committee On Aging: requested $57,274 (approved).
• Diana Aslin, Executive Director for Child Advocacy Center, and Sheriff Authier: requested $30,000 (approved).
• Hanna Adams, Cornerstone Community Action Agency Executive Director, and Todd Leibham: requested $59,615.07 (approved).
• Jason Malewiski, Servolution Network Executive Director: requested $50,000 (approved).
• Gabe Leatherwood, MHMR Pecan Valley Center CFO: requested $24,500 (approved).
• Erika Cooper, City of Aledo Director of Community Services, and Library Director Beck Gorman: presented but no action taken (Judge Deen left during this presentation).
• JoAnne Barnhart, Abandoned Cemetery Association: requested $12,000, which the court raised to $15,000 (approved).

Discussion Items

I. Budget Adjustment for Precinct 3 Part-Time Line

Commissioner Walden presented a request to move money to the part-time budget line in Precinct 3. The court discussed and approved the adjustment.

II. General Fund Budget FY2026-2027

Budget Analyst Bianca Lord presented the general fund budget overview. No action was taken on the general fund budget presentation itself.

Public Services Budget Requests: The court heard and approved funding for several organizations (see Public Comments & Testimony for details).

Capital & Non-Capital Budget Requests:

• Approved replacement of a bulletin board in CCL2 with a portable smart board, funded from the IT Budget.
• Approved an additional safe and evidence locker for $800 for Constable 3 (Department 553).

Texas County and District Retirement System (TCDRS), Active Employee Insurance Rates, Health Insurance for Retirees: No action taken initially. After recess, the court approved a change to employee insurance: removal of the Sick Pool Committee effective January 1, 2027, with the addition of a county-paid short-term disability policy (Plan 1). (Note: The minutes list this under Active Employee Insurance Rates after recess.)

Longevity Pay, Salaries and Benefits for Elected Officials, Precincts, PCSO, Non-Elected Employees: No action taken.

Additional Employee Salary Requests and New Positions:

• Chief Arnett addressed whether lateral pay discussed previously would include Animal Control and Dispatch; no action taken on that query.
• The court approved three top-scored positions: UDA (undefined), increase in Elections Administrator salary, and increase in the part-time line for Constable 4.
• Approved a salary increase for the IT Director to $160,000 effective October 1, 2026.

Special Revenue Funds and Projects: No action taken.

III. Precincts Funds 1-4 Budget FY2026-2027

No action was taken on the precincts fund budgets as a whole.

Capital & Non-Capital Budget Requests for Precincts:

• Approved $3,000 for purchasing Body Armor for Constable 4 out of a Fund 10 Budget.

Key Outcomes

• Approved budget adjustment for Precinct 3 part-time line (Motion by Walden, second Holt; carried).
• Approved $34,600 for Child Protective Services Board (Walden/Hale; carried).
• Approved funding for Freedom House same as expiring (Holt/Hale; carried).
• Approved $57,274 for Parker County Committee On Aging (Walden/Holt; carried).
• Approved $30,000 for Child Advocacy Center (Walden/Hale; carried).
• Approved $59,615.07 for Cornerstone Community Action Agency (Conley/Holt; carried).
• Approved $50,000 for Servolution Network (Holt/Conley; carried).
• Approved $24,500 for MHMR Pecan Valley Center (Walden/Holt; carried).
• Approved $15,000 for Abandoned Cemetery Association (raised from $12,000; Walden/Holt; carried).
• Approved smart board replacement from IT budget (Holt/Hale; carried).
• Approved $800 safe/evidence locker for Constable 3 (Walden/Holt; carried).
• Approved removal of Sick Pool Committee and addition of short-term disability plan effective Jan 1, 2027 (Walden/Hale; carried).
• Approved three new positions/raises: UDA, Elections Administrator salary increase, Constable 4 part-time line increase (Walden/Hale; carried).
• Approved IT Director salary increase to $160,000 effective Oct 1, 2026 (Holt/Hale; carried).
• Approved $3,000 for Constable 4 body armor from Fund 10 (Hale/Conley; carried).
• Meeting adjourned (Conley/Deen; carried).

All votes were recorded as "MOTION CARRIED" indicating unanimous approval.