Aug 04, 2025 BUDGET WORKSHOP AUGUST 4 & 5

[00:00:05]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. IT'S TIME.

[1. Call to Order.]

SPECIAL MEETING TODAY IS MONDAY, AUGUST 4TH.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE ACCORDING TO THE POSTING TILL WEDNESDAY, IF NEEDED, TO WELCOME TO OUR COURTROOM.

AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US VIA LIVESTREAM, PLEASE BE ADVISED WE HAVE A PRESENCE OF A QUORUM.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS NOTICE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED ONLINE UNDER LEGAL NOTICES FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS PURSUANT TO TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551. AND WE HAVE THE ITEM NUMBER TWO.

[2. COUNTY JUDGE: ]

THERE IS A REASON WHY WE ARE WE ADDED THIS TO THIS PARTICULAR MEETING BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE OPERATE ON ROBERT RULE OF PROCEDURE LAW, WHATEVER YOU CALL RULE OF ORDER.

AND WE WERE OPERATING ON AN, A VERY OLD VERSION WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN 1990 OR EVEN BEFORE AND BEFORE EVEN DIGITAL WORLD EXISTED.

AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT WE UPDATE THAT TO THE CURRENT VERSION, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN 2020, THE 12TH EDITION.

AND THIS IS I AM PRESENTING TO THE COURT TO ADOPT THIS NEW ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER SO THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD, MOVING FORWARD.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE STANDARD WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW.

JUDGE, I HAD A QUESTION.

AND WHAT ARE THE MATERIAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 1990 OR BEFORE VERSION AND WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW? HUGE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DIGITAL WORLD EXISTED.

THERE WAS NO LIVE STREAM EXISTED.

THERE WAS NO VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION EXISTED.

THERE WAS NO VIRTUAL SIGN UP EXISTED.

THERE IS IT IS A WORLD OF PEN AND PAPER.

AND WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF OF HOW YOU CONDUCT A MEETING? THE SAME. OBVIOUSLY IT IS.

AND AND. YEAH. YEAH. BUT THEN THEN BECAUSE THERE IS NEW VERSION, NEWER VERSION, WE ADOPT BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS CHANGES TO THE NEWER VERSION.

THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW JUST HOW THE CHANGES WHAT WE DO.

AND I THINK THAT WE'VE ALREADY SOME OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT DIGITAL SIGN UP, WHATEVER THE, WHATEVER THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE, HAVE MADE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PART OF THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE DON'T VOTE FOR SOMETHING AND THAT IT DOESN'T SERVE OUR, OUR NEEDS. OKAY.

SO. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE.

AND IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S A, WHO'S A AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE, IT IS ACTUALLY A ALMOST A THOUSAND PAGE BOOK.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO GO AND READ IT, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH VOTING ON IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE DIFFERENCE THIS IS. ACTUALLY, I'M NOT BRINGING ANYTHING SO THAT I COULD VOTE AND GET GO HOME WITH SOME SECRET THING.

IT IS ROBERT'S RULES OF PROCEDURE OR ORDER, AND IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED AS ALL OVER UNITED STATES TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.

WELL, CAN CAN CAN I MEAN, CAN YOU HAVE SOMEONE GIVE US THE CLIFF NOTES? THE. WELL, I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. YEAH. SO.

SO SOMEBODY GIVE US THE CLIFF NOTES. I MEAN, I'M SURE THERE'S A PARLIAMENTARY EXPERT SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE THAT CAN THAT CAN GIVE US.

I WILL ASK IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

YOU PICK UP THE BOOK AND READ BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO GO AND DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR IT, IT'S WELCOME TO DO THAT TOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE WELL, I THINK THAT'S INCUMBENT UPON US ALL TO READ THE BOOK, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GOVERNED BY.

AND SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE AND SHOULD ALREADY BE DOING AS YOU'VE PROPOSED THIS, I DON'T SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH SOMEONE GIVING US A BULLET POINT VERSION OF SOME OF THE MAIN CHANGES.

I WOULD ALSO SAY WE PROBABLY, GIVEN THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENED IN THIS COURT THAT ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

IT'S PROBABLY WORTH US GETTING A WORKSHOP, ALL OF US TOGETHER, ON EXACTLY WHAT IS AT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE AND HOW OUR MEETINGS ARE SUPPOSED.

SO WE HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING THIS BUSINESS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS.

I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T CLEARLY JUDGE.

YOU'VE TAKEN ACTIONS HERE THAT ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ROBERT'S RULES OR THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING CLEARLY WE ALL NEED A PRIMER ON.

AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST IF THE 12TH EDITION OF ROBERT'S RULES IS WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED THAT WE OPERATE FROM, THEN WE NEED AN UPDATE OR SOME SORT OF PRIMER ON EXACTLY WHAT THE 12TH

[00:05:06]

I WOULD CAUTION US AGAINST THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO OPERATE ON THE MOST UP TO DATE EDITION OF ROBERT'S RULES. I DON'T HAVE AN OPPOSITION TO THAT.

HOWEVER, AN AUTOMATIC YOU KNOW, A PUBLISHER PUBLISHES A ANOTHER VERSION OF ROBERT'S RULES. HOW DO WE RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THAT? HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE? AND TO AUTOMATICALLY OR CALL FOR AN ORDER TO AUTOMATICALLY ADOPT A NEW PUBLICATION.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT WITH ANY OTHER STANDARD FORM OF BUSINESS TO AUTOMATICALLY ADOPT THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

I THINK IT'S WORTH COMING TO THE COURT WHEN A NEW EDITION IS PUBLISHED, AS IS STANDARD ORDER FOR MANY OTHER GOVERNING BODIES.

I DON'T I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THAT. AND I DON'T WHOLLY DISAGREE WITH US OPERATING ON THE LATEST VERSION, BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND, THE NINTH EDITION ISN'T EVEN IN CIRCULATION OR PRINT ANYMORE.

SO I THINK THAT'S A FAIR POINT, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO, BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION ON THIS, KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES.

AND WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET A SOME SORT OF WORKSHOP OR PRIMER FROM SOMEBODY ON ON THE APPROPRIATE PROCEDURES UNDER ROBERT'S RULES.

JUST TO ADD, WE PROVIDE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TRAINING ANY COURT MEMBERS HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENT TO ME? WELL, YEAH. YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. I'M JUST ASKING.

THIS WAS AN ITEM PUT ON A BUDGET WORKSHOP AGENDA.

YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S NOT TYPICALLY WHERE WE TYPICALLY IN THESE KIND OF WORKSHOPS, WE DON'T EVEN VOTE. OKAY.

TYPICALLY. BUT THERE ARE ITEMS. SO THIS THIS IS A COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, A DE FACTO COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE PUT ON THERE. OKAY. SO WHAT I'M SAYING AS AS A COURTESY TO ALL THE COURT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PROCEDURES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S IT'S IT'S OUT OF ORDER TO ASK THAT THERE BE SOME SUMMARY OF THE ITEMS, BULLET POINTS AND BULLET POINTS SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW WE HAVE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. AND THIS WAS NOT THIS WAS POSTED ON THE AGENDA FOR WHAT? THURSDAY? FRIDAY? FRIDAY. THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANYTHING.

OKAY I SO I CONCUR THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE SOME SUMMARY OF WHAT THESE RULES MEAN RIGHT NOW. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ELABORATE, BUT SOME.

SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO.

AND I WELCOME TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COURT AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO, WHO, WHO MAY HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE OF ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER THAN THAN I DO, SIR. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS IT'S NOT EVEN MY JOB TO UPDATE THIS, BUT WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT LONG AGO.

I SAID, BUT YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO. SO I THINK IT'S THAT'S THAT'S WHY I TURN TO YOU TO SAY, CAN YOU GIVE US.

YEAH. IF I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, I'D BE EXPECTED TO DO THE SAME THING.

SO, SO SO THANK YOU, SIR, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

LET'S HEAR FROM OTHER MEMBERS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.

ALL RIGHT. HERE'S WHAT I WOULD DO.

YEAH. SOME VALID POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

WHY DON'T WE BRING THIS BACK ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.

MAYBE THAT'D GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO PUT TOGETHER SOME OF THOSE BULLET POINTS.

OH, TUESDAY. BRINGING IT BACK TUESDAY MORNING. YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH.

I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THAT.

THIS IS A CONVERSATION. TAKE IT BACK NEXT WEEK. WEDNESDAY'S A LITTLE SHORT. BESIDES THAT, WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE BURIED IN BUDGET ISSUES.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S OUTSIDE THE BUDGET.

YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, LET'S GET EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO. BUT JUDGE, YOU'VE HEARD THE COMMENTS.

I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME RESEARCH, SOME BULLET POINTS MADE.

WHAT DIFFERENCES THERE ARE. BUT WHAT HAPPENED? IF THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE, WE ARE NOW GOING TO ADOPT THIS.

IF IT IS THE SAME THING. NOBODY WE CAN WE CAN ADOPT WHATEVER THE COURT DECIDES TO ADOPT.

WE NEED TO UPDATE. OKAY.

BUT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO USE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER IF WE DON'T WANT TO. WE CAN USE GENERALLY ACCEPTED PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, FOR THAT MATTER. YEAH. OKAY.

IT'S THE COURT'S CHOICE. THAT'S ALL. FAIR ENOUGH. FAIR ENOUGH. BUT, BUT BUT BEFORE WE MOVE AWAY FROM THIS POINT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHO'S GOING TO DO IT.

ARE YOU, AS THE PERSON THAT PUT IT OUT ON AN AGENDA GOING TO PROVIDE US? I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERTISE TO DO THAT.

AND AND AT THE AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE LEGAL TEAM

[00:10:03]

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? WELL, THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S FAIR ENOUGH. MADAM ATTORNEY. YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PRESTIDGE.

WE HAVE A 36 PAGE PRIMER ON PERFECTING PARLIAMENTARIAN PROCEDURE THAT WE PROVIDE AT THE REQUEST. WE PROVIDE THIS TO THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES, THE BOARD OF JUDGES. SO WE ARE WELL EQUIPPED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE LATEST VERSION.

WE ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THE ONE THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 1997.

WE KNOW IT'S OUT OF PRINT, BUT WE'VE GOT IT HUNTED DOWN.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE MOST UPDATED VERSION OF ROBERT'S RULES.

SO MY OFFICE IS PREPARED TO DO A WORKSHOP WITH YOU ALL TO PROVIDE YOU ANY UPDATES THAT YOU MAY NEED REGARDING PERFECTING PARLIAMENTARIAN PROCEDURE.

AND JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR YOUR AWARENESS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO THE COURT. AND THIS IS NOT A VOTE. THIS IS NOT A MOTION SUGGESTION THAT LET THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE, SOON IT'S APPROPRIATE NEXT MEETING.

WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO CUSTOMIZE IT TO, YOU KNOW, TO PRESENTATION.

OKAY. BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THEY'VE DONE THE WORK ALREADY. THEY'VE GOT AND THEY SAID SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT THAT THAT ABIDE BY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.

SO IF IT'S ALRIGHT WITH THE COURT, CAN WE JUST ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION? THAT'S TOTALLY FAIR. OKAY.

AND A FUTURE MEETING ITEM.

MOVE ON TO NEXT ITEM. AND SORRY, I DO HAVE ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

[3. Public Comments regarding the Agenda and Announcements: speakers are required to register their public participation form no later than 8:45 a.m. on the day of the meeting, in accordance with the Rules and Procedures of Commissioners Court.]

AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

AT WHAT POINT WILL THE PUBLIC BE ABLE TO GIVE COMMENT ABOUT THESE BUDGET ITEMS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING? IT IS ACTUALLY ITEM NUMBER THREE.

AND THAT'S ALSO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE GET INTO SO THAT THAT READS AS AN ITEM TO CHANGE THE SIGN UP THAT DIDN'T READ TO ME AS AN ITEM WHERE PUBLIC WOULD GIVE COMMENT.

YEAH. PUBLIC WILL COME.

AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT.

IT UP PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENT SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO.

IS THAT AN ACTION ITEM OR WHAT IS THAT? IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM.

IT IS JUST A PUBLIC TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY.

AND BECAUSE IT IS A BUDGET HEARING.

IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A THIS SOUNDS LIKE A POLICY.

IT LOOKS LIKE A POLICY.

SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED. WELL, LET ME FINISH.

I'M JUST GOING TO READ WHAT I SEE ON THE SCREEN THERE. SURE. GO AHEAD. SPEAKERS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER THEIR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FORM NO LATER THAN 8:45 A.M.

ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND PROCEDURES OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.

DOES THAT PERTAIN TO THESE BUDGET MEETINGS FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS OR SHORTER, OR IS THIS A POLICY? ONE ITEM PUT IT OUT TO PUBLIC TO COME AND PARTICIPATE.

I KNOW, BUT DOES IT PERTAIN TO THIS BUDGET MEETINGS, THESE THREE DAYS THAT THAT ARE ARE SET ASIDE FOR THIS PART OF THE PROCESS? THAT IS IT ONLY FOR THIS.

THIS IS ONLY ONE AGENDA FOR THREE DAYS.

SO IF THEY WANTED TO COME.

AND SO THIS IS NOT A POLICY THAT HENCEFORTH EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE TO SIGN UP BY 8:45 A.M.

THE DAY OF THE MEETING. SEE, I I'M ASKING, I'M ASKING.

I WILL, I WILL, I WILL TELL YOU THIS IF IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO COME AND TALK ABOUT.

WE CALL THIS A SPECIAL MEETING AND IT IS ABOUT BUDGET AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

THEY ARE COMING AND SPEAKING ON THAT ITEM.

OKAY. THIS IS ACTUALLY THIS IS FOR THIS THIS SERIES OF MEETINGS.

THIS MEETING IS ONLY ONE MEETING.

IT MIGHT CARRY OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS.

SO THAT'S FOR THIS MEETING.

EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SIGNED UP BY 845 TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY BEFORE IT STOPPED FOR TODAY. YEAH. SO THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS ALSO IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T GET HERE ON TIME OR WHATEVER, WE STILL BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIAL MEETING, WE'RE STILL GOING TO ASK THEM TO COME AND SPEAK.

SO WITH THAT I WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH AND ALSO I WILL I GET YOUR OPINION ON THIS BECAUSE ONE ITEM I THINK HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR ONE ITEM? OLGA. I THINK ABOUT 16, 17.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE APPARENTLY FOR ONE ITEM AND THAT IS THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

YEAH. AND ALSO THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL ITEM GENERAL BUDGET ITEMS. RIGHT. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF ONE, TWO I BELIEVE.

TWO PEOPLE ON OTHER ITEM THAT IS NOT FIVE, WHICH IS THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

[00:15:05]

SO IF I UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE COMING FROM THE JUSTICE CENTER, THEY HAVE TIME LIMITATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK NOW, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT.

AND THEN WE CANNOT OPEN UP WHEN ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE ITEM COME UP, MAYBE TOMORROW OR DAY AFTER, WHENEVER THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW.

SO IF YOU IF YOU CHOOSE TO SPEAK NOW, YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN, YOUR WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO SPEAK.

BUT WE WILL START CLARIFICATION.

WHAT ARE THEY SPEAKING ON? AGENDA ITEM. MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT AGENDA ITEM FIVE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE FIRST? FIRST I'M GOING TO TAKE GENERAL.

GENERAL AND THEN THE OTHERS.

THAT IS OKAY. THAT IS CORRECT.

AND I WILL ENTERTAIN TWO PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL ITEMS. YEAH. THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP FOR ANOTHER ITEM THAT'S NOT FIVE D IS ROBERT BEAM ON AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

OKAY. HI. GOOD MORNING.

IS THAT MIC ON? IS IT MICROPHONE ON.

YOU CAN JUST PRESS THE BUTTON ON TOP THERE. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S GOOD. GOOD, GOOD. WONDERFUL.

OKAY, SO GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ROBERT BINGHAM AND I'M A RESIDENT OF KATY IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT COUNTY SPENDING AND ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE 2026 REQUESTED BUDGET OF $843 MILLION.

IF ADOPTED AS IS, THIS WOULD BE A 12% OR $91 MILLION INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S RECORD BUDGET. FOR A BIT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT, COUNTY EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN INCREASING DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

FROM 2018 TO 2025, THE ANNUAL FORT BEND COUNTY BUDGET HAS NEARLY DOUBLED, FROM 360 MILLION TO 730 MILLION.

AND WHILE MANY OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL ARGUE THAT THIS IS DUE TO RAPID INCREASING POPULATION, THE POPULATION OVER THAT SAME TIME FRAME HAS ONLY INCREASED BY 24%, SO THE GROWTH IN EXPENDITURES EQUATES TO A PER CAPITA INCREASE FOR EACH RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY. IT USED TO BE $506 AND NOW IT'S $752.

SO OUR EVER INCREASING TAXES AREN'T A HIGH GROWTH PROBLEM.

THEY'RE A HIGH SPENDING PROBLEM.

SO ADDITIONALLY, OVER THAT 2018 TO 25 PERIOD, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ANOMALIES, I THINK, IN THE EXPENDITURE GROWTH.

WHILE WE MIGHT EXPECT A HIGH GROWTH COUNTY TO SPEND A LOT ON CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, THAT FUNCTION HAS ONLY GROWN BY ABOUT 30%.

HOWEVER, WE SPEND FOUR TIMES AS MUCH NOW ON DEBT SERVICE, ON GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, AND TWO TIMES AS MUCH ON HEALTH AND WELFARE.

SO I THINK THE SHORT ANALYSIS I'VE DONE INDICATES TWO THINGS.

WE'RE GENERALLY SPENDING TOO MUCH AS A COUNTY, AND TWO, OUR PRIORITIES ARE WRONG BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING INTO DEBT AND GENERAL ADMIN, IT'S NOT SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

SO SO AS I SEE IT, THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY BUDGET IS EFFECTIVELY WHAT DRIVES OUR TAXES.

IT'S NOT THE PROPERTY APPRAISALS OR THE TAX RATES YOU SET, BUT ULTIMATELY THE SPENDING YOU DECIDE TO APPROVE.

SO I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THE 2026 BUDGET GIVES THE COUNTY AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDRESS AND REVERSE SOME OF THESE WORRYING TRENDS, AND FOCUS SPENDING ON AREAS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COUNTY MOST, AND GIVE A BREAK TO THE LONG SUFFERING TAXPAYERS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

OKAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER ON AGENDA ITEM THREE AND FOUR IS SUMITA GHOSH.

GOOD MORNING. I'M SUMITA GHOSH.

I LIVE IN SUGAR LAND, TEXAS, AND I INITIALLY SIGNED UP FOR WITH A LITTLE SENSE OF CONFUSION, BUT I'M GLAD I DID.

AFTER HEARING THE LAST SPEAKER.

I NEVER GET THE SENSE DURING THESE MEETINGS THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ARE ALLOWED TO SPEAK OR ANSWER QUESTIONS.

AND SO I REALLY WANT OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, THE BUDGET PERSON. I BELIEVE IT'S PAMELA GUNNELS.

MAYBE. I HOPE SHE'S HERE.

TO ACTUALLY EXPLAIN THE BUDGET TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

NOT LIKE IN DETAIL. I'M NOT A MATH MAJOR.

PHD IN BIOCHEMISTRY, SO BUT I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS EVEN SUCH A CONTENTIOUS DECISION. I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE'S GOT AN ECONOMICS DEGREE.

HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T LIVE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE OUR CITY IS GROWING.

WE ENJOY THE ADMINISTRATIVE BENEFITS.

[00:20:01]

AND I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE WORKER HERE.

THEY ARE NOT CERTAINLY THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE STATE.

THEY DESERVE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE IN THE COUNTY.

THEY THEY BELIEVE IN AND THEY DESERVE EVERY PENNY THEY GET.

SO I RESENT ANYONE SAYING, OH, WE'RE JUST TOP HEAVY WITH ADMIN BECAUSE FOR EVERY PERSON THAT'S HERE, THEY'RE HERE TO HELP US MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER. AND FORT BEND COUNTY HAS LED IN A LOT OF WAYS.

THAT'S WHY IT'S STILL GROWING.

THAT'S WHY THERE WAS THAT 24% INCREASE IN POPULATION, BECAUSE IT IS STILL THE BEST DAMN COUNTY IN THE STATE TO LIVE IN, AND IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL COUNTY.

SO I FULLY OPPOSE ANY ATTEMPT TO DECREASE THE BUDGET.

I THINK WE HAVE AMAZING PEOPLE HERE WHO WORK HARD EVERY DAY, AND THEY DESERVE EVERY PENNY THEY GET.

AND THESE SERVICES ARE VITAL, ESPECIALLY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, BECAUSE THERE WAS A REASON WHY FORT BEND COUNTY LED THE STATE IN THE VACCINATION RATE.

WE ARE ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH INCLUDES PEOPLE AND ADMIN STAFF.

SO THANK YOU. AND I WILL I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.

I DO WANT TO SPEAK ON THE ASSOCIATE JUSTICES ISSUE.

THANK YOU. CAN I SPEAK ON THAT TOO, OR SHOULD I WAIT? OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY.

AT THIS POINT, WE WILL OPEN UP THE SPEAKERS.

OKAY. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH FIVE.

ALL THE SPEAKERS. OKAY.

ANY ANY SPEAKER LEFT. THE FIRST ONE SIGNED IN FOR FIVE D IS BREE HOLCOMB.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BREE HOLCOMB.

I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE TEXAS YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, WHERE I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT FORT BEND COUNTY AND SERVE ON THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMITTEE.

COMMISSIONERS COURT IS OFTEN A TOPIC AT OUR DINNER TABLE.

MY DAD, T WAYNE HOLCOMB OF GRADIENT GROUP, IS IN AND OUT OF THESE DOORS, OFTENTIMES WEARING SOMETHING COLORFUL AND BOLD WITH T WAYNE.

THE DISCUSSIONS ALWAYS REVOLVE AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE.

TRANSPORTATION IS A LIFELINE, HE SAYS.

YOU COULD HAVE THE BEST DESTINATION IN THE WORLD, BUT IF THE ROADS ARE BROKEN AND THE BRIDGES ARE CLOSED, PEOPLE CAN'T GET THERE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW URGENT THE NEED IS, THEY ARE STUCK.

OUR COURT SYSTEM IS NO DIFFERENT.

WHEN YOU REMOVE OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, ESPECIALLY IN A COUNTY GROWING AS FAST AS FORT BEND, YOU'RE NOT JUST TIGHTENING A BUDGET, YOU'RE SHUTTING DOWN BRIDGES TO JUSTICE.

PUTTING UP BARRICADES ON ROADS THAT PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED TO TRAVEL.

I PRACTICE FAMILY LAW, AN AREA THAT AFFECTS YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND DIFFICULT AND DARK TIMES.

I HOPE THAT NONE OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE WEIGHT AND EMOTIONAL BURDEN OF A FAMILY CASE BEFORE. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT OUR JUDGES SEE DAILY.

THEY SEE MOTHERS FLEEING FROM ABUSE WAITING FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

THEY SEE FATHERS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HIDDEN AND SECRETED FROM THEM.

THEY SEE GRANDPARENTS FIGHTING FOR CUSTODY WHILE THEIR GRANDKIDS REMAIN IN A DANGEROUS HOME. THESE ARE NOT RARE STORIES, BUT EVERY DAY IN FAMILY COURT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, WHETHER IT'S A DAY OR A COUPLE HOURS, SITTING IN OUR COURTROOMS TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE WITH OUR ASSOCIATE.

WITHOUT OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, OUR PRESIDING JUDGES WILL BE OVERWHELMED.

OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES ARE THE BACKBONES WHO KEEP OUR CASES MOVING WHILE THE PRESIDING JUDGES HEAR CASES, ARE AJS HEAR EMERGENCY MOTIONS.

THEY CONDUCT TEMPORARY ORDERS HEARINGS, RESOLVE DISCOVERY DISPUTES, AND ENSURE THAT CASES AND PEOPLE ARE NOT WAITING SIX, NINE OR EVEN 12 MONTHS FOR BASIC RELIEF.

A ROADBLOCK OR DELAY IN FAMILY LAW IS REAL.

THEIR PARENTS WAITING MONTHS FOR CUSTODY HEARINGS, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WAITING FOR PROTECTION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHILDREN WAITING IN LIMBO WHILE THEIR FUTURES HANG IN THE BALANCE. FOR PEOPLE, JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

I KNOW BUDGETS ARE REAL AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, BUT ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN FORT BEND COUNTY IS NOT OPTIONAL.

IT'S A FOUNDATIONAL PROMISE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

JUST AS ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE A PROMISE THAT WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

WE CANNOT TEAR DOWN THE BRIDGES.

THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY NEED TO REACH THE COURTROOM.

BUDGET CUTS CANNOT BECOME BARRIERS TO BASIC FAIRNESS.

BECAUSE WHEN WE CUT JUDGES, WE DON'T JUST SLOW THINGS DOWN.

WE STRAND THE MOST VULNERABLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THANK YOU. NEXT PERSON ALEX HUNT FIVE D.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ALEX HUNT.

I AM A FAMILY LAWYER IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

I'M A PROUD FORT BEND COUNTY RESIDENT.

I SERVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON THE LAMAR CISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

AND IN THAT ROLE, WE WOULD OFTEN HAVE FOLKS THAT WOULD COME IN AND GIVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE DID BUDGETING.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT PROCESS BECAUSE, LIKE Y'ALL, WE HAD A LARGE BUDGET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT

[00:25:04]

I'VE PRACTICED IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS NOW.

I'M IN AND OUT OF THE COURTS HERE, AND I ALSO PRACTICE IN THE COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY, WALLER COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO GO OVER IS JUST THE PARTICULARS OF THE WAY THE FAMILY LAW SYSTEM AFFECTS OUR CITIZENS. SO WHEN SOMEBODY COMES INTO MY OFFICE AND SAY THERE'S BEEN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT OR THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN INCIDENT WHERE THERE'S A CHILD THAT'S BEING ABUSED IN THE HOME, IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A PREEXISTING ORDER, THOSE CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THAT COURT'S ORDER. THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN GET RELIEF, THAT THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN OR AN ABUSED SPOUSE FROM THE OTHER PERSON, IS BY GOING INTO OUR COURTS AND REQUESTING A PROTECTIVE ORDER, OR BY REQUESTING A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WITH EXTRAORDINARY RELIEF, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO THAT COURT, THEY'RE FILING SOMETHING, AND THEY NEED IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM THAT COURT.

IF WE REMOVE THE FUNDING FOR OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND FAMILY LAW, IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE AND CATASTROPHIC EFFECT ON THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THOSE JUDGES TO DO THEIR JOB.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THESE THINGS IN TIME.

THEY'RE GOING THERE'S GOING TO BE A BACKLOG, THERE'S GOING TO BE A DELAY, AND THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ON THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

THE OTHER THING THAT OUR COURTS DO IS PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

AND PROTECTIVE ORDERS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE COUNTY, MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

THE LAST THING THAT I THAT I'LL SAY IS I DO PRACTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WALLER COUNTY, SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

AND I'M A PROUD FORT BEND COUNTY RESIDENT.

AND ONE THING THAT I OFTEN HEAR HERE AND ELSEWHERE IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE FORT BEND COUNTY. WE DON'T WANT TO. WE WANT TO BE FORT, OR WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE HARRIS COUNTY. WE WANT TO BE FORT BEND COUNTY. WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, THERE'S WEEKS IT WILL TAKE TO GET A HEARING ON THOSE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS, OR SOMETIMES EVEN MONTHS TO GET A TRIAL DATE OR A PROTECTIVE ORDER HEARING DATE.

THIS IS GOING TO GRIND THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE TO A HALT.

LET'S REMAIN FORT BEND COUNTY AND CONTINUE TO FULLY FUND OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL HANSEN, FIVE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M A LITTLE OLD SCHOOL.

I TALK A LITTLE LOW, SLOW.

SO FORGIVE ME IF I RUN JUST A LITTLE BIT LONG.

Y'ALL KIND OF JOHN WAYNE STYLE ABOUT ME.

MY NAME IS MIKE HANSEN.

I'M PROUD TO CALL FORT BEND COUNTY HOME.

I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AS A PROSECUTOR.

I WAS HIRED BY JOHN HEALY, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING REHIRED BY RYAN MIDDLETON, NOW A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

I'VE ALSO SERVED OUR. I GUESS, STATE AS WELL AS NATION AS I CONTINUE AS A JUDGE ADVOCATE. THE UNITED STATES ARMY I'VE DEPLOYED IN 2022 TO KUWAIT, SERVED OUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR A YEAR, AND I CAME BACK HOME, RESUMED MY JOB AS A PROSECUTOR AT THE DA'S OFFICE BEFORE LEAVING SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING NOMINATED BY THE TEXAS YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION TO LEAD TO CAMPAIGN, TO LEAD POSSIBLY 40,000 YOUNG LAWYERS IN THIS STATE.

AND I LOST THAT ELECTION.

SO I TIP MY HAT TO EACH OF YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE WON ELECTIONS.

AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO CAMPAIGN, EVEN JUST FOR A MONTH, FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I HAVE A DEEP RESPECT FOR EACH OF YOU.

THAT'S THE POINT IN MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE YOU GUYS COME UP HERE AND YOU SERVE AND YOU MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND BASED ON MY FAITH, I KNOW THAT I NEED TO RESPECT THE AUTHORITY THAT GOD HAS PUT IN PLACE, AND EACH OF YOU HAVE BEEN PUT IN POSITIONS TO MAKE VERY POWERFUL DECISIONS FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONER MORALES I REMEMBER EMAILING YOU AFTER RECEIVING A BIRTHDAY CARD FROM WHILE WORKING AT THE DA'S OFFICE.

THE SMALL THINGS REALLY MATTER IN THIS COUNTY. IT'S WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE. AND I REMEMBER TAKING MY TIME OUT OF MY SCHEDULE BECAUSE YOU TOOK TIME OUT OF YOURS.

YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER MYERS, I'VE SAT DOWN AND HAD COFFEE WITH YOU.

WE TALKED ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WITH THE RAILWAYS.

AND I'VE GOT TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN. I DIDN'T TALK A WHOLE LOT. I JUST WANTED TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM YOU. BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. AND JUDGE GEORGE, I GOT TO SIT AND HAVE THANKSGIVING MEAL WITH YOU OVER AT THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY. THEY KNOW HOW TO THROW A REALLY GOOD THANKSGIVING PARTY.

BUT I'M HERE TODAY FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER ANY CUT OF OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

[00:30:02]

WE HAVE ASSOCIATE JUDGES IN THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT REALM AS WELL.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY. ONE, SOMETHING THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE AS A, AS A PROSECUTOR TO HANDLE THE SPECIALTY COURTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA ON SPECIALTY COURTS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VETERANS COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT, DRUG COURT, AND SOME OF THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES HANDLE THOSE MATTERS, THEY ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COURTS ACROSS THE NATION TO LOWER RECIDIVISM.

AND IN PARTICULAR, I WAS THE LEAD OF PROSECUTOR AND VETERANS COURT.

I HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN WE SEE VETERANS WHO ARE HAVING TRAUMATIC EPISODES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUYS WHO HAD 17 SIGNED UP, WERE SNIPERS WITH THE MARINES, WENT AND SERVED TILL THEY WERE 31, CAME BACK WITH ALL THAT TRAUMA AFTER 3 TO 6 TIMES IN WAR ZONES AND THE WAR ON TERROR, AND THEY HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS AND THEY HAVE GAMBLING PROBLEMS, AND THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF ISSUES.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO GO INTO THE COURT AND VETERANS TREATMENT COURT AND PROVIDE THEM TREATMENT WITH THE VA.

WE'RE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T DO WHEN THEY ARE A DOCKET AND A NUMBER OTHERWISE. AND THOSE ASSOCIATED JUDGES ARE THE ONES WHO BEAR THE BURDEN AT TIMES.

SOME OF THE POOR DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE, AND I'VE BEEN THERE AS A PROSECUTOR WEARING ALL WEEKEND, WHETHER A VETERAN WHO LEFT CAMP HOPE MIGHT TAKE HIS LIFE OR NOT, UNTIL WE GET THE CAPIAS ISSUED AND WE GET HIM BACK IN COURT AND GET HIM IN TREATMENT SO THAT HE HAS A CHANCE TO SURVIVE.

THEY DO VERY IMPORTANT WORK, AND WHILE IT MAY BE LOWER STATISTICALLY IN NUMBERS, THE THE VALUE IN WHAT THEY DO IN THESE SPECIALTY COURTS IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILIES AND BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSES.

I KNOW I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME, SO I PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO GO OVER ALL THE POINTS THAT I WANTED. BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COMPARISON TO HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE I'M IN THEIR COURTS AS WELL. I KNOW LIKE A BIG BROTHER TO US SOME SORTS, BUT WE'RE DOING THINGS WAY BETTER THAN THEM.

ANY WEEK THAT YOU LOOK AT THE NEWS STORIES, THERE'S SOME CHAOS HAPPENING IN THEIR COURTS.

YOU ALL SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE GUY WHO WAS SITTING IN JAIL 18 YEARS, ALLEGED TO HAVE KID KILLED, JOEL OSTEEN'S GREAT AUNT.

HE WAS LET GO. THE CASE WAS DISMISSED.

THEY CAN'T HANDLE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COUNTY.

AND THE PROBLEM STARTED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THEIR COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE JUDGES THEY NEEDED. THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT WE'RE THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

WE ARE TRENDING IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IS HAPPENING BETTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE BECAUSE OF OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS COMING OUT OF THE THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION, THEY SAY WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE CLEARING AT THE RATE THAT FORT BEND COUNTY IS WHEN IT COMES TO CASE INTAKE AND CASE OUTPUT.

WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT. AND WHILE EACH OF YOU ARE DIFFERENT AND PLAYED A PART IN THE DECISIONS THAT MADE US TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT AGAIN, I'M A LITTLE OLD SCHOOL THERE SAYING MY GRANDPA USED TO TOLD ME BEFORE, TELL ME BEFORE HE PASSED.

AND IT'S IF IT'S NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

WHY ARE WE GOING TO CUT THESE JUDGES AND THESE POSITIONS WHEN WE KNOW THAT THE STATE'S TELLING US Y'ALL ARE DOING IT THE WAY THAT WE WISH EVERYBODY WOULD? YOU ARE THE EXAMPLE. I'LL NOW TALK ABOUT MY LAST POINT BECAUSE I'M SURE I'M OVER TIME.

FINANCIAL IMPACT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK A PRACTITIONER COULD ACTUALLY REALLY HELP YOU REALIZE THAT THAT FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE COST OF THOSE ASSOCIATED JUDGES SALARIES AND THEIR STAFF IS QUITE SMALL WHEN YOU REALIZE WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO, IF THOSE DOCKETS BACK LOAD, THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.

THEY'RE GOING TO SIT AND WAIT THREE HOURS FOR THEIR CASE TO BE HEARD.

THEY'RE GOING TO BILL THE COURT OR THE COUNTY FOR THREE HOURS WORTH OF THEIR TIME.

AND AS THOSE NUMBERS STACK UP, THOSE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS POCKETS ARE GOING TO GET BIG AND RICH. THEY'RE GOING TO HIT YOU JUST LIKE IT IS IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE JAILS.

BECAUSE WHEN JUSTICE ISN'T ADMINISTERED CORRECTLY AND TIMELY, PEOPLE SIT IN JAILS. AND SO WE'RE PAYING FOR THEIR FOOD, WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM TO LIVE.

AND WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG IN THE JAIL AND THERE'S MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUITS, 11 PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL JUST THIS YEAR, IT'S GOING TO HIT OUR POCKETS.

WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING FLOWING AS WELL AS IT IS.

AND AGAIN, THAT IS AN APPLAUD TO YOU SETTING UP THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE, THAT IT IS WORKING SO WELL THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THE APPLAUD ACROSS THE STATE FOR HOW WE DO THINGS. PLEASE RECONSIDER CUTTING THE ASSOCIATED JUDGES.

ONE LAST POINT. WHEN I WORKED AT THE DA'S OFFICE WITH GENTLEMEN LIKE WES WITTIG AND AND

[00:35:01]

BECAUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, YOU'RE WOKEN UP TO ALL THE THE CHAOS THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY, AND YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL A JUDGE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SLEEP, SOMETIMES UP TO 4 OR 5 TIMES A NIGHT, TO WRITE WARRANTS. THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AT TIMES, HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONES ANSWERING THE PHONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WARRANTS WERE REVIEWED AND SIGNED. SO IF THERE WAS AN INTOX MANSLAUGHTER, IF THERE WAS AN ARREST WARRANT THAT NEEDED TO BE SIGNED, THAT THAT WAS DONE. I CAN TELL YOU, JUDGE, WHEN SHE WAS AN ASSOCIATE, JUDGE WAS THE ONE JUDGE I COULD RELY ON TO ALWAYS ANSWER THAT PHONE.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, JUDGE BRAM IS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE RIGHT NOW.

WHEN I WAS A PROSECUTOR, WAS THE ONE JUDGE THAT I COULD ALWAYS RELY ON TO ANSWER THE CALL THAT SHE WAS APPOINTED TO AND DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU. I JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THOSE THINGS. I SEE YOU, JUDGE GEORGE. YOU'RE READY TO CUT ME OFF. THANK YOU.

IT'S OUT OF RESPECT TO OTHERS, YOU KNOW, JUST.

ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE 16 MORE PEOPLE WAITING.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDGE ARGY.

BRAM. IN THE OTHER ROOM, I THINK. I'M SORRY SHE HAD CHECKED IN.

OKAY. THE NEXT ONE IS APRIL L JONES ON FIVE D.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES.

I'M APRIL JONES PRECINCT CHAIR, 4066.

I'M ALSO THE FORT BEND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY TREASURER.

I AM VERY DISTRESSED TO EVEN BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON LETTING JUDGES GO.

THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE WORK, IT'S IT'S I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS DECISION. IT'S GOING TO IT'S A GREAT IMPACT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A DOMINO EFFECT ON FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE COURT.

SO I'M HERE TO DEFEND KEEPING THE JUDGES HERE.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IS THERE WILL BE A BACKLOG OF CASES IN COURT THAT INCLUDES CRIMINAL, CIVIL LAW AND CIVIL CASES THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY TAKE LONGER TO RESOLVE BECAUSE THE PRIMARY JUDGE WILL HAVE TO PERFORM THE EXTRA WORK ALONG WITH THEIR CASELOAD, WHICH IS UNNECESSARY. FORT BEND CITIZENS ARE HAVING TAX DOLLARS WASTED ON DEFUNDING ASSOCIATE JUDGES. WHEN THERE CLEARLY IS A BUDGET, VICTIMS WILL SUFFER AND RECEIVE SLOWER SERVICE DUE TO BACKLOG OF CASES AND WILL INCREASE PRIMARY JUDGES WORKLOAD WHEN THEIR WORKLOAD IS INCREASED.

WHO IS GOING TO HELP THEM? SO DEFENDANTS CAN DO MORE HARM TO VICTIMS WHEN CASES DRAG OUT WITHOUT TIMELY RESOLUTIONS VERSUS NOW, THINGS ARE MOVING PRETTY RAPIDLY BECAUSE THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES ARE DOING THE WORK.

THEY'RE FREEING UP A LOT OF TIME FOR THE PRIMARY JUDGES TO DO THEIR JOB AND DO IT ADEQUATELY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE COURT SYSTEM IS WHERE CITIZENS COME TO RECEIVE RELIEF, TIMELY RESOLUTION, NOT WAIT MONTHS FOR A CASE THAT COULD BE RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER TO DRAG OUT IF THIS DECISION STANDS.

THIS COULD IMPACT SOME OF YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN OR FRIENDS.

ALSO ASK YOURSELF, IS THIS REALLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO? WE VOTED YOU IN OFFICE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT YOUR PERSONAL AGENDA.

PLEASE RETHINK THIS DECISION.

RETHINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE BECAUSE IT IS.

IT IS BLATANTLY WRONG.

IT'S EGREGIOUS TO COME IN AND MAKE THESE CHANGES.

FORT BEND. I'VE LIVED IN FORT BEND SINCE SINCE 90, FURTHER THAN OVER 25 YEARS.

I DO THE WORK HERE AND TO COME IN AND SEE THESE CHANGES, THESE IMPLEMENTED CHANGES, IT'S DEVASTATING.

SO PLEASE RETHINK YOUR DECISIONS AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, BECAUSE I KNOW THE BUDGET DOES.

THERE IS A BUDGET FOR THESE JUDGES.

SO PLEASE RETHINK YOUR DECISION AND THINK LONG AND HARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN MARCANTEL ON 5G.

GOOD MORNING. I'M JONATHAN MARCANTEL.

MEADOWS PLACE RESIDENT, FORT BEND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY SECRETARY.

AND THE STATE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MET FOR THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC VETERANS CAUCUS.

I RISE TO SPEAK AGAINST ANY ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE JUSTICES.

EXCUSE ME, ASSOCIATE JUSTICES.

AND AGENDA ITEM FIVE. ONCE AGAIN, WE FIND OURSELVES AT ANOTHER COMMISSIONERS

[00:40:01]

CUTTING THESE POSITIONS WILL NOT ONLY NEGATIVELY AFFECT EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY, IT WILL SPECIFICALLY AFFECT VETERANS LIKE MYSELF.

THOSE THAT ARE JUST AS INVOLVED WILL BE DENIED SERVICES.

IF THESE ASSOCIATE JUSTICES ARE CUT, THE VETERANS COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PROGRAMS WILL GET CUT BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH MORE TIME. THEY HAVE A HIGHER TIME BURDEN THAN RUNNING A STRAIGHT COURT CASE, ELIMINATING ANY ANY. ASSOCIATE JUDGE POSITION WILL ALSO SLOW THE PROCESS OF CRIMINAL CASES, DELAYED DOCKETS, AND INCREASED CASELOAD BACKLOGS ACROSS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN FORT BEND. THIS WILL AFFECT NOT ONLY OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, BUT ALSO ELECTED JUDGES WHO RELY ON THEIR SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN TIMELY AND FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

NOT ONLY WILL THIS UNNECESSARILY BURDEN PRESIDING JUDGES, IT WILL BALLOON THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

HOW CAN ONE CALL THEM THE TAXPAYERS FRIEND AND BLOW A GIANT HOLE IN THE BUDGET? ESTIMATES I'VE SEEN WILL HAVE THE CRIMINAL DOCKET BACKED UP SIX MONTHS OR MORE WITHOUT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE JUDGES LEADING TO AN OVERBURDEN OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND ASSOCIATED COSTS OF OVER $4 MILLION.

IT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT FAMILY COURTS WHERE SPEED IS PARAMOUNT TO THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE MINUTE THAT ANY OF YOU WOULD SURVIVE REELECTION WHEN OUR WONDERFUL AREA VALERIA. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS.

TIE YOUR DECISION TODAY AT THIS BUDGET WORKSHOP.

TO CUT ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO THE DEATH OF A CHILD.

WHEN THAT CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN ALIVE, IF THE JUDGES HAD BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR DOCKETS EXPEDITIOUSLY.

IN CLOSING, ANY ATTEMPT TO CUT ASSOCIATE JUDGE POSITIONS WILL LEAD TO AN OVERBURDENED PRESIDING JUDGES, A MASSIVELY OVERBUDGET PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND THE DENIAL OF THE RIGHT OF A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.

I URGE YOU TO ABANDON THIS SHORTSIGHTED AND DISASTROUS PLAN.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDGE MAGGIE JARAMILLO ON FIVE.

GOOD MORNING. I DO HAVE A TYPICAL FORMER LAWYER, NOW A NOW, JUDGE. THE PAPER TRAIL THAT COMES WITH THE PRACTICE OF LAW.

IF I MAY APPROACH, PLEASE.

I'LL PASS IT DOWN. THE PACKET BASICALLY CONTAINS THE LETTER THAT WAS SIGNED BY ALL THE BOARD OF JUDGES.

THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH REGARDS TO THE RETENTION OF OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

THE PROPOSAL THAT TO DEFUND THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, AS EVERYONE IS SAYING, IT SOUNDS A LITTLE, BUT IT IS WILL BE DISASTROUS. IT'S GOING TO CAUSE BACKLOG AND IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE THE COUNTY ANY MONEY.

IF ANYTHING, IT'S GOING TO COST THE COUNTY A LOT MORE MONEY.

EVEN A BACKLOG OF 4 TO 6 MONTHS, WHICH IS MINIMAL.

I THINK IT'S THE LAW. I IN ACTUALITY, I THINK IT WOULD BE A BACKLOG OF 1 TO 2 YEARS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT FORT BEND COUNTY IS THE FIVE GENERAL JURISDICTION COURTS. WE DON'T JUST LISTEN TO CRIMINAL, WE ALSO DO. CIVIL AND CIVIL TRIALS TEND TO LAST 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

DURING THOSE 2 TO 3 WEEKS, ANY OTHER DOCKET THAT IS OUR OWN BECAUSE OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES CARRY THEIR OWN DOCKETS TO THE MISCONCEPTION THAT THEY DON'T DO VERY MUCH IS COMPLETELY WRONG.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN DAILY DOCKETS THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF FOR US, SPECIFICALLY THE TAX DOCKETS, WHICH IS A BIG MONEY GENERATOR FOR THE COUNTY, AND THEY HANDLE THE ANCILLARY DOCKETS AND THEY HANDLE ALL THE SPECIALTY COURTS, WHICH ARE ALSO UNIQUE TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

IF I'M IN TRIAL FOR THREE WEEKS AND I DON'T HAVE AN ASSOCIATE, THAT MEANS ALL THOSE OTHER MATTERS ARE GOING TO BE LEFT SITTING FOR THREE WEEKS.

AND THE REALITY IS WE HAVE TRIALS SCHEDULED EVERY TUESDAY AND MORE THAN LIKELY ANY ANY GIVEN TUESDAY. I WILL BE IN TRIAL IN EITHER CIVIL OR CRIMINAL MATTER.

CRIMINAL MATTERS ALSO TEND TO TAKE 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

NO. EXCUSE ME. ABOUT 1 TO 2 WEEKS.

TIME IN THE COURT AGAIN.

DURING THAT ONE WEEK OR TWO WEEKS THAT I'M IN A TRIAL.

MY ASSOCIATE IS HANDLING NOT JUST HIS DOCKETS, BUT MY DOCKETS AS WELL.

ON AN AVERAGE MONDAY, WE HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 45 TO 50 CRIMINAL CASES. MYSELF AND MY ASSOCIATE.

SO WHEN HE SITS FOR ME, HE'S HANDLING ANYWHERE FROM 80 TO 85 CRIMINAL

[00:45:01]

SO THIS IDEA THAT ASSOCIATE JUDGES DON'T WORK OR TOE THE LINE IS COMPLETELY WRONG AND INACCURATE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST INCREASES THAT I WAS ASKED TO LOOK INTO LAST TIME WE WERE HERE PRESENTING, WAS THE EXPENSE OF HOUSING INMATES HERE AT OUR LOCAL JAIL, AND THE AVERAGE BED PER DAY IS $148.53 ON 2024.

FOR 2025, IT'S GOING TO BE $172.53 A DAY.

IF WE DELAY CASES ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 6 TO 8 TO 10 MONTHS.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE A BACKLOG, AND IT'S GOING TO COST THE COUNTY AN INCREASE OF $3.5 MILLION AT A 7.7% ANNUAL IMPACT.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE MONEY. IT'S GOING TO COST MONEY. AND WITH REGARDS TO PAYING ATTORNEY FEES IN THE INDIGENT DEFENSE HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY, NOT COUNTING THE BUDGET FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THAT'S SEPARATE. BUT WE ALSO APPOINT INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEYS TO CRIMINAL CASES ON INDIGENT CASES. THESE CASES IF THEY GET DELAYED 4 TO 6 TO 8 TO 10 MONTHS, IT'S GOING TO COST THE COUNTY OVER 4.6 MILLION.

SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY. IT'S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN TO EXCLUDE OR GET RID OF OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

AND JUST AS NUMBERS GO, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS BROUGHT UP LAST TIME IS THE NUMBERS FROM THE OCA.

AND IN THAT PACKET, IF YOU'LL SEE JUDGE PATEL SPOKE WITH THE OCA REGARDING THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PUT FORTH FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

AND YOU'LL SEE THIS MEMORANDUM THAT SHE SPOKE WITH AUSTIN AND THE OCA, ALONG WITH JUDGE KRENNICK.

AND IN THOSE NUMBERS, THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE FORECLOSURE ACTIONS.

THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE ALL POST-JUDGMENT DISCOVERY AND ENFORCEMENTS.

THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE MINOR SETTLEMENTS.

THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE ABATEMENTS, ALL THINGS THAT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE TAKE CARE OF. AND THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PROPERTY TAXES OR THE TAX DOCKET.

ON THE FELONY SIDE, THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE MODIFICATIONS ON PROBATION.

THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE PROBATION MODIFICATION DOCKETS OR THE SPECIALTY COURTS.

AND AGAIN THE CASES THAT ARE OUT ON THE A WARRANT AND I CONSIDERED INACTIVE, BUT THEY ARE REALLY STILL ACTIVE IN THE COURTS.

SO THE OCA NUMBERS ARE NOT CORRECT.

THEY'RE COMPLETELY INACCURATE.

NOT TO MENTION IF EVEN IN THE OCA NUMBERS, WE HAVE FIVE GENERAL JURISDICTION COURTS, EIGHT FAMILY COURTS, I'M SORRY, THREE FAMILY COURTS, A TOTAL OF EIGHT, WITH EACH OF THEM HAVING AN ASSOCIATES.

THAT'S 16 COURTS. IF YOU LOOK AT EL PASO, THEY ALSO HAVE 16 COURTS.

THEY HAVE A LOWER POPULATION RATE.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE SPECIALTY COURTS LIKE WE DO.

SO ELIMINATING THE ASSOCIATE VENTURES ISN'T GOING TO SAVE THE COUNTY ANY MONEY.

IT'S GOING TO COST THE COUNTY.

I FEEL MORE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

IT'S AT THE MINIMUM, IT WILL BE A WASH.

AND ANOTHER ISSUE THAT'S RIGHT.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THESE NEW COURTS MAY BE COMING.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF THE MONTH OR NOT, OR LATER ON IN THE YEAR.

SO THE TWO COURTS THAT ARE MAYBE COMING ARE STILL UP IN QUESTION.

AND I DON'T SEE THEM TO BE UP AND RUNNING AND EFFICIENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO IF YOU CUT THE ASSOCIATES NOW, THE BACKLOG IS GOING TO START AS OF TODAY WITHOUT RELIEF. ALSO FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, I DO BELIEVE IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE SEPARATION OF POWERS TO DEFUND THE ASSOCIATES. AND THERE'S CASE LAW IN THE GENERAL ATTORNEY OPINION ATTACHED TO THAT PACKET THAT YOU CAN READ THAT'S DIRECTLY ON POINT ABOUT.

AND SO A DISTRICT COURT REQUESTING A POSITION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, THAT POSITION WAS DENIED.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE CASE LAW STATES THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND THE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURTS, THE COMMISSIONERS CANNOT DENY A BUDGET ISSUE ITEM OR ELIMINATE A POSITION.

SO BASED ON THAT, I ALSO HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE THAT WANT TO SPEAK THAT WERE ON MY TIME SLOT.

IF THEY WANT TO COME FORWARD, I BELIEVE IT'S MR. WEST.

AND MR. SCOTT WEST IS A LOCAL ATTORNEY.

WELL, NOT JUST HERE IN FORT BEND ESTATES.

A VERY PROMINENT ATTORNEY TRIES A LOT OF CASES IN OUR COURTS.

AND THE AVERAGE TIME THAT IT TAKES HIM TO TRY A CASE, AT LEAST IN MY COURT, HAS BEEN AT LEAST 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

SO HE CAN TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW CIVIL CASES WILL BE SO SEVERELY IMPACTED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE CRIMINAL, EXCUSE ME, CRIMINAL CASES BASED ON THE SPEEDY TRIAL ISSUE.

SO IT'S GOING TO PUT CIVIL CASES ON THE BACKLOG.

AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES CAN AND DO PRESIDE AND SIT

[00:50:04]

SO IF I'M SITTING IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL, AS I WAS LAST ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO ON A MANSLAUGHTER CASE, TOOK TWO WEEKS, MY ASSOCIATE WAS ALSO SITTING IN A JURY TRIAL ON A ON A PERSONAL INJURY CASE.

SO MY COURT WAS ACTUALLY HAVING TWO TRIALS IN ONE WEEK.

IF I DON'T IF MY CASELOAD CONTINUES THE WAY THE CRIMINAL CASES ARE COMING UP EVERY TUESDAY, I WOULD NEVER GET TO A CIVIL TRIAL.

IN CASES LIKE THE ONE MR. WEST WOULD HAVE, WILL BE SEVERELY DELAYED ANYWHERE FROM 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS OR LONGER. MR. WEST AND JUDGE MR. WEST DID SIGN IN. OKAY.

SCOTT WEST DID SIGN UP NEXT ON THE LIST.

YOU'RE NOT, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU.

YEAH, I THOUGHT I HAD HIM AS A SPEAKER FOR MY BEHALF.

HE HAS HIS OWN. HE SIGNED IT HIMSELF.

YES, JUDGE. WELL, IF IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OF ME REGARDING THESE NUMBERS.

THOSE NUMBERS? THE JAIL NUMBERS, LIKE I SAID, I BELIEVE BASED ON THE ANALYSIS DONE WITH THE HELP OF MR. STURDIVANT, BECAUSE I AM NO MATH PERSON.

THE ADDITIONAL COST ESTIMATED FROM ATTORNEY'S FEES ON THE APPOINTMENT ON THE INDIGENT CASES IS ABOUT 4.6 MILLION, AND THE ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN IMPACT, POTENTIALLY ON CASES IN SITTING IN CUSTODY, AND WOULD BE ABOUT 3.5 MILLION.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY A SAVINGS.

NOT TO MENTION THAT IF YOU ELIMINATE THE ASSOCIATES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET GO OF THE SPECIALTY COURTS.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT I CAN DEDICATE THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT IT TAKES TO RUN THE DRUG COURT. I HAVE DRUG COURT AND C COURT, WHICH ARE A DIFFERENT LOWER LEVEL TYPE OF DRUG OFFENDER CASES. IN MY COURT, IT MEETS EVERY TUESDAY BEFORE GOING IN THE COURTROOM AND MEETING AND HAVING THE COURT PROCESS. YOU HAVE TO DO STAFFING AS WELL, WHICH IS TIME CONSUMING.

THIS IS A BUDGET. THIS IS A COURT THAT WAS GRANTED VIA FEDERAL GRANTS.

IT ISN'T JUST GOING TO IMPACT ME AND MY ASSOCIATES.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT PROBATIONS DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE POSITIONS.

THERE'S THE FOLKS THAT COME IN AND WORK IN DRUG COURT.

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE FUNDED POSITIONS THAT ARE FROM THE DA'S THAT RUN AND WORK IN THOSE COURTS. AND THAT'S JUST MY SPECIALTY COURTS, ALL THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS ACROSS THE BOARD WE STAND TO TO LOSE IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ASSOCIATE HELPING US WITH THAT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO TIME CONSUMING.

AND IT HAS A COLLATERAL EFFECT OF OF IMPACTING OTHER OFFICES IN THEIR FEDERAL GRANTS AND THEIR BUDGETS.

SO IT ISN'T JUST AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE ISSUE.

IT'S GOING TO GO ACROSS THE BOARD.

MORE ESPECIALLY, I REALLY LIKE I SAID, EVEN IF THE TWO COURTS ARE GRANTED, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN OR WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE SET UP AND RUNNING. AND EVEN IF THEY ARE GRANTED, IT ISN'T GOING TO REALLY, OUR NUMBERS ARE PROJECTED TO GROW 13%.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBERS IN FORT BEND ARE THERE, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST AS MANY FILINGS BEFORE LONG, JUST LIKE THE ESTABLISHED COURTS WITH ASSOCIATES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO REALLY MINIMIZE OUR CASELOAD BY MUCH, BECAUSE EVERY YEAR OUR CASELOAD INCREASES.

WE HAVE OVER 2500 CASES ON THE FELONY SIDE AND ABOUT, I'M SORRY, ABOUT 2500 CASES ON THE CIVIL SIDE AND ABOUT 1200 CASES ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE.

CASELOADS. AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON IT'S MANAGEABLE TO THE PRESIDING JUDGE IS BECAUSE OF THE ASSOCIATE. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER DUTIES THAT SOME OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT SPOKE EARLIER POINTED OUT. YEAH, THEY LIKE TO WAKE ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND I LIKE TO ANSWER THE PHONE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE AN OFFICER STANDING ON THE STREET CORNER WITH AN ARRESTED PERSON NEEDING A WARRANT FOR A SEARCH.

SO WHEN MY PHONE RINGS AT 2 OR 3 IN THE MORNING, AS MANY OF THE OTHER JUDGES SITTING HERE WE PICK IT UP AND WE ANSWER IT, AND WE TAKE CARE OF THAT WARRANT, AND WE STILL COME TO WORK AT 9:00 THE NEXT DAY. SO AND THE ASSOCIATES ALSO HELPED TREMENDOUSLY WITH THAT, ESPECIALLY ON THE LONG WEEKENDS WHEN WE HAVE YOU KNOW THINGS PUT IN PLACE FOR NO TOLERANCE TYPE WEEKENDS ON DRINKING AND DRIVING.

WE LITERALLY STAY UP ALL NIGHT AND SIT WITH THE TASK FORCE SO THAT WE CAN SIGN THOSE WARRANTS FOR THEM ON THE SPOT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

THE COLLATERAL EFFECTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IF WE ELIMINATE THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

AND NOT TO MENTION IT'S ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS STATED EARLIER, IF IT ISN'T BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT.

AND IT'S NOT BROKEN. IT'S VERY EFFICIENT, WORKS WELL.

AND I BELIEVE IN THE LONG TERM IT WILL REALLY SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY AND NOT IF WE ELIMINATE THEM. I BELIEVE THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF THE DELAYS IS GOING TO COST THE COUNTY EVEN MORE

[00:55:01]

THE NEXT ONE IS AS JUDGE PATEL ON FIVE D.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I THINK I KNOW ALL OF YOU, BUT AGAIN, I'M JUDGE PATEL AND I'M THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN THE 400 DISTRICT COURT.

I COME BEFORE YOU NOT ONLY AS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE, BUT AS A RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY, AS A PRODUCT OF FORT BEND COUNTY SCHOOLS STARTING WITH DULLES ELEMENTARY GOING ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

I COME TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK BEFORE ON THIS TOPIC, BUT THIS TOPIC IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO I OPTED TO SPEAK AGAIN AND SIGN UP AGAIN TO SPEAK TO YOU.

I DON'T COME BEFORE YOU JUST FOR MY JOB.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER.

I'VE WORKED FOR THIS COUNTY AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK FOR THIS COUNTY, FOR BOTH JOHN HEALEY AND BRIAN MIDDLETON AND MANY OF OUR JUDGES, STARTING FROM JUDGE CULVER AND JUDGE JARAMILLO, WHO FIRST HIRED ME TO BE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN 2015, ALL THE WAY THROUGH WORKING WITH JUDGE BRIDGES.

WORKING WITH JUDGE FRALEY.

AND NOW IN THE 400TH COURT, I COME TO YOU, LIKE I SAID, AS A CITIZEN AS WELL. I BELIEVE IN THIS SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I'M HERE OR NOT.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE SYSTEM WE HAVE.

YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE SPECIALTY COURTS.

I CURRENTLY DO FIVE OF THOSE DOCKETS.

THOSE ARE EACH DONE TWICE A MONTH.

THAT ALONE IS TEN OF MY DOCKETS.

A MONTH DOES NOT COUNT MY CRIMINAL PLEA DOCKETS, PROBATION ADMONISHMENTS, PROBATION MODIFICATIONS, BOND MODIFICATIONS, PROPERTY TAX DOCKETS AND ALL THE DOCKETS THAT I CURRENTLY DO EVERY MONTH. THE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT I HAVE ARE TWO OF THEM ARE SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

ONE OF THEM IS HIGH RISK YOUNG OFFENDERS AND TWO GENERAL FELONY BECAUSE WE ARE FORT BEND COUNTY. YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ME IN MY DAILY WORK, AS I WORK ALONG WITH ALL OF YOU FOR OUR CITIZENS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR HIGH RISK YOUNG OFFENDERS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT OF NEW PROGRAMS. A LOT OF THEM WERE STARTED BY JUDGE CULVER.

I'VE CONTINUED THOSE, AND THOSE ARE GROWING.

WE'VE ADDED AN IN-HOUSE G.E.D.

PROGRAM, MEANING THE G.E.D.

PROGRAM HAS COME TO US.

THAT IS GOING TO HELP WITH RECIDIVISM.

IT'S GOING TO HELP WITH OUR FOLKS THAT ARE IN THIS PROGRAM.

A LOT OF THEM ARE YOUNG PARENTS.

SO WE HAVE CHILD CARE ISSUES. WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

THIS FOCUSES ON 18 TO 25 YEAR OLDS.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE GENERATIONAL INCARCERATION, MEANING THAT THEY'VE HAD FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN TO PRISON. WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. ALL OF YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO CHANGE ANYTHING IS AN EDUCATION. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

I COULD GO ON, BUT THE INTEREST OF TIME I WON'T.

BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THAT ONE EXAMPLE WITH ALL OF YOU OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING.

YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT I'LL JUST BE VERY BRIEF.

WE ARE HANDLING THE MOST SERIOUS OF CASES ALL THE WAY THROUGH MURDER, SEXUAL ASSAULTS OF CHILDREN.

I HAVE WORKED FOR THIS COUNTY SINCE 2000 AND NONE OF US, I CAN TELL YOU, DO THIS JOB FOR THE MONEY.

WE ALL KNOW THAT. THAT'S BEEN SAID MULTIPLE TIMES FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT. BUT I MEAN THAT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I'VE LITERALLY SLEPT ON MY OFFICE FLOOR WAITING FOR VERDICTS ON FELONY TRIALS.

A LOT OF US, NOT ME ALONE, HAVE DEVOTED OUR LIFE TO WORK FOR THIS COUNTY. SO I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM WE HAVE.

I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS COMPARISON TO OTHER COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE.

I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF WHY WE'RE EVEN HERE, WHY THIS IS EVEN ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO ELIMINATE THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

I HEARD THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, SO THEY WERE GOING TO DEFUND IT.

THEN I HEARD THAT WE DID HAVE THE MONEY AS ONE OF THE FIVE JUDGES THAT DOES DO PROPERTY TAX BUCKET. EXCUSE ME.

PROPERTY TAX DOCKET. I'M VERY AWARE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT COME INTO THE COUNTY.

SO THIS IS NOT US COMING HERE.

RESPECTFULLY, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.

WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO NOT DEFUND IT AND TO NOT LET THIS COUNTY GO BACKWARD.

WE ARE A GROWING COUNTY.

I SAT HERE LAST TIME WHEN WE WERE IN COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND THERE WAS ON THE AGENDA.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS OUT OF STATE TRAVEL BEING APPROVED.

THERE WAS SOME AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT PLATTING OR SOME APPROVAL FOR A NEW MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITY.

WE ARE GROWING. IF WE NEED TO CUT OUR MONEY.

THERE IS OTHER WAYS TO DO IT, BUT THIS IS NOT IT.

THEN I HEARD THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT, OH, WE'RE NOT DEFUNDING ALL OF YOU.

[01:00:02]

THAT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, ONE OF WHICH I'LL SHARE WITH YOU THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

OUR TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE OUTLINES THREE DIFFERENT SECTIONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ASSOCIATE JUDGES. OUR LEGISLATURE HAS DIVIDED THAT BY CIVIL, CRIMINAL, AND FAMILY. ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GO TAKE A PEEK AT THAT.

WHEN YOU REVIEW THAT CODE, IT GIVES US INSTRUCTIONS.

THIS IS BLACK LETTER LAW, NOT DISCRETIONARY ON HOW THOSE ASSOCIATE JUDGES ARE TO BE APPOINTED.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FAMILY CODE, IT SAYS UNANIMOUS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CRIMINAL AND THE CIVIL STATUTES FOR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, IT SAYS TWO THIRDS OF A VOTE BY PUTTING ALL OF US, IF THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BY REDUCING US AND PUTTING US IN A SEPARATE BUDGET, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT UNDER OUR OWN COURTS BUDGET ANYMORE, WHICH HAS THIS WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.

BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T BE ABLE TO GO INTO THAT. BUT IF YOU DO THIS REDUCTION AND LUMP US TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME COMPLYING WITH THE LAW, WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE A WHOLE HOST OF LEGAL ISSUES FOR THIS COUNTY.

WE DON'T WANT THAT. WE WANT TO GO FORWARD.

WHY CAN WE CAN WE YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE, BUT I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE IT.

WHY CAN'T WE SHINE AND BE A GOOD COUNTY THAT'S MOVING THEIR CASES THAT ARE DOING THESE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT ARE HELPING PEOPLE? WHY ARE WE COMPARING OURSELVES TO THE REST OF THE STATE? THEY'RE LOOKING AT US SAYING THAT WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB BY THIS DEFUNDING.

IT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE US GOING BACKWARD.

THE COUNTY IS GROWING.

ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE TWO NEW COURTS THAT HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY APPROVED AND ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT EVEN IF THEY ARE APPROVED, THOSE THINGS TAKE TIME TO BE UP AND RUNNING, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE IN A YEAR OR TWO, ASKING ALL OF YOU FOR MORE ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO HELP THEM.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEN I ALSO HEARD THAT, OKAY, IT'S NOT THE MONEY, IT'S NOT THIS. THERE WAS SOME AGREEMENT MADE WITH SOMEBODY IN AUSTIN THAT IF WE GOT THESE TWO COURTS, WE WOULD REDUCE OR CUT OFF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND HONORING YOUR WORD.

I DO BELIEVE IN THAT AS WELL.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WORK FOR THE TAXPAYERS, ALL OF OUR TAXPAYERS, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AND OUR NONVOTING TAXPAYERS THAT CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE.

WE STILL ALL WORK FOR EACH OF THEM.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED THAT SHOWS US THAT THIS IS MAYBE NOT THE RIGHT DECISION, THE TAXPAYERS WILL RESPECT THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO RETHINK THAT AND COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND DO WHAT'S BEST, NOT JUST WHAT WAS MAYBE DISCUSSED OR AGREED TO IN THE PAST. FOR ALL THOSE REASONS, AND I THINK THE REASONS THAT I'VE SHARED IN THE PAST, LAST TIME I SPOKE, AND I ECHO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE OTHER SPEAKERS BEFORE ME HAVE SAID, RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO NOT DEFUND THESE POSITIONS. THERE'S 13 JOBS ON THE LINE TOTAL, INCLUDING THE ADMIN, ADMIN STAFF, THE COORDINATORS, AND I ASK YOU TO NOT DEFUND THOSE AND TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE AND TO ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO GROW AS A COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA GINYARD ON FIVE.

GOOD MORNING TO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS CYNTHIA GINYARD, PRECINCT THREE. I KEEP HAVING TO COME DOWN HERE.

I'M RETIRED. I DON'T LIKE GETTING UP.

AND LATELY, I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT CALLED THAT I'M HAVING TO COME DOWN HERE NOW. I'VE BEEN CONNECTED POLITICALLY SINCE 2010, AND NOW I'M HAVING TO COME EVERY SO OFTEN.

AND I FOUND IT. IT'S CALLED BRINKMANSHIP.

YEAH, THERE'S A WORD FOR IT.

AND THAT'S THE ART OF PURSUING A DANGEROUS POLICY TO THE LIMITS OF SAFETY, AND ALL FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

I WAS HERE NOT LONG AGO, MITIGATING THE POWER OF VOTES FOR COMMUNITIES. THE JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE SPOKEN, I THANK YOU. YOU JUST TAKE ONE CATEGORY DOMESTIC

[01:05:03]

IF THERE IS A LAG TIME IN THE FACILITATION OF THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW IT'S DEATH. NOW, YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU WATCH THE NEWS.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE CATEGORY.

I'VE PERSONALLY KNOWN JUDGES SINCE 2018.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT.

AND THEY STILL TALK ABOUT WHEN I CHECK IN AND ASK THEM, HOW'S IT GOING? THE NEW JOB, THE DOCKET, THE DOCKET, WILLING IT DOWN, THE DOCKET, THE DOCKET, THE DOCKET.

SO I AM JUST SURPRISED THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CUTTING JUDGES WHEN ALL THEY DO IS WORK ON GETTING THE BACKLOG DOWN.

OVER THE YEARS IT WAS ONE EXISTED WHEN THEY GOT THERE, AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THE BACKLOG.

I'VE EXECUTED THIS. WE'VE DONE THE BACKLOG.

REMEMBER, I'M A LAYPERSON.

I AM A LAYPERSON. SO I FIND IT DIFFICULT, I DON'T I EXCUSE ME, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. I'M NOT BUYING IT, OKAY? I AM NOT BUYING IT.

WE'RE AT A MILLION PEOPLE.

NO, WE'RE NOT A MILLION ON BOOKS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, BECAUSE THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T DO THE CENSUS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE ARE NOT OUR MOTHERS.

FOR IT BEING WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 81, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, HIGHWAY SIX AND 90 WAS A FOUR WAY STOP.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? AND LOOK AT IT NOW.

YOU CAN'T EVEN THINK IT.

SO THAT IS JUST A VISUAL OF WHERE WE ARE IN OUR SERVICES.

I HAD AN ATTORNEY AND I'LL CALL HER NAME.

BARBARA SEYMOUR SAID TO ME A FEW MONTHS AGO, CYNTHIA, YOU ALL NEED A PROBATE COURT IN FORT BEND.

IT'S TAKING TOO LONG TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS.

NOW, THAT MEANS A LOT TO YOU.

I'M A LAY PERSON. I DON'T KNOW THAT.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE A PROBATE COURT.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS.

WHEN SHE GETS FINISHED DOING WHAT SHE DOES AS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY, THEN I GUESS IT GOES ON TO COURT AND IT'S TAKING WAY TOO LONG.

WE KEEP TAKING A STEP BACKWARDS IN IN, IN, IN OUR NAVIGATION AND THIS WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF ALL THINGS.

WE ARE COMPROMISING THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO FORT BEND CITIZENS.

YEAH, WE'RE FORT BEND AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE FORT BENDERS.

AND WE LOVE IT AND WE THINK WE ARE ALL THAT.

SO LET'S OPERATE LIKE WE ARE ALL THAT.

WE LOVE OUR COUNTY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE RED OR BLUE.

GET OVER IT. LET'S PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR PEOPLE.

AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO KEEP COMING DOWN HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE ELECTED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, NOT SOME TUNNEL VISION OR SOME POLITICAL ISSUE.

AND WHEN WE MINIMIZE THE COURTS, THAT IS NOT SERVING OUR PEOPLE.

I DON'T HAVE COURT DEALINGS, AND I HOPE I NEVER DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DRASTIC AND DANGEROUS AND NOT GOOD ALMOST ALL THE TIME. GENTLEMEN. NOW, I WAS IN ELECTED OFFICE FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND I DON'T DESIRE TO RUN AGAIN.

BUT I WILL IF I HAVE TO.

AND NEXT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT WEST.

FIVE D. SIR. GOOD MORNING. JUSTICE SHOULD NOT BE.

POLITICAL DECISIONS THAT AFFECT JUSTICE SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED UPON INFORMATION.

NOT HYPERBOLE, NOT RUMOR, NOT FEAR.

INFORMATION. AND TO YOUR POINT.

COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER. LET'S FIND OUT.

AND TO YOUR POINT WHAT IT IS WE'RE VOTING ON WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS, NO MATTER WHERE IT CAME FROM, BEFORE WE ADOPT IT.

SAME CONCEPT. FOR DECADES, I'VE BEEN IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR.

[01:10:02]

THIS IS THAT IMPORTANT TO ME.

I DROVE UNTIL 3:00 THIS MORNING SO THAT I COULD BE HERE FOR YOU AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY. I'M A CIVIL LAWYER.

DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FAMILY OR CRIMINAL.

YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT? I HANDLE CASES FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK, CHICAGO DOWN TO MCALLEN AND QUITE A BIT HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A WHOLE BUNCH OF WAR STORIES, BUT MR. TATE AND I TRIED A THREE MONTH CASE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO IN THE FOR 34TH JUSTICE IN THAT COURT WOULD HAVE STOPPED HAD THERE NOT BEEN AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE, JUDGE BRAIN TO PICK UP THE SLACK.

I TRIED A CASE THAT FINISHED LAST WEEK AND AN ASSOCIATE COURT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED FOR A LITTLE GIRL THAT WAS SEXUALLY MOLESTED AT A BARBERSHOP IN RICHMOND, THE PERPETRATOR OF WHICH IS SERVING TWO LIFE SENTENCES WITH THAT FAMILY.

EVER RECEIVE ANY MONEY? DON'T KNOW. BUT THAT LITTLE GIRL IS ON HER WAY TO HEALING BECAUSE SOMEBODY STOOD UP FOR HER. SHE HAD A LAWYER THAT DIDN'T HAVE HER LAST NAME, THAT STOOD UP FOR HER AND PRESENTED HER CASE IN A COURTROOM THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED HAD WE NOT HAD ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

I ASK EACH OF YOU BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION.

SURELY YOU HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION.

FIND OUT THE FACTS. FIND OUT THE EFFECT.

FIND OUT THE IMPACT OF REDUCING THE BUDGET, REMOVING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES IN EVERY OTHER COURT I'VE BEEN IN, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE EFFICIENCY OF FORT BEND COUNTY, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.

I'VE HANDLED THOUSANDS OF CASES, TRIED OVER 200 CASES.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT IS AS EFFICIENT AS FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. LET THAT SOAK IN.

THAT'S THE FACTS. THAT'S EMPIRICAL DATA.

FOR A GUY THAT USED TO HAVE A FULL HEAD OF HAIR.

AND I'VE BEEN AROUND AND I'VE SEEN IT DONE RIGHT, AND I'VE SEEN IT DONE WRONG, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT DONE MORE RIGHT THAN THE WAY IT IS RIGHT HERE.

DON'T UPEND THE APPLE CART.

IT'S WORKING WELL. I'VE NEVER ASKED ANYTHING FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

SOME OF YOU I KNOW PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY FOR A LONG TIME.

I AM IMPLORING YOU DON'T LET POLITICS COME INTO PLAY IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT DECISION.

GET THE FACTS. YOU'VE NOT HEARD ANYBODY COME AND SUPPORT REDUCING THE BUDGET? I DON'T THINK YOU WILL.

FROM A JUSTICE STANDPOINT.

JUSTICE REQUIRES THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO MAINTAIN THEIR POSITIONS.

THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY NEED THE POSITIONS TO STAY AS THEY ARE.

THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SUPPORT OF THE JUDICIARY, THE SUPPORT OF THE LAWYERS IS ALL BEHIND MAINTAINING, NOT REDUCING THE BUDGET.

PLEASE, PLEASE GET THE FACTS.

GET THE INFORMATION AND BASE YOUR DECISION ON THAT, NOT POLITICS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS PINO ON FIVE D.

COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS CHRIS PINO.

I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

I HAVE BEEN SINCE I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD.

SINCE 2008. AND HERE I AM AGAIN.

AND I HATE THAT I HAVE TO KEEP SHOWING UP JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK.

BUT HERE I AM AGAIN BECAUSE THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING CRAZIER AND CRAZIER.

I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO DEFUNDING OUR COURTS AND JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE EXPENSE AND DIRECT HARM TO FORT BEND FAMILIES.

IT IS SO FRUSTRATING. I FEEL LIKE WITH THE STUFF THAT JUST KEEPS POPPING UP ON THE AGENDA. I'M WORRIED THAT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS COURT HAVE THEIR HATS ON BACKWARDS.

[01:15:03]

AND THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW THAT THIS THING CANNOT PASS.

AND I'M TOLD BY THESE SAME JUDGES AGAIN, RED AND BLUE AND PURPLE THAT DEFUNDING OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGE POSITIONS WOULD ACTUALLY END UP END UP COSTING US MORE.

IMAGINE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FILL A BUDGET HOLE, BUT THIS WOULD EXPLODE THE BUDGET.

BETWEEN JAIL FEES, ATTORNEY FEES, DOCKET EXTENSIONS, AND A VAST MAJORITY OF OTHER OUTLAYS THAT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO TALK ABOUT.

NOT TO MENTION THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THAT WOULD GRIND TO A HALT, AS WE JUST HEARD AS A RESULT OF THIS VOTE.

MY HUMBLE SUGGESTION TO YOU IS THIS IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES POSITIONS, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE MILLIONS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SPEND ON AN UNNECESSARY REDISTRICTING GAMBIT.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS GAME.

THERE WILL BE A DAY THAT A CERTAIN THREE OF YOU WILL PAY THE POLITICAL PRICE AT THE BALLOT BOX FOR THIS BRINKMANSHIP.

THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY.

IT'S NOT TOMORROW. BUT THAT DAY IS COMING.

HINDSIGHT IS 2026, AFTER ALL.

SO THIS ATTEMPT TO DEFUND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

ALONGSIDE THIS EQUALLY EXPENSIVE REDISTRICTING GAMBIT IS POLITICAL TOXIC SLUDGE. I'M GOING TO CALL IT LIKE IT IS.

AND THIS WILL NOT JUST HURT REAL PEOPLE AND REAL RESIDENTS AND REAL FAMILIES, BUT IT WILL ALSO HURT YOUR ELECTORAL PROSPECTS.

NOW, THERE IS A LOT THAT THIS COURT CAN WORK ON THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, RED OR BLUE, CAN COME TOGETHER ON PARTIZAN ALLEGIANCES ASIDE, BUT NOT THIS ISSUE. THERE IS STILL TIME TO COURSE CORRECT ON ALL THESE THINGS, AND I HOPE YOU WILL DO JUST THAT.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDGE PATEL.

FIVE.

GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE COURT. THERE YOU GO.

COMMISSIONER MORALES. YOU USED TO BE MY COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER.

YOU ARE MY COMMISSIONER NOW.

COMMISSIONER MCCOY. YOU REPRESENT THE JUSTICE CENTER BUILDING, PRECINCT NUMBER FOUR. COMMISSIONER MYERS, YOU ARE ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING PUBLIC SERVANT IN THIS COUNTY.

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, YOU ARE ALL DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY. WE HAVE FOUR 4666 CRIMINAL CASES PENDING IN FORT BEND COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS, OUT OF WHICH 2706 WERE REPRESENTED BY DEFENDANTS, WERE REPRESENTED BY COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS.

IF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES WERE REMOVED, AN APPROXIMATE DELAY OF THOSE CASES WOULD BE SIX MONTHS. THE THE LOWER BALLPARK.

IF THAT HAPPENS, MOST OF THE JUDGES, THEY TYPICALLY RESET THE CASES ONCE IN A MONTH. THAT MEANS SIX SETTINGS PER CASE, WHICH WOULD BE MORE THAN 16,000 SETTINGS.

THAT WOULD APPROXIMATELY COST FOR $4.6 MILLION JUST TO PAY TO THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THESE DEFENDANTS, 2706 DEFENDANTS FOR SIX MONTHS PERIOD OF TIME. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL HAVING THE IMPACT.

THE IMPACT WOULD BE $3.6 MILLION FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.

SO THAT MEANS $8 MILLION RIGHT THERE.

THEN YOU HEARD THE IMPACT ON THE JUSTICE DELIVERY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE FAMILY LAW, THE CASES, THE JUDGES AND THE AND THE ATTORNEYS AND THE FAMILIES FACING THE CIVIL LAW ATTORNEYS.

I HAD A BENCH TRIAL, TEN DAYS BENCH TRIAL A TWO MONTHS AGO, TEN DAYS. IT IS NOT A JURY TRIAL.

BENCH TRIAL? THOSE ARE THE LEVEL OF CASES COMING BEFORE US.

SCOTT WEST HAD SCHEDULED A JURY TRIAL THAT MAY LAST FOR ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS, BUT THAT WAS SETTLED. SO ALL THE CASES SITTING IN OUR COURTS WERE APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 WEEKS. WHETHER IT IS CIVIL OR I JUST HAD A CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL IN MY COURT, MY ASSOCIATE JUDGE WAS HERE FIVE MINUTES AGO.

HE HAD TO LEAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY PLEA DOCKET TODAY.

TODAY MY MY COORDINATOR CALLED ME THAT.

PLEASE ARE READY. ARE YOU COMING? SO I HAD TO SPEAK. MY ASSOCIATE JUDGE JUST JUMP IN AND HE LEFT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PLEA.

[01:20:04]

SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND ONE OTHER THING.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, THE CIVIL LAWYERS WILL NOT GET THEIR A MOTION HEARINGS, AT LEAST FOR TWO MONTHS.

NOW THEY ARE GETTING THE MOTION HEARING HEARING SETTINGS NEXT WEEK, MAYBE THIS WEEK. SO THERE IS A HUGE IMPACT ON ALL THESE ISSUES.

IT IS NOT HELPING OUR FAMILIES.

IT IS NOT HELPING OUR CITIZENS.

IT IS NOT HELPING OUR TAXPAYERS.

THE BURDEN IS INCREASING.

SO IF YOU ARE TAXPAYERS FRIEND, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T DEFUND THE THE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE. JUSTICES. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAH HALEEM ON FIVE D.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.

I AM A 35 YEAR OLD RESIDENCE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

THIS IS MY HOME. I PAY MY TAXES HERE.

LOTS OF TAXES. I AM A BUSINESSMAN CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF FORT BEND COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I KNOW EACH OF YOU AND MANY OF YOU OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESSES AND OPERATIONS.

SO COUNTY IS A BUSINESS, RIGHT? HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO FIX YOUR OWN PLUMBING? AND END OF THE DAY, YOU END UP FLOODING YOUR HOME SO IT COSTS MORE MONEY, RIGHT? CALL IT ALL.

DAMAGE IS MUCH HIGHER.

SO COUNTY IS TRYING TO CUT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, DEPRIVE THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

THINK ABOUT IT. IMAM AND A DAUGHTER RAPED.

THEY WANT JUSTICE. TWO YEARS AWAY.

THAT'S FORT BEND COUNTY.

WHETHER THERE'S A REPUBLICAN MOM OR A DEMOCRATIC MOM OR A REPUBLICAN DAUGHTER.

DEMOCRATIC DAUGHTER, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE THERE.

FORT BEND COUNTY CITIZENS, WE ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS TO SERVE THAT CITIZEN EQUALLY. THE DATA ARE HERE, RIGHT? BETWEEN 8 TO $10 MILLION BACKLOG COST.

JUST LIKE YOU'RE FLOODING YOUR HOUSE. TRY TO FIX YOUR OWN PLUMBING JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YOU'RE GOING TO PAY UP FRONT FOR THE ASSOCIATED JUDGES, OR YOU PAY IN THE BACK WITH THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY DETENTION CENTER.

YOUR ATTORNEY IS GOING TO MAKE A BUNCH OF MONEY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY HOLDING CELL COSTS, YOUR ACCOMMODATION COSTS FOR EVERYTHING, PLUS YOUR JUSTICE SYSTEM BEING DELAYED.

SO WE LOSE. TAXPAYERS ONCE AGAIN LOSE IN THE NAME OF CUTTING BUDGET.

WHY DON'T YOU CREATE A CITIZEN'S BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE AND LET'S REVIEW EVERY SINGLE WASTAGE ITEM IN THAT BUDGET RIGHT NOW, AND LET'S SAVE THE JUSTICE SAYS WE HAVE AND CUT THE COST WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE CUT.

AND I BET YOU THERE'S A LOT OF WASTAGE IN THAT BUDGET RIGHT NOW THAT I CAN HELP YOU AS A 20 YEARS AN ENTREPRENEUR RUNNING A VERY EFFICIENT BUSINESS IN FOUR STATES, I CAN TELL YOU I'M WILLING TO SERVE IN THAT COMMUNITY, HELP YOU CUT COST AND BUDGET WHERE AND PROPERLY IMPLEMENT THOSE MONEY TO SAVE OUR JUSTICES. SO LET'S NOT TRY TO FIX OUR OWN PLUMBING, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO FLOOD THE HOUSE AND END UP PAYING A LOT MORE AND WILL BE HOMELESS. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TRYING TO CUT THE JUSTICES IS NOT A JUSTICE AT ALL. IT IS DEPRIVING EVERY SINGLE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY FROM THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE A JUSTICE HEART. SO WHY WOULD YOU EVEN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE COME UP WITH THAT KIND OF IDEAS THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S CUT OUR JUSTICES.

LET'S CUT OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN A GROWING COUNTY.

HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS AND A JUDGE.

YOU'RE A SENSIBLE PEOPLE.

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHY WOULD YOU DEPRIVE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY FOR THEIR JUSTICE? TO BE SICK AND ARMED AND HARD.

PLEASE DON'T DO THAT, MAN.

FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.

CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT NOT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE NEED TO HAVE A GROWING COUNTY.

ADDING MORE JUDGES, NOT CUTTING THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS SUMITA GHOSH ON 5G.

HELLO AGAIN. I JUST WANT I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.

I GUESS I'M I'M NEW TO ALL THIS, BUT I WANTED TO REPEAT A CERTAIN SECTION OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THAT WE DIDN'T SAY TODAY.

IT CONCLUDES WITH JUST AS A REMINDER, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AND WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS REALLY A VIOLATION OF OUR PLEDGE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED

[01:25:04]

AND I REALLY AM SADDENED, SADDENED AND DISHEARTENED BECAUSE AFTER LISTENING TO ALL THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND I STILL WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS NECESSARY.

FOR MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS NOT.

AND SO I JUST DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME HERE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

BUT IN ANY CASE WE'RE HERE, I DO WONDER.

I MEAN, I'M LIKE, IF THIS UNNECESSARY MOVE IS PASSED BY OUR, FOR WHATEVER BIZARRE REASON WHICH I AGAIN WILL NOT UNDERSTAND.

THE THE EFFECTS. I'M A WHAT'S CALLED A PATENT PROSECUTOR.

I'M A MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK AND PATENT ATTORNEY BARS, BUT THAT JUST MEANS I SIT AT HOME AND WRITE BORING PATENT APPLICATIONS ON EXCITING INVENTIONS. BUT FROM HEARING ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE TRENCHES, THERE ARE REAL LIVES AT STAKE HERE.

THERE ARE VETERANS WHO ARE ABOUT TO BLOW OUT THEIR BRAINS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING A HEARING. THERE ARE KIDS AND MOTHERS WHO ARE SITTING THERE HOPING AND PRAYING AS SOMEONE IS TRYING TO KNOCK DOWN THEIR DOORS FOR A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST SOME PSYCHO. AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

THESE PEOPLE, YOU ARE SITTING HERE CONSIDERING AN OPTION THAT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND I HOPE YOU CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT IF YOU DON'T DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUPPORT OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDGE CHRISTIAN BECERRA ON FIVE D.

GOOD MORNING. AS WAS POINTED OUT EARLIER.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

I STAND BEFORE YOU. A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

I GREW UP HERE IN THIS COUNTY, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO IN THE JUSTICE CENTER.

AND I'VE SEEN ALL THE CHANGES AS THEY'VE COME DOWN.

IN YOUR WISDOM, THIS COURT DECIDED TO USE ARPA MONEY TO CREATE ASSOCIATE JUDGES SO THAT EVERY COURT, EVERY DISTRICT COURT COULD HAVE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE.

AGAIN, IN YOUR WISDOM, YOU CHOSE TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS AT A LATER DATE. THOSE ARE TOOLS THAT WE USE AS DISTRICT COURT JUDGES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. YOU'VE GIVEN US THE TOOLS TO BE A BRIGHT STAR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE USE THOSE ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO PRESIDE OVER MANY COURTS.

THE SPECIALTY COURTS I HAVE THE THE THE THE EXCUSE ME, I HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT THAT TAKES UP A LOT OF MY TIME.

IT'S BECOME A A A BRIGHT PART OF MY DAY.

IT TAKES UP A LOT OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE JUDGE BRAME AND I, ON A REGULAR BASIS, TRY CASES AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM JUDGE JARAMILLO AS WELL.

I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WHEN I TOOK THE BENCH, THE DOCKETS WERE SO BACKED UP THAT IT WAS TAKEN AN AVERAGE OF FIVE YEARS TO GET TO TRIAL. SINCE WE'VE COME INTO OFFICE USING THOSE SAME ASSOCIATE JUDGES THAT YOU HAVE USED YOUR WISDOM TO CREATE, WE HAVE CUT THAT TO AN AVERAGE OF A YEAR AND A HALF. NOW, I WANT YOU TO THINK WHAT THAT MEANS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE PERSON THAT'S BEEN WRONGLY ACCUSED THAT HAS TO SHOW UP ON A REGULAR BASIS. WAITING FIVE PLUS YEARS TO GET TO TRIAL.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN CIVIL LITIGANTS HAVE TO WAIT FIVE YEARS TO HAVE THEIR CASE HEARD? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO A VICTIM, A CHILD VICTIM? AND ONE OF THE CASES THAT REALLY BROUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS A CASE ON AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. A SEXUAL AGGRAVATED ASSAULT OF A CHILD THAT WAS TAKEN.

IT WAS ON MY DOCKET WHEN I TOOK THE BENCH, AND IT HAD BEEN THERE FOR FIVE YEARS.

THE JUDGE, IN HIS WISDOM, HAD CHOSEN TO GIVE A $20,000 BOND.

THAT DEFENDANT WAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE VICTIM IN THE CASE AND HER MOTHER FLED TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION AS THEY AWAITED TRIAL FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY HID OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME, AWAY FROM THEIR HOME, AWAY FROM FORT BEND COUNTY, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

WE CANNOT GO BACKWARDS.

YOU'VE GIVEN US THE TOOLS AGAIN TO BE A BRIGHT, SHINING STAR IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

[01:30:03]

WE'RE ONLY ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO USE YOUR WISDOM TO GIVE US THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO ADMINISTER JUSTICE HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD MURAD ON FIVE D.

COMMISSIONERS JUDGE GEORGE.

GOOD MORNING. I AM RICHARD MURAD.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.

I REMEMBER BEING HERE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO ADDRESSING A SIMILAR ISSUE.

MR. WEST, JUDGE BECERRA, JUDGE JARAMILLO MIKE HANSON.

MR. HUNT, I JUST WANT TO COPY AND PASTE EVERYTHING THEY SAID, ALL THEIR THEIR BRILLIANT ADVOCACY, SO I WILL TRY NOT TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SAID. BRIEFLY, ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF OUR BAR ASSOCIATION, THE FORT BEND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, EVERYBODY USES THEIR PHONES TO DO THINGS THAT I STRUGGLE WITH DOING THAT. THAT'S WHY I NEED PAPER. BUT THE PURPOSE, ONE OF THEM IS TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF JURISPRUDENCE, TO FACILITATE AND IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, TO MAINTAIN AND DELIVER, TO MAINTAIN AND ELEVATE STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT, INCREASED PROFESSIONAL SKILLS THROUGH REGULAR CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION, ETC..

JUDGE PATEL, MR. WEST HAVE USED THEIR FREE TIME TO DO JUST THOSE THINGS TO BRING THE BENCH AND THE BAR TOGETHER, PRACTITIONERS AND JUDGES AND TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE, FOR FOR OUR CLIENTS, WHICH ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY.

AND BY THE WAY, I'M A RESIDENT OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

I LIVE IN RICHMOND, I PAY TAXES THE THE ASK.

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT IS JUST PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP ALL THE JUDGES WE HAVE.

I FORGET WHO IT WAS THAT SAID EARLIER.

I BELIEVE IT WAS JUDGE STUTI PATEL.

WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING BACK ASKING FOR MORE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

IF AND WHEN TWO NEW DISTRICT COURTS ARE ESTABLISHED.

IT WILL HAPPEN. IT'S A MATTER OF TIME.

I ALSO REMEMBER WHEN SIX AND 90 WAS A FOUR WAY INTERSECTION, AND I TOOK THE BUS TO SCHOOL, AND I WOULD SEE THE PRISONERS OUT THERE HOEING THE FIELDS, AND THAT WAS A REAL GOOD DETERRENT TO NOT DO ANYTHING AND END UP IN JAIL. THE COUNTY'S CHANGED A LOT.

IT'S GROWN A LOT. THE LADY WHO'S SPOKEN TWICE AND MENTIONED ABOUT AND ALSO JUDGE PATEL DID I'M IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

I SUPPOSE I MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE.

THERE. YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF THERE WAS AN OVERINFLATED BUDGET AND YOU HAD FOLKS SAYING, PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP THESE.

THIS IS THIS WHERE THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR. THIS IS NOT THE FEDERAL SYSTEM WHERE YOU CAN JUST PRINT MONEY AND PUT PEOPLE IN JOBS.

SO LET ME JUST TRY TO, IN SUMMARY, SAY, PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS FARRAH AHMED ON FIVE D.

GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. I'M JUST FLOORED WITH THE AMAZING TESTIMONIES THAT WE'VE HEARD HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY FROM OUR SITTING JUDGES.

I'M A PRACTICING ATTORNEY IN FORT BEND, AND MOST OF MY CASES ARE RIGHT HERE IN FORT BEND. AND I DO URGE YOU TO PLEASE NOT CUT THE BUDGET FOR OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE COURTS SINCE THE 1990S, WHEN WE HARDLY HAD ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

IN FACT, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER EARLY ON.

BUT DEFINITELY OUR COUNTY HAS GROWN.

BUT I DO HAVE MANY QUESTIONS.

LIKE, HAS ANYONE DONE, LIKE, AN EFFICIENCY STUDY TO SEE HOW THESE CUTS ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR CASES AND OUR COURTS.

IS ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT FACING THESE KINDS OF CUTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? ALMOST ONE THIRD OF THE BUDGET IS ANYONE FACING THAT MONEY.

THE CASES THAT I WORK ON INVOLVE MINORS WHO'VE SUFFERED INJURIES, MAINLY IN ACCIDENTS, SOME OF THEM VERY SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.

AND ABOUT 80% OF THOSE CASES ARE SETTLED AND ARE HANDLED BY ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

THESE CASES ARE OFTEN TIME SENSITIVE, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL PROCESS, BECAUSE THESE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN REALLY DEPEND ON A FINAL AND TIMELY RESOLUTION AND FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN ANY OTHER COUNTY.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A HEARING IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS, LET'S NOT BECOME LIKE THESE OTHER COUNTIES.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN MOVING THESE CASES FORWARD.

THEY HANDLED THE BULK OF THE PRELIM HEARINGS, SETTLEMENT APPROVALS, PROCEDURAL MATTERS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BLOCK, YOU KNOW, BACKLOG OUR COURTS.

AND WHEN WE DELAY THESE HEARINGS, WE DO DELAY JUSTICE FOR THESE FAMILIES WHO WANT RESOLUTION. ANY KIND OF DELAY AND SLOW DOCKET CAN BE LIFE ALTERING.

[01:35:07]

YOU'VE HEARD THIS. IT WILL SHIFT THE BURDEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.

BACKLOGS THAT GROW COSTS TO THE COUNTY WILL RISE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, VULNERABLE CHILDREN WILL SUFFER UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP FROM THESE CASES THAT ARE DELAYED.

NOW FORT BEND COUNTY IS GROWING.

AND SO OUR DEMANDS FOR THE COURT SYSTEM.

BUT ACTUALLY THIS IS THE TIME TO INVEST.

THIS IS THE TIME TO INVEST IN THESE RESOURCES, TO MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED SWIFTLY AND FAIRLY, NOT JUST FOR ATTORNEYS LIKE MYSELF, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THAT COUNT ON THE SYSTEM THE MOST.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DEFUND OUR COURTS.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DEFUND A DELAYED JUSTICE FOR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS SPOKEN TODAY. THE STORIES AND THE STATISTICS AND THE FACTS ARE ALARMING.

I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT, AND I'VE SEEN YOU MANY TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND I HAVE A BRILLIANT IDEA TO SAVE THE COUNTY SOME MONEY, ACTUALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO BACKWARDS THINGS LIKE DEFUNDING OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES NOT ONLY TO CHILDREN, TO THE ELDERLY, TO FAMILIES, TO BUSINESSES, AND TO EVERYONE THAT IS A RESIDENT IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

AND I'LL SAVE MY BRILLIANT IDEA TILL IN JUST A MOMENT AGO.

BUT I DO WANT TO EXPRESS THAT IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OR A BUSINESS OWNER THAT HAS BEEN ATTRACTED TO OPEN A BUSINESS IN FORT BEND COUNTY, AND YOU HAVE A BUSINESS DISPUTE AND YOU CANNOT ACCESS PROMPT, REASONABLE JUSTICE BY THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

THAT MAY MEAN YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR BUSINESS, OR YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EVEN ENTER INTO YOUR BUSINESS OR PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES, OR VICE VERSA. SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK LIKE YOU'RE AN ATTRACTIVE COUNTY FOR BUSINESSES, THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE ERROR.

BESIDES THE ISSUE OF FORBIDDEN FAMILIES.

EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL BACKGROUND, CATASTROPHES AND FAMILIES DON'T DISCRIMINATE.

THEY DON'T DISCRIMINATE BY HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE, WHAT COLOR YOU ARE, HOW YOU PRAY, OR HOW YOU VOTE.

WHEN THERE'S A FAMILY EMERGENCY AND PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY ARE IN DANGER, INCLUDING CHILDREN, I AM IN A RETIRED ATTORNEY.

LET ME TELL YOU, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING YOUR CLIENTS SCARED, TREMBLING, FALLING APART AND DEPENDING ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO ACCESS PROMPT JUSTICE, A PROTECTIVE ORDER, CHILD SUPPORT, FOOD, I MEAN MONEY TO PUT FOOD AND PAY THE BILLS TO KEEP ELECTRIC ON.

THESE ARE REAL ISSUES.

BESIDES THE BUSINESS DISPUTES, BESIDES THE FAMILY DISPUTES, YOU ALSO HAVE THE CRIMINAL COURTS.

YOU HAVE VICTIMS WAITING FOR JUSTICE.

YOU MAY HAVE PEOPLE FALSELY ACCUSED OF WAITING FOR JUSTICE.

AND SO WE'RE ALL DELAYING THIS BECAUSE OF SOME BUDGET PROBLEM, RIGHT? SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, LET'S MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE.

IF FORT BEND COUNTY IS GROWING AND I HEARD SOME STATS WHICH I WILL ASSUME FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT AT LEAST 20% BY NOW, FORT BEND COUNTY IS GROWING.

WE'RE REACHING ALMOST A MILLION RESIDENTS, RIGHT? SO OUR TAX, OUR PROPERTY TAXES HAVE INCREASED, OUR PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED.

THAT MEANS THERE'S INCREASED REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL.

LET'S NOT SLEEP ON THAT.

WE WENT THROUGH A TAX INCREASE.

WE RAISED OUR TAX RATES JUST RECENTLY TO AFFORD MOBILITY PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS. GREAT. SO WE HAVE THE MONEY.

IT'S JUST OUR PRIORITIES.

AND YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A PLACE, HOW THEY PRIORITIZE THEIR RESIDENTS AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE TO THEIR RESIDENTS BY THEIR BUDGET.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ME IN A GROWING COUNTY, YOU'RE GOING TO CUT THE FIRE AND RESCUE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ME IN A GROWING COUNTY, YOU'RE GOING TO CUT THE POLICE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ME IN A GROWING COUNTY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CUT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR A GROWING POPULATION.

WHEN WE FIVE YEARS AGO, WE EXPERIENCED A 100 YEAR PANDEMIC.

[01:40:03]

WHEN YOU'VE HEARD OVERWHELMING TESTIMONY THAT WE ARE A MODEL IN LEGAL PROGRESS FOR THE STATE. SO YOU HAVE A BUDGET ISSUE, RIGHT? THERE'S A BUDGET. YOU DO HAVE INCOME COMING IN FROM ALL THESE INCREASED TAX SOURCES.

SO LET'S SAVE THE MONEY.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, ACTUALLY, NOW A MONTH, THIS SAME BODY DECIDED TO VOTE ON A MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING OF OUR COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER LINES NUMBER ONE.

THIS IS AN ABNORMAL TIME TO DO SO BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS EVERY TEN YEARS AFTER THE US CENSUS DATA. SO THIS HAPPENS NOW BECAUSE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DECIDED TO VOTE FOR IT.

AND THEY ALSO VOTED TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM AND BYPASS THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY OF OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHICH IS ANOTHER EXPENSE.

DO WE KNOW? AND THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD ASK THE BUDGET OFFICE, DO WE HAVE A PRICE TAG ON HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THIS MID-DECADE? UNNECESSARY REDISTRICTING IS GOING TO COST THE COUNTY, AND HOW MUCH THE MILLIONS THIS LAW FIRM IS GOING TO COST THE COUNTY.

BECAUSE IF I WERE A PERSON IN CHARGE OF A BUDGET, I WOULD CUT OUT UNNECESSARY WASTE.

AND THAT DECISION, WHICH YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE BACK AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SERVE THE RESIDENTS.

IS UNNECESSARY WASTE AND ABUSE.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE LIVING IN THE UPSIDE DOWN, WHERE THE CONSIDERATION OF CUTTING OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES IS EVEN A REALITY.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND IT'S SHAMEFUL, AND IT'S A POOR DISPLAY OF OUR COUNTY PRIORITIES. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO BETTER.

LET'S BRING COMMON SENSE BACK TO FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD TATE ON FIVE D.

GIVE ME YOUR PHONE. YES, I CAN SPEAK AGAIN.

I'M BACK. THAT'S GEORGE COMMISSIONER MORALES, COMMISSIONER PRESTIDGE, COMMISSIONER MYERS AND COMMISSIONER MCCOY.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK TO AN ISSUE THAT'S VERY DEAR TO MY HEART, AND THAT'S THE WONDERFUL SYSTEM OF JUSTICE THAT WE HAVE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

I WAS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN MAY OF 1979.

I MOVED TO FORT BEND COUNTY IN THE EARLY 80S.

I'VE BEEN IN FORT BEND COUNTY PRACTICING LAW FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

I'VE PRACTICED FOR OVER 46 YEARS, BUT I HAD A CAREER PRIOR TO THAT AND THAT CAREER WAS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

I RECEIVED A DEGREE IN MASTERS OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VERSITY OF TEXAS, AND I SPENT A TWO AND A HALF YEARS WORKING FOR GOVERNOR DOLPH BRISCOE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, IN WHICH I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH CITIES UNDER 15,000 AND COUNTIES WHO WERE, AT THAT TIME, POPULATION LESS THAN 250,000.

NOW, IN THAT JOB, I BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE COUNTY BUDGETARY PROCESS, AND I WILL SIMPLY SAY, I DON'T ENVY THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE, AND I UNDERSTAND THEM.

BUT I THINK THAT AS YOU EVALUATE PROPOSAL FIVE D, PERHAPS YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THREE THINGS THAT WE USED TO LOOK AT WHEN I WORKED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. NUMBER ONE.

YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS OF THE DECISION YOU'RE ABOUT TO MAKE.

NUMBER TWO, YOU LOOK AT THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE UNDER CONSIDERATION.

AND NUMBER THREE, YOU LOOK AT THE EXCELLENCE IN TERMS OF EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM. THE ECONOMICS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED BY OTHERS TODAY AS IT IMPACTS OR AFFECTS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE FAMILY LAW SYSTEM.

I PRACTICE IN NEITHER OF THOSE SYSTEMS, BUT I HAVE STUDIED AND AND UNDERSTAND AND ENDORSE THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED BY OTHER SPEAKERS.

[01:45:03]

THE PARTIES TO THE LITIGATION.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED IS NOT JUST SIMPLY A SAYING THAT WE TOSS AROUND BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD. IT'S TRUE.

EXAMPLES. YOU'VE HEARD THE EXAMPLE IN FAMILY COURT OF ONE SPOUSE THAT HAS SUPERIOR RESOURCES, AND THAT SPOUSE CAN SIMPLY ENGAGE IN DELAYING TACTICS.

THAT DRAGS OUT A CASE WHERE THE CASE IS ALREADY GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO GET TO.

AND IF THEY CAN DELAY AN ADDITIONAL DELAY TO THE TO THE TO THE CAUSE, THE SPOUSE WITH INFERIOR RESOURCES SIMPLY HAS TO GIVE UP AND TAKE LESS THAN A FAIR DEAL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FIGHT.

THAT'S NOT JUST IN THE CASE OF PEOPLE OF OF OF LOW MEANS.

IT'S IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.

I SPOKE RECENTLY WITH A YOUNG LADY WHO IS FROM A VERY WEALTHY FORT BEND FAMILY, WHO SHE MARRIED INTO THE FAMILY.

SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIGHT THE SUPERIOR RESOURCES OF THE OF HER EX-SPOUSE OR NOW HER EX-SPOUSE. HER AT THE TIME, SHE.

HE WAS STILL HER SPOUSE.

SHE COULDN'T FIGHT HIM.

SHE HAD TO CAPITULATE AND GIVE IN BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET TO TRIAL FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE CROWDED DOCKET.

AND I GO INTO I USED TO GO INTO THE FAMILY COURTS, BUT I SEE THOSE FAMILY COURTS EVERY DAY, AND THOSE DOCKETS ARE CROWDED, NOT BECAUSE THE JUDGES AREN'T WORKING, BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD. THOSE ARE GREAT JUDGES.

THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE, THOUGH, WHERE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A DELAY IN JUSTICE AFFECTS YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS LET'S TAKE THE LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS.

MANY TIMES FAMILY OWNED THAT FINDS ITSELF IN LITIGATION WITH A NATIONALLY PROMINENT BUSINESS THAT'S A DIRECT COMPETITOR.

THE NATIONALLY PROMINENT BUSINESS CAN SIMPLY PAY LAWYERS LONGER AND FOR GREATER SUMS THAN THE LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS, THE LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS.

IF THEY CAN RETAIN A LAWYER AND GET TO TRIAL, THEN THEY CAN HAVE A FAIR TRIAL.

BUT IF THEY CAN'T GET TO TRIAL FOR FIVE YEARS, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE FIGHT.

AND SO I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE TYPES OF EXAMPLES.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE ECONOMICS OF THE DECISION, THE EFFICIENCY OF THIS, OF THE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE UNDER CONSIDERATION THE STATISTICS YOU'VE HEARD THIS MORNING SPEAK TO THE EFFICIENCY.

IT'S JUST IT'S IT'S IRREFUTABLE THAT THE FORT BEND COUNTY ASSOCIATE JUDGES HAVE ADDED A DEGREE OF EFFICIENCY TO THIS SYSTEM THAT IS JUST UNPARALLELED.

I PRACTICED AGAIN FOR OVER 46 YEARS.

I PRACTICED IN OVER 20 TEXAS COUNTIES.

I PRACTICE IN ALL FOUR UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS, AND I'VE PRACTICED IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE EFFICIENT JUDICIAL OPERATION THAN WE HAVE TODAY IN FORT BEND COUNTY. AND THAT INCLUDES A COMPARISON TO THE US DISTRICT COURTS.

THIS COUNTY IS DOING IT RIGHT, AND IT'S DOING IT RIGHT FOR A GOOD REASON.

THAT AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE THE COURTS THE PERSONNEL THAT THEY DESERVE. FINALLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT EXCELLENCE OF PERFORMANCE.

I LOOK AT THE THE ROSTER OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, AND THEY'RE ALL SUBSTANTIALLY YOUNGER THAN ME, BUT I'VE WATCHED THEM GROW UP IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW.

THEY WERE EXCELLENT LAWYERS AS THEY PRACTICED.

I OBSERVED THEM ALL PERSONALLY.

THEY ARE NOW EXCELLENT JUDGES.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE THEM AND I WOULD TRY ANY CASE, NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BEFORE ANY OF THOSE ASSOCIATE JUSTICES JUDGES.

LASTLY, IN CLOSING, I SPENT 27 YEARS OF MY CAREER AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOUNDATION, APPOINTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS.

AND IN THAT JOB, I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH JUSTICE HECHT, WHO BECAME NATIONALLY KNOWN FOR HIS WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO JUSTICE, NOT JUST THAT THEY HAD THE RESOURCES TO ACCESS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM,

[01:50:03]

AND WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A JUSTICE GAP, NOT ONLY FOR THOSE AT THE LOWER INCOME LEVELS, BUT FOR THE MEDIAN INCOME PERSON WHO EITHER COULDN'T AFFORD A LAWYER OR COULDN'T GET TO COURT IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THEREFORE THEY COULDN'T MATCH THE SUPERIOR RESOURCES OF THE OTHER SIDE.

SO JUSTICE HECHT SPOKE BEFORE CONGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.

HE SPOKE NATIONWIDE. AND ONE THING HE SAYS IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, EITHER FOR LACK OF RESOURCES OR BECAUSE OF A BACKLOG IN THE DOCKET THAT THEY CAN'T TIMELY BE REACHED, THEN THAT IS NOT JUSTICE FOR ALL, BUT RATHER NO JUSTICE AT ALL.

SO I ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT WHEN YOU MAKE THIS VERY DIFFICULT DECISION THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, AND THAT YOU SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES IN FORT BEND COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDGE RG BREAM.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.

I WAS APPOINTED AS ASSOCIATE JUDGE IN JANUARY OF 2021.

AND I AM A PROUD I'M PROUD TO SERVE FORT BEND COUNTY.

I HAVE I'M A PUBLIC SERVANT, AND IT IS MY PRIORITY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALSO, AS PUBLIC SERVANTS, NEED TO PRIORITIZE THAT.

IT IS A CORE SERVICE. WE ARE A GROWING AND THRIVING COMMUNITY, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THE HISTORY OF FORT BEND COUNTY THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A JUDICIAL POSITION THAT'S BEEN DEFUNDED.

SO WHY ARE WE DOING IT NOW WHEN WE'RE GROWING AND THRIVING? IF WE HAVE FUNDS FOR ANYTHING ELSE? WHY ARE WE DEFUNDING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM? I HAVE SINCE I STARTED OR SINCE I BECAME ASSOCIATE JUDGE.

I HAVE TRIED OVER 30 JURY TRIALS.

I HAVE TRIED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF BENCH TRIALS.

WE ARE WORKING AND WE ARE MOVING THESE CASES ALONG.

IN ADDITION TO THOSE CASES, IN ADDITION TO OUR DOCKETS, I PRESIDE PROUDLY OVER SPECIALTY COURTS, INCLUDING SANCTIONS COURT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COURT, DRUG REENTRY COURT.

AND THOSE ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.

AND WITHOUT THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, WITH THE DEFUNDING OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE STATE FUNDING.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE LOSE STATE FUNDING? THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME TO OUR COURTS THAT THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES PRESIDE OVER THESE CASES.

THEY ARE CLEAN. THEY ARE.

THEY ARE STAYING CLEAN.

THEY ARE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN WE. WHEN WE LOSE THE STATE FUNDING, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? THEY'RE GOING TO START USING DRUGS AGAIN.

THEY'RE GOING TO REOFFEND AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMMITTING CRIMES.

THERE WE GO RIGHT BACK TO A THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

DEFUNDING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES IS JUST ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

YOU HAVE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS PEOPLE HERE TODAY, PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BEEN PRACTICING FOR DECADES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE COURTROOM WHO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU'VE HEARD FROM JUDGES, YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS. AND YET YOU HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ONE SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS COME IN HERE TODAY WHO HAS SAID DEFUNDING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES IS A FANTASTIC IDEA.

NOT ONE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

IT'S GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S GOING TO BE DEVASTATING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND IT IS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE IDEA.

I'M ASKING YOU TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WE ALL SHOULD.

I'M ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS BUDGET AND TO PRIORITIZE OUR BUDGET AND THE COMMUNITY'S MONEY TO PUT PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AND AND PRIORITIZE OUR BUDGET FOR OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NO MORE PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

[01:55:01]

LET'S JUST CONTINUE. CONTINUE.

WELL, IF I COULD REQUEST A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, I NEED TO USE THE FACILITIES.

SORRY. YEAH. WE WILL RECESS FOR TEN MINUTES.

WE WILL COME BACK. 11.

TEN. YEAH. HELLO? HELLO.

WE ARE BACK IN. WE ARE RECONVENING TO CONTINUE OUR BUDGET HEARING.

IT IS 1111. PLEASE BE SEATED.

OKAY, SO, DO WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE SPEAKERS? YES, WE'VE BEEN INFORMED.

WE HAVE THREE MORE. THE THE FIRST ONE IS MR. JOHN KOVAC. OKAY, JOHN, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WELL, NOT. GOOD MORNING, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

HOPEFULLY YOU GOT TO SHAKE IT OUT AND GET BACK TO WORK.

AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND I KNOW THIS IS A VERY TOUGH JOB.

BUT BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, MY NAME IS JOHN KOVAC.

I AM IN PRIVATE PRACTICE HERE AS A LAWYER.

AND IN ADDITION, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY DEFENSE BAR.

OKAY. I THOUGHT I'D START OFF BY JUST DOING TWO DIFFERENT FORMATS.

ONE, MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND THEN SECONDLY, MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION.

ALL RIGHT. PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, SITTING THERE BRUSHING MY TEETH THIS MORNING, TALKING TO MY WIFE, I SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE? SHE'S ALSO A LAWYER. SHE GOES, WHAT ARE THE NON-LAWYERS SAY? RIGHT. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE LAWYERS WANT. BUT WHAT DID THE NON-LAWYERS HERE AND THERE WERE A HANDFUL. WHAT DID THEY TELL US? RIGHT.

THEY'RE GRATEFUL. WE LOVE FORT BEND COUNTY.

WE LIVE IN A GREAT COMMUNITY.

RIGHT? WE HEARD FROM ONE PERSON SHE LOVED THE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

RIGHT. WE HEARD ANOTHER PERSON. HE LOVED THE LOW PROPERTY TAX.

RIGHT. WHAT I BELIEVE MAKES FORT BEND COUNTY GREAT IS THOSE.

BUT IN ADDITION, IT'S THE SAFETY, RIGHT? IT'S THE SAFETY AND THE COMMERCE, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE COUNTERINTUITIVE OR COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO CUT THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

NOW, JUST HAVING SOME DISCUSSION.

MAYBE IT'S NOT ALL OF THEM. MAYBE IT'S SOME OF THEM, MAYBE IT'S THE FORMAT AND THAT IS PROGRESS. AND THAT MAYBE IT'S NOT JUST A CLEAN SLATE, RIGHT? THE LAST TWO ELECTIONS HAVE TOLD US HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY TWO THINGS.

ONE, WE WANT MORE TOUGHNESS ON CRIME.

REMEMBER THE BILLBOARDS? BILLBOARDS. TOUGH ON CRIME.

THE PEOPLE WANTED THAT. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WANTED TOUGHER ON CRIME, WHICH AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER, MAKES MY JOB HARDER.

BUT GUESS WHAT? I'VE GOT FOUR SONS.

WE NEED THAT. WE NEED TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME.

THE LAST ELECTION TOLD US WHAT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

NOBODY SAID THIS WORD YET.

DOGE. RIGHT. PEOPLE WANT GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE DISCUSSING IT. CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A FORMAT IN A MANNER WHERE IT'S PRODUCTIVE.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD TO TAKE FOUR STEPS BACK LATER, AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE AFTER THINKING ON IT, TALKING WITH SOME OF THE JUDGES, REALLY JUST REFLECTING AS A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, IS THIS THE RIGHT THING TO CUT ALL OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES? AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE IT'S NOT IT'S NOT RIGHT.

SO WITH THAT BEING ESTABLISHED, I'LL TIE IT IN PROFESSIONALLY. AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER, WE COULD BE SIMILAR TO HARRIS COUNTY WHERE YOU COULD COMMIT A CRIME.

AND IT'S EASY. IT'S ACTUALLY TOUGH FOR ME TO PERSUADE SOME OF MY CLIENTS WHO LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO UNFORTUNATELY GET CHARGED WITH CRIMES HERE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

THEY'LL SAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT TO TAKE THIS DEAL OR I CAN'T BELIEVE THE OFFER. SEVEN YEAR PRISON, RIGHT? IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE TOUGHER HERE.

IT'S NOT HARRIS COUNTY.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE IS WE'RE NOT HARRIS COUNTY.

THERE'S A CIRCUS RIGHT NOW AT THE COURTHOUSE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

YOU CAN ASK ANY LAWYER, ANY JUDGE, ANYBODY WHO'S IN THE SYSTEM OVER THERE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE.

WE ARE EFFICIENT. RIGHT? SO THAT'S MY PRAYER TO Y'ALL. OR MY CHARGE TO Y'ALL IS DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT WILL BE SHORT TERM GAIN. LONG TERM COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

I Y'ALL WERE ELECTED FOR A REASON.

I'LL LEAVE YOU ALL THIS TO. I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG MAN WATCHING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RACE, THE REPUBLICANS, IT WAS MITT ROMNEY AND GOVERNOR PERRY, AND THEY SAID YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR PERRY WAS SPOUTING OFF NUMBERS AND THE RAPID GROWTH AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND HOW TEXAS WAS LEADING CHARTS.

AND MITT ROMNEY SAID, ANYBODY CAN WIN WHEN YOU'RE DEALT A FULL HOUSE AND NOTHING TO DISPARAGE EACH EACH OF Y'ALL, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

BUT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DEALT A FULL HOUSE HERE.

FORT BEND COUNTY IS THRIVING.

YOU ARE DEALT A FULL HOUSE.

AND AND YOU WANT TO HELP.

YOU WANT TO HELP MAKE PROGRESS, NOT GET IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS.

SO, AGAIN, PLEASE DON'T CUT ALL THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

IT IS PRODUCTIVE. IT IS EFFICIENT.

AND MOST OF ALL, IT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHLEEN.

KATHLEEN. EXCUSE ME. LEFEVER.

I ASKED HER TO SAY HER NAME.

[02:00:03]

I'M A PRACTICING FAMILY LAW AND HAVE BEEN PRACTICING IN FORT BEND COUNTY FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF CINCO RANCH IN FORT BEND COUNTY, AND I AM NOT POLITICAL.

I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS, BUT WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, I FELT THAT IT WAS MY DUTY TO MY CLIENTS TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS.

I AM NOT JUST HERE FOR MYSELF, BUT MY CLIENTS, AND TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST CONCERN AT THE MERE DISCUSSION OF CUTTING THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

THIS IS A HORRIBLE IDEA.

PLEASE DON'T DO IT. JUST STOP.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

OUR COURTS ARE ALREADY JAMMED WITH MORE CASES THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING TO ALLEVIATE THE STRAIN ON THE PRESIDING JUDGES AND ALLOW OUR CITIZENS TO GET THEIR DAYS IN COURT.

MY CLIENTS COME TO ME AT SOME OF THE WORST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE TERRIFIED, ABUSED, MANIPULATED, FINANCIALLY HELD CAPTIVE CHILDREN IN DANGER AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT. WHAT THEY ARE GETTING IS A NEED, NOT A WANT. WHEN THEY FILE UNDER THE COURT SYSTEM, THEY ARE TRUSTING US TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO THEIR DAY IN COURT.

I WORK IN A LOT OF COUNTIES.

AUSTIN. WALLER. BRAZORIA.

HARRIS. AND EVERY TIME THAT MY CLIENTS TELL ME THAT THEY'RE IN FORT BEND COUNTY, SAY CONGRATULATIONS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BETTER PROCESS FOR YOU.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE.

OUR COURTS ARE EFFICIENT.

OUR JUDGES ARE GREAT. AND IT HAS BEEN THE CASE.

WE MOVE QUICKLY IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

IT KEEPS COSTS DOWN. IMAGINE MAYBE YOU OR YOUR CHILD IS GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE OR A CUSTODY CASE. WOULD YOU BE OKAY WAITING 12, MAYBE EVEN 18 WEEKS FOR THERE TO BE BASIC RULES IN PLACE AS TO WHO GETS TO PICK UP YOUR KID EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY THAT SOMEONE RACES TO THAT DAYCARE OR THAT CHILD'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IS ANOTHER DAY THAT A PARENT DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THEIR CHILD IS SLEEPING AT NIGHT.

IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT IMMINENT PHYSICAL HARM.

IT IS ABOUT THE TERROR OF JUST NOT KNOWING WHERE YOUR CHILD IS AND GETTING IN FRONT OF THESE JUDGES. GETTING THOSE RULES IN PLACE IS THE FIRST STEP IN MOVING FORWARD IN THAT PROCESS. WITHOUT ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO HEAR ANCILLARY MATTERS, TO HEAR DISCOVERY ISSUES AND TEMPORARY ORDERS, HEARINGS, AND SOMETIMES EVEN FINAL TRIALS, OUR ALREADY OVERWORKED LEGAL SYSTEM WILL COME TO A GRINDING HALT. I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN IN OTHER COUNTIES.

I'M EXPERIENCING IT IN OTHER COUNTIES.

IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

THE BIGGEST IMPACT HERE IS THE COST OF THE ACCESS TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

IT IS ALREADY COST PROHIBITIVE.

MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE GOING INTO DEBT JUST TO FILE FOR DIVORCE, OR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE.

IF WE INCREASE THE COST OF EVERY TIME THEIR LAWYER HAS TO GO DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE FOR THEIR LAWYER TO BE TOLD, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO HEAR YOU TODAY, THAT IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DOWN THE DRAIN.

THE LAWYER HAS TO BE THERE, HAS TO DO THE WORK, BUT THE CLIENT GETS NOTHING OUT OF IT.

AND THAT'S SOME OF THE VERY BENIGN THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DON'T UNDERSTAND HAS BEEN ALLEVIATED BY THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

IT'S THOSE LITTLE HEARINGS.

BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU, EVERY TIME I AM IN TRIAL, AND MY TRIALS TEND TO LAST SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 3 TO 5 DAYS EACH, I GO TO TRIAL 5 TO 8 TIMES A YEAR.

AND THAT'S JUST FOR THE TRIALS.

EVERY SINGLE TRIAL THAT I AM IN, OUR JUDGES, OUR PRESIDING JUDGES, SNEAKING CASES RIGHT BEFORE OUR LUNCH BREAK IS OVER SO THAT THEY CAN GET EMERGENCY CASES HEARD.

THEY CAN SIGN OFF ON A TRO THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

THEY ARE MAXIMIZING EVERY MINUTE OF THEIR DAY THAT THEY CAN.

I PROMISE YOU IT IS NOT ABOUT THEM NOT BEING EFFICIENT IN THEIR DOCKETS.

IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY CASES GOING THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN THE FAMILY COURTS, THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR THESE OVERWORKED JUDGES TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS COUNTY.

IF WE DO NOT GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED THROUGH THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, AND AS A RESULT, WE WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ABUSE THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR, AND REDUCE THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE THAT OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE TO HAVE.

IF YOU THINK THAT THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL IS CUTTING OUR ASSOCIATE JUDGES, I PROMISE YOU IT IS A TRAIN.

THANK YOU. THE LAST SPEAKER IS RAY TO.

GO AGAIN. SHE'S HERE IN THE OTHER ROOM.

CAN YOU ANNOUNCE ONE MORE TIME? RAY? TWO. SHE WAS JUST HERE.

OKAY, SO WE NEED TO MOVE.

WE NEED TO MOVE ON. AND SO LET'S MOVE IT TO THE NEXT ITEM.

[02:05:04]

WE ARE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, BUDGET AND FINANCE.

[4. BUDGET & FINANCE: ]

YOU'LL JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE TO CHANGE THE SLIDE HERE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY. GOOD.

GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE THE FY 2026 RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENTS EARLIER IN JULY. MY OFFICE HAS GONE THROUGH AND MET WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WANTED TO MEET REGARDING THEIR BUDGET.

IF THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR BUDGET, THOSE THAT WERE NOT HAVE ASKED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR BUDGET LOOKS LIKE TODAY.

SO AS YOU ALL I TOLD YOU BACK IN MAY WHEN WE HAD PRELIMINARY BUDGET HEARINGS, THE PRELIMINARY VALUES THAT CAME IN WERE AT 1.8% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR BUDGET.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HERE CIRCLED AT THE BOTTOM.

IN LATE JULY, WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUES, AND THOSE DID COME OUT HIGHER THAN WERE ANTICIPATED.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY AT 5.7%, ALMOST 5.8% FOR THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. SO THAT IS A CHANGE IN WHAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND WHAT DROVE A LOT OUR RECOMMENDED BUDGET.

YES, SIR. SO THIS IS THE COMBINED CERTIFIED NUMBER.

THE LAST NUMBER, 5.7. SO.

YES, SIR. THE LEFT THE LEFT SIDE IS FORT BEND COUNTY AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT. THOSE TWO ROWS THAT ARE CIRCLED ARE THE PRELIMINARY THAT WE WERE GIVEN IN MAY, AND THEN THE CERTIFIED THAT WAS CERTIFIED JULY 25TH THAT LAST WEEK OF JULY.

YES, SIR. YES, SIR. SORRY.

A $5 BILLION DIFFERENCE.

YES, SIR. OKAY. IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT A SMALL DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS. WELL, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1 AND 1.8% INCREASE AND A 5.7% INCREASE.

BUT IF YOU NOTICE, IT'S STILL LESS THAN PRIOR YEARS.

THE INCREASE, THE VARIANCE THAT WE SAW IN 22 WAS A 20%.

IN 23, WE'RE AT 14%. 24 WERE AT 9%.

AND THIS YEAR WE'RE AT 5%.

SO IT IS DECREASING AND I DON'T KNOW AND CAN'T ANTICIPATE.

BUT I CAN PROBABLY SAY THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY HIGHER THAN 5% IN 2026.

JUST LOOKING AT THIS TREND.

YEAH, THIS IS ACTUALLY A CLEAR TREND, I SHOULD SAY.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T. IT'S A IT'S A TREND.

IT'S VERY CLEARLY SHOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOW GOING TO SUSTAIN ANOTHER 14 OR 19% MOVING FORWARD.

KEEP GOING PLEASE. YES, SIR.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE COUNTY TAX RATE HAS BEEN WE HAVE STEADILY DECREASED THE TAX RATE TO THE EACH YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR 2025 TAX YEAR.

I AM PROPOSING IN THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT WE KEEP THE SAME TAX RATE AT 42.2 CENTS.

AND SO THAT IS THE SAME AS WHAT WE HAD IN 2024.

HOWEVER, IT'S STILL A DECREASE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

OKAY. AND CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? THERE IS COMMISSIONER MYERS.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. THERE IS A PILL.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO EVEN LOWER OUR.

AND I'LL GET TO THAT LATER.

OH, OKAY. OKAY. YES, SIR.

NO. I'M SORRY, BILL NINE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. NO NO, NO. KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.

YES. SO LOOKING AT THE TAX RATES AGAIN I AM PROPOSING A 41,

[02:10:02]

AND THAT IS THE SAME TAX RATE THAT WE HAD FOR TAX YEAR 2020 FOR THE THE AVERAGE TAXES PAID BY A RESIDENT OF THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD IS GOING TO BE AN INCREASE OF $29.

AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE SAME TAX RATE, THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD HAS INCREASED.

SO THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD OF 420, $423,000 FOR THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD IN FORT BEND COUNTY WOULD SEE A $29 TAX INCREASE PER HOUSEHOLD.

YES, SIR. $29. ALL RIGHT.

EACH CENT THAT YOU IMPOSE WOULD BE WOULD GENERATE $12.6 MILLION IN REVENUE TO FORT BEND COUNTY. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN OUR TRUTH AND TAXATION? THE TAX RATE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED AT 42.2 CENTS IS LESS THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE.

SO THE TAX RATE HERE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS WILL GENERATE FEWER REVENUES THAN LESS REVENUES THAN IT DID LAST YEAR.

OKAY. SO AT THIS POINT WE WOULD YOU, AS THE COURT WOULD NOT HAVE TO HOLD, WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A TAX INCREASE BECAUSE THIS TAX RATE IS LESS THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE.

SO YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD A TAX PUBLIC HEARING.

SO THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET, THE THE REQUEST IN MAY THAT YOU SAW WAS $845.7 MILLION. THAT WAS ABOUT A 15% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR BUDGET.

WITH THE ALL OF THE REQUESTS, EVERYTHING THAT WENT IN MY OFFICE HAS GONE IN MY TEAM AND WE'VE COME UP WITH THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET OF $743.9 MILLION.

THAT IS A 1.7% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO THAT ALSO INCLUDES A A PLACEHOLDER FOR COLA THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT LATER THIS AFTERNOON IS ON THE AGENDA.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND NOT TOMORROW. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT LATER, BUT WE HAVE I AM RECOMMENDING THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE NOW IS 1.7% OVER, OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

SO THE FINANCE SUMMARY WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET POLICY THAT WE KEEP A 30% ENDING FUND BALANCE. THAT IS STATING THAT 30%, WE HAVE AN ENDING BALANCE.

THAT'S 30% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

SO FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THAT FIRST COLUMN, OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE WOULD BE AT $143.9 MILLION.

AND THAT WOULD GIVE US AN ENDING BALANCE OF OF 31.3%.

OUR POLICY STATES THAT WE KEEP A 30% FUND BALANCE.

SO THAT IS STATING THAT WE HAVE WE CAN ADD UP TO $3 MILLION TO AND IT WOULD TAKE US DOWN TO 30%. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE ADD $33 MILLION, BUT WE CAN THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IN PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR FOR NEXT YEAR.

JUST PLANNING AHEAD. WE DID SEE THAT TREND IN THE VALUES THAT ARE NOT THAT THEY'RE TRENDING DOWN EACH YEAR. SO WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE THAT IT COULD ALSO TREND DOWN NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

ALSO WE HAVE HERE'S WHAT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT.

JUDGE GEORGE, WE HAVE SENATE BILL NINE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE HOUSE.

THAT'S RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IN 2019, SENATE BILL TWO BROUGHT US DOWN FROM AN 8% INCREASE FOR THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, DOWN TO 3.5%. SENATE BILL NINE THAT WAS FILED LAST WEEK WILL BRING THAT VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE CALCULATION FROM 3.5% DOWN TO 2.5%.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M LOOKING AT AND JUST ASSUMING THAT IT IS APPROVED, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN A GOOD FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL HEALTH FOR NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE'RE NOT PUT IN ANY KIND OF BIND FOR NEXT YEAR.

[02:15:02]

SENATE BILL 37 IS RELATING TO THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL JUDICIAL DISTRICTS COMPOSED IN FORT BEND COUNTY. THOSE ARE THE 501 AND 502 THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.

AT THIS POINT I DID NOT LOOK THIS MORNING, BUT ON FRIDAY AND THIS WEEKEND, I DIDN'T SEE ANY ACTION TAKEN AS OF YET.

SO WE'RE STILL WATCHING THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT IT'LL PROBABLY PASS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET.

ALSO HOUSE BILL 105 IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND THAT'S RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

SO THAT IS GOING TO RESTRICT OUR AUTHORITY TO ISSUE CEOS IN THE FUTURE.

SO ANY TIME THAT WE WOULD WANT TO ISSUE DEBT, THOSE WOULD HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS OF FORT BEND COUNTY BEFORE IT COULD BE ISSUED.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING.

IN THE PAST, WE HAD DONE A LOT OF OUR CAPITAL ITEMS, OUR CIP, WE DID A PAY AS YOU GO, AND IT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

SINCE THAT HAS SINCE 2019, SINCE 2020 WE HAVE BEEN FINANCING A LOT OF OUR OUR CAPITAL ITEMS AND OUR CIP.

AND WITH HOUSE BILL 105, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY TO DO SO.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THAT I AM LOOKING AT THAT. YES. WE HAVE $3 MILLION THAT WE CAN ADD TO OUR BUDGET AND STILL KEEP IT AS A BALANCED BUDGET AT OUR 30%. IT'S JUST WHETHER WHAT, WHERE OUR PRIORITIES STAND.

SO WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE A QUESTION. I'M SORRY.

HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT A SCENARIO WHERE WHAT IS A 2.5% INCREASE, ASSUMING THAT THAT BILL PASSES, RIGHT? YES, SIR. THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

NOT NOW. MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

SO SO THE TAX RATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, EVEN IF THAT 2.5%. THE SENATE BILL NINE WOULD WOULD PASS.

THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT US THIS YEAR BECAUSE BECAUSE WE ARE LESS THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE.

SO EVEN WE'RE STILL UNDER THE NO NEW REVENUE REVENUE.

THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.

SO YES, YOU KNOW, A CENT OR PERCENT, 1% WOULD BE ABOUT $12 MILLION.

YEAH. SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO ASK. SO 1% IS $12 MILLION.

APPROXIMATELY $0.01? YES $0.01.

AND I'M ASKING THIS TWO AND THREE AND A HALF.

GOING DOWN TO TWO AND A HALF.

THAT'S 1%. HOW DO HOW DO WE IN THE TAX RATE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A ONE FOR ONE CALCULATION LIKE THAT.

NO, SIR. AND I HAVE NOT MADE THAT CALCULATION I HAVE NOT.

YEAH. I'M INTERESTED IN JUST TO SEE HYPOTHETICALLY WHAT THAT LOOK LIKE? NOT NOW, BUT LATER. WE COULD LOOK INTO IT.

PLEASE. YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IT. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

SO IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT HAD THE TAX RATE OR NOT.

THIS ONE. NOT THAT ONE.

YEAH. YEP. BACK TO WHERE YOU HAD IT RIGHT HERE.

THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS .418.419 ESSENTIALLY.

AND WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS 0.415.

YES, SIR. WHAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT $3 MILLION THAT WE COULD ADD THAT WOULD TAKE US TO THAT .419. NO, SIR.

THAT IS LET ME GO BACK A COUPLE MORE SLIDES.

NOPE. OTHER WAY. HERE.

THE $3 MILLION I'VE ALREADY THE $0.27 FOR THE GENERAL FUND WOULD STILL STAY AT $0.27.

SO I'M NOT PROPOSING WE CHANGE THE TAX RATE.

WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS KEEPING THAT TAX RATE THE SAME AT $0.27.

IF WE ADDED $3 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND, THAT WOULD BRING THE ENDING BALANCE DOWN TO 30% INSTEAD OF THE 31.3.

GOT IT. OKAY. AND THEN YOU HAD AN ITEM ON THERE THAT IT'S $0.01 EQUALS $12 MILLION TO $12.6 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND.

YES. AND I THINK I MESSAGED YOU.

HEY, I SENT AN EMAIL DURING COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO PAMELA, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS.

[02:20:01]

RIGHT. THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT IS, FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD, BECAUSE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD DID INCREASE.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE TAX RATE INCREASE, BUT BECAUSE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD VALUE INCREASED. RIGHT. AND SO WITH THAT THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT INCREASE, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW BECAUSE THERE'S CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CUTTING. WE HAD A COMMENTER, A PUBLIC COMMENTER, WHO CAME HERE AND SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD CUT OUR, OUR TAX RATE AND LOWER OUR BUDGET.

I THINK LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE OVERALL COST TO THE INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER VERSUS THE OVERALL COST TO THE COUNTY AND THE SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS RECEIVE, THAT WOULD BE AN ANALYSIS, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. I KNOW WE DID SOME YOU KNOW BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND WE SHARED A FIGURE BASED ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. IF WE WERE TO CUT, WHAT WOULD BE THAT THAT THAT CUT TO THE COUNTY BUDGET VERSUS THE RESIDENT.

AND IT WAS A NOMINAL CUT TO THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER, BUT A TREMENDOUS MULTI TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS CUT TO THE COUNTY, WHICH MEANS LAYOFFS, WHICH MEANS CUTTING OF SERVICE LINES THAT PEOPLE RELY ON TODAY.

BUT SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOUR TEAM COULD GET THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD WOULD SEE WOULD SEE A $29 INCREASE IN THEIR TAXES, THEIR FORT BEND COUNTY TAXES WITH THIS ONE.

YES, WITH THIS RATE. RIGHT.

BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW, LIKE IF WE WERE TO EVEN CONSIDER ANY SORT OF CUTS OF ANY SORT, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE AVERAGE? WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE COUNTY VERSUS THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT I'M ASKING, IF YOU IF WE REDUCED THE TAX RATE, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT NOW.

GO BACK AND GET IT LATER.

AND MY COMPUTER IS LOCKED UP NOW, SO IT'LL TAKE TWO MINUTES.

BUT THAT'S ALL GOOD. BUT THAT THAT THAT'D BE HELPFUL BECAUSE AS WE'RE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS, I MEAN, IT'S A FAIR POINT. THE AVERAGE RESIDENT, OF COURSE, IS LOOKING AT THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT THAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THE SUBSTANCE OF MAKING DECISIONS LIKE THAT.

TO OUR COUNTY SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS DEPEND ON AS WELL.

FOR CLARIFICATION TO BALANCE THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, WE'RE TAKING $50 MILLION OUT OF FUND BALANCE.

YES. OKAY. JUST. YES. ANYBODY UNDERSTAND? OUR REVENUE DOES NOT MATCH OUR EXPENDITURES.

WE'RE HAVING TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE BANK TO DO SO.

AND ALSO I HAVE I HAVE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE A QUESTION MAYBE FOR YOU AND IT IS FOR THE FUTURE.

YOU DON'T. WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER NOW, BUT WE HAVE UTILIZED WE HAD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT TOOLS. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST TOOL WE HAD WHEN WE PUT UNDER THIS RESTRICTION OF 3.5% CAP WAS CEOS.

SO JUST I WANTED TO LEAVE THAT THOUGHT WITH YOU.

YOU DON'T WE DON'T I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ANSWER NOW. BUT IF THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY BECAUSE THEY THESE THESE I'M SUSPECTING THESE ITEMS CAME UP IN THE SPECIAL SESSION BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY IT IS GOING TO GET PASSED.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A QUORUM ISSUE AND ALL THAT STUFF.

BUT GIVEN HOW THE ABILITY TO KEEP CALLING SPECIAL SESSIONS TO PASS AND SO I LIKE TO HEAR MAYBE LATER WHAT WE WOULD DO IF THE CEOS ARE TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT AS A VERY USEFUL TOOL.

SO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

PAMELA, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND WE WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COURT.

OKAY. SO I HAVE A AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

IF WE REDUCED THE TAX RATE BY $0.01, THAT WOULD SAVE THE AVERAGE THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD $14, BUT THAT WOULD ALSO THE FORT BEND COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE $12.6 MILLION LESS IN REVENUE. SO IT WOULD BE $14 ON THE TAXPAYER.

$12.6 MILLION FOR THE ON THE COUNTY SIDE.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? $14 A WEEK BASED ON THE NUMBERS.

ARE WE CAPABLE OF DOING THAT? DO WE HAVE $12 MILLION WE CAN GIVE BACK? I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN.

WE I LOVE $50 MILLION OUT OF THE BANK TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET CURRENTLY.

SO OKAY, IN IN THE IN THE BUDGET THAT'S CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED.

[02:25:04]

I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE TIME, AND WE HAD TO TAKE OUT OPEB THE OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT WAS WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED PUTTING IN $20 MILLION. WE'VE BEEN PUTTING 20 TO $25 MILLION INTO THE TRUST FOR THE PAST THREE, THREE YEARS. SO IT'S NOT IN THERE THIS YEAR.

SO WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT RECEIVED THAT WE RECEIVED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN VALUES, I HAVE MOVED $0.01 INTO THE DEBT SERVICE SO THAT WE CAN DO $10 MILLION OF OPEB.

OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT DOING 20 LIKE WE WANTED TO, BUT WE'RE NOT DOING ZERO EITHER.

SO WE'RE AT YOU SPLIT THE BABY.

OKAY. YES, WE WE'RE DOING WE'RE AT 10 MILLION, WHICH I THINK IS BETTER IN A BETTER SITUATION THAN WHAT WE WERE IN THE PAST.

NOW, IF WE WERE AT SOME, ONE OF ONE OF YOU SAID, COULD WE DECREASE THE TAX RATE? IF WE DID DECREASE THE TAX RATE, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT PENNY BACK AND PUT IT INTO GENERAL FUND AND WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO OPEB.

AND WHAT WAS YOUR ESTIMATION OF WHAT OUR BASED ON THE TREND FOR OUR ASSESSED VALUES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE CERTIFIED VALUES? WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE IMPACT TO THE COUNTY ORGANIZATION IF WE WERE TO DECREASE THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET OR FOR THE, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET SEASON? NOT KNOWING THE VALUES, I CAN'T GIVE AN EXACT NUMBER.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE TRENDS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT WOULD IT WOULD IT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO, DECREASE THAT TAX RATE, I BELIEVE.

IT WOULD NOT. WELL, I CAN'T SAY HARMFUL.

THAT'S A STRONG WORD. IT WOULD IT WOULD AFFECT OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR.

AND I THINK WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ADD SERVICES TO A GROWING COUNTY LIKE WE NEED TO BE ADDING. YEAH. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE PRUDENT AT ALL.

IN MY OPINION. WE WE HAVE AN UNKNOWN OUT THERE OF A REVENUE CAP.

PLUS WE HAVE AN UNKNOWN OF WHAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR.

THE TREND IS NOT FAVORABLE.

AND WE'RE ALREADY HAVING TO TAKE $50 MILLION OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET. DO I HAVE ANOTHER $50 MILLION NEXT YEAR TO TO BALANCE THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR? I SAW YOU SHAKING YOUR HAND.

I'M. I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A POINT.

AT THIS POINT. NO, SIR, WE DON'T.

NOW, WE WE NEVER KNOW.

YOU KNOW, OUR REVENUES MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE ANTICIPATED, OR OUR EXPENDITURES MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LESS, AND THEY USUALLY ARE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SHOWING THAT OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO BE AT 143.9. WE MIGHT GET ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, OUR REVENUES MIGHT BE ANOTHER $2 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED.

SO IT IT IT IT FLUCTUATES.

I'M ALL FOR KEEPING TAXES AS LOW AS WE CAN KEEP THEM FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR PROPERTY TAXPAYERS. BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AS WELL AS THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.

BUT WE DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE SERVICES.

AND SO THERE'S A DELICATE BALANCE THERE.

BUT I THINK THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BE MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BASIC SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE NICE THINGS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, MAYBE NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM GOING FORWARD.

BUT LET'S LET'S BE PRUDENT ABOUT HOW WE AND I'VE MET WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST MONTH, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SERVICES THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO INCLUDE IN THIS RECOMMENDED BUDGET, AND I WOULD HATE TO CONTINUE TO REMOVE.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REMOVE SERVICES.

WE DO HAVE A GROWING COUNTY.

AND AND WITH A GROWING COUNTY WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.

SO REDUCING THE TAX RATE AT THIS POINT WITH THE UNKNOWNS THAT WE HAVE WOULD IT BE A WISE DECISION? ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE HAVE OTHER TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL THAT WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED USING UNDER THE CURRENT 3.5%.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AVERAGE OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS THAT IF WE HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE ONE YEAR, IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING.

AND SO AND IT'S SOMETHING BURIED IN LAW.

WE HAVEN'T USED IT YET, HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT IT YET. BUT BUT IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FUND SOME MAJOR CATASTROPHE OR WHATEVER, AND WE HAVE TO GO OVER 3.5%.

WE CAN AVERAGE IT OUT OVER 2 OR 3 YEARS.

[02:30:01]

WE HAVEN'T HAD BECAUSE WE KNOW THE MONEY'S COMING IN AND THE VALUES ARE GOING UP.

AND STILL A LOT OF NEW VALUE COMES ON THE ON THE BOOKS.

THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE TO THE CAP AT ALL.

OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE.

WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE. AND WE HAVEN'T USED EVERY TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.

AND WHAT TO PLAY. THE INVERSE OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT THE TAX RATE DECREASE.

THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AGAIN IS 0.419.

AND WE'RE PROPOSING A TAX RATE OF 0.415 FOR THE FOR FORT BEND COUNTY GENERAL FUND.

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF GOING TO THAT? NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND GIVING OURSELVES BREATHING ROOM FOR NEXT YEAR, NOT KNOWING WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THIS THIS CAP.

AND WOULD THAT DO WOULD INCREASING TO THAT AMOUNT PUT US IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION NEXT YEAR? IF WE WENT UP TO THE NO NEW REVENUE.

YES. THAT WOULD THAT WOULD HELP IN OUR TAX RATE FOR NEXT YEAR.

WHAT WOULD NOT HELP IS IF YOU WENT UP TO THE NO NEW REVENUE AND ALSO INCREASED YOUR BUDGET. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS GOING TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR WHAT? HOW MUCH MORE THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET VERSUS TO THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER? I DO NOT AT THIS TIME.

I CAN GET IT. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW BECAUSE THEN IF THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PAY DOWN DEBT FASTER OR PUT MORE INTO OPEB OR EVEN FULLY FUND OUR COURTS.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COURT NEEDS TO CONSIDER AND AT LEAST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR FOR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT MY BIGGER QUESTION IS, IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, WHAT SORT OF SITUATION MIGHT THAT PUT US IN NEXT YEAR? IF WE HAVE A A LOWER CAP ON OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR? OR WHAT COULD THAT MEAN? IF OUR CERTIFIED VALUES COME BACK LOWER NEXT YEAR, WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET EVEN MORE OR OR, YOU KNOW, GOD FORBID, HAVE TO LAY OFF STAFF FOR, FOR HAVING DONE, FOR HAVING GONE TO THAT NO NEW REVENUE RATE.

THESE ARE JUST GENERAL QUESTIONS.

I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FULL PICTURE.

I CAN GET THAT DURING LUNCH.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO ADD ONE OTHER THING. SINCE WE'RE HAVING RANDOM THOUGHTS HERE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

AND THE ABILITY TO DRAIN A FLAT COUNTY ON ONE POINT.

WHAT'S THE DRAINAGE RATE? 7/10 OF A CENT. 7/10 OF A CENT.

HOW LONG CAN WE DRAIN THAT COUNTY? HOW CAN WE DRAIN THAT COUNTY ON 5/10 OF A CENT FOR OPERATING THE OTHER 2/10 IS IS DEBT.

BUT YES, YOU'RE YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND AND UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF OF DEVELOPMENT.

MORE GROWTH, MORE ROOFTOPS, MORE RUNOFF.

WE HAVE THE BRAZOS RIVER WHICH SHE DECIDES WHAT TO DO EVERY YEAR.

AND SHE CHANGES DIRECTIONS.

SHE WREAKS HAVOC ON ON THINGS AND REQUIRES US TO BUILD THESE EXPENSIVE LEVIES.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT OUR DRAINAGE DISTRICT, AND CAN WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE ON SUCH A WITH SUCH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AND WE CAN'T INCREASE IT MUCH.

SO EVERY TIME WE DON'T GO UP TO THE NO REVENUE RATE ON DRAINAGE DISTRICT PORTION OF IT, WE DIG OURSELVES IN A DEEPER HOLE.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO RAIN ON THE PARADE, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

AND AND IF ONE THING GETS EVERYBODY GOING OUT HERE, IT'S I FOUND THIS MORNING, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT IT'S ALSO FLOODING.

AND NOW, YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

AND THAT WATER COULD HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN THE BRAZOS INSTEAD OF THE GUADALUPE.

SO I'M JUST SAYING WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT AND, AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY TAKES TO DRAIN A FLAT COUNTY.

AND AND IT MAY INVOLVE GOING TO THE VOTERS AND ASKING FOR WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN DRAINAGE DISTRICT THAT WILL GET WATER OUT OF HERE AND PREVENT STRUCTURAL

[02:35:06]

I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN A STUDY THAT WAS DONE NOT TOO LONG AGO IS THE CONTINUED EROSION.

AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH THE G-L-O ADDRESSING, HELPING US ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

BUT WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE POINTED OUT, WHICH IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

WE WILL LOSE BILLIONS OF PROPERTY VALUE JUST FROM EROSION.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CUT IN FEDERAL AID FOR FLOOD MITIGATION AS WELL.

AND SO THAT MEANS THE GLOW WON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO GIVE TO US.

CORRECT. OKAY PAMELA, LET'S MOVE ON.

[5. BUDGET WORKSHOP(s): ]

I'VE PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT CAME TO SEE ME AND STILL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BUDGETS AND WANTED TO BRING THEIR ATTENTION.

TO YOU ALL. THE FIRST IS CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO.

HE WOULD LIKE CONSTABLE'S BUDGET CURRENTLY RECOMMENDS THIS POSITION IS BEING ELIMINATED, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THAT POSITION.

OKAY. WELL, IT'S STILL MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. OKAY, WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS THE NEEDVILLE AREA. AND I THINK FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE COME UP WITH THE SAME THING.

I'M GOING TO HAVE MY CHIEF DEPUTY GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU SOME STATS AND EVERYTHING, AND THEN I'LL CLOSE IT BACK OUT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I DO APOLOGIZE, I'M EXPERIENCING A SINUS ISSUE RIGHT NOW, SO I TRY MY BEST TO SPEAK AND EVERYONE HEAR ME? OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M CHIEF FRANCIS FOR CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO.

I AM HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS OUR NEED.

OUR REQUEST FOR ONE DEPUTY AND TWO CLERKS TO GET OUR NEEDVILLE OFFICE UP AND RUNNING TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE OUR WORKLOAD IN CIVIL PROCESS AND WARRANT SERVICES, AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS STAFFING SHORTAGES CAUSED BY SICK LEAVE AND PAID TIME OFF.

WE ARE REQUESTING THE APPROVAL OF ONE DEPUTY AND TWO SENIOR CLERKS.

WE DO UNDERSTAND WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH A BUDGET ISSUE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NECESSITIES OF THE POSITIONS IF THEY'RE NEEDED OR NOT. BUT CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO REALLY FEELS LIKE HAVING TWO DEPUTIES AND TWO SENIOR CLERK IS A NECESSITY FOR OUR NEEDVILLE AREA.

FOR THE THE FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF 2025.

WE'VE ALREADY SERVICED HUNDRED AND 24 PAPERS.

OUR AVERAGE TIME FOR HAVING A PAPER IS APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 14 DAYS.

SO OUR TRIP TIME IT IT'S IT'S TREMENDOUS FOR US HAVING TO LEAVE FROM OUR MAIN BUILDING, 303 TEXAS PARKWAY. OUR MOST PAPER TYPE IS OUR EVICTIONS AND OUR POSSESSIONS.

NOW WE HAVE OUR EVICTIONS IS APPROXIMATELY 39% OF OUR PAPERS THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED, WHICH 11.2% OF THOSE EVICTIONS HAVE TURNED INTO POSSESSIONS.

AND FOR POSSESSION, THE AVERAGE TIME TO EXECUTE A POSSESSION IS APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS. THAT'S HALF OF OUR WORKDAY.

ACCORDING TO TEXAS PROPERTY CODE 24.0061, THAT DEPUTY HAS TO REMAIN ON SCENE FROM BEGINNING TO END TO GIVE BACK POSSESSION TO THE PLAINTIFF, AND IT DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF POSSESSION IT IS.

IT MAY TAKE ONE DEPUTY, TWO DEPUTY, AND FOR SAFETY REASONS OR HOW LARGE THE PROPERTY IS, THAT COULD EVEN TAKE THREE DEPUTIES.

AND ALSO WHEN WE HAVE OUR WRIT OF ATTACHMENTS WHERE WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND SEARCH FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND ATTACH OURSELVES TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND EITHER TAKE THEM TO COURT OR CPS OR WHEREVER THAT COURT ORDER ORDERS US TO DO,

[02:40:01]

I CAN SAY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WE HAD A WRIT OF POSSESSION FROM CPS WHERE WE HAD TO RECOVER THREE KIDS FROM THE GRANDPARENTS, AND THAT TOOK AT LEAST FOUR HOURS.

SO AND WE HAD TO HAVE ALL A LOT OF HANDS ON DECK BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE GRANDPARENT THEY HAD THEY HAD LEGAL ISSUES.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE SAFETY INTO CONSIDERATION.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO QUICKLY IS JUST TO FOCUS ON OUR NEEDVILLE AREA.

NOW, THUS FAR FOR THE FOR THE SEVEN MONTHS WE'VE HAD IN NEEDVILLE CONSIST OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND EIGHT THAT GO FROM RICHMOND ALL THE WAY TO NEEDVILLE.

BOOTH GUY FAIRCHILDS. SO WE'VE HAD 734 PAPERS THIS SEVEN MONTHS, WHICH CONSTITUTE TO 1936 TRIPS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN FROM OUR MAIN LOCATION IN MISSOURI CITY TO NEEDVILLE AREA. IF WE WERE TO HAVE OUR TWO DEPUTIES AND TWO CLERKS, THAT WOULD CUT THAT THAT TRIP TIME IN ALMOST HALF THE TIME, WHICH WOULD ALSO CUT DOWN ON MAINTENANCE, WHICH WILL ALSO IT WOULD JUST BE MORE EFFECTIVE. I HONESTLY DO BELIEVE OUR CONSTITUENTS FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AND EIGHT, THEY DESERVE EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE SERVICE.

AND IF WE HAD THAT OFFICE UP AND RUNNING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE SHORTAGES.

BUT WHEN WE HAVE OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT IS IN NEED OF SERVICE SOMETIMES MAYBE GOING OVER THE BUDGET A LITTLE BIT, IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA.

AND ALSO DO KEEP IN MIND, I'VE HEARD THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND THE JUDGES SPEAK ABOUT PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

WELL, THOSE PAPERS COME TO US.

AND ONCE WE GET THEM, WE HAVE TO ACT.

WE HAVE TO ACT ON THESE PAPERS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO IF WE ARE SHORT, WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR WE CAN'T SIT AND SAY FOR THE VICTIMS, WELL, WE'LL GET TO IT WHEN WE'LL GET TO IT.

NO. SAFETY FIRST. SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO PUT THAT FORWARD.

SO I HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL CONSIDER GIVING US THOSE TWO POSITIONS. TWO DEPUTIES AND A CLERK AND TWO CLERKS.

THANK YOU. OKAY. I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT PAMELA GOOGLE SAID.

SHE SAID, YOU GOT ONE DEPUTY ON ON THE PAPER AND YOU'RE NOT USING IT.

WELL, IT IS NOT SAFE TO PUT ONE DEPUTY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE OUT THERE. OKAY, BUT YOU'RE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE CONSTABLE HAVE THE DUTY TO PROTECT THE JP COURT.

OKAY, IF IT'S NOT, WHEN IF IT'S NOT IF IT'S WHEN WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE WIND AND NOT GETTING READY FOR THE WIND.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS, NO, WE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THAT ONE POSITION. WE NEED TO GET ANOTHER POSITION AND THE CLERK'S AND GIVE THE CITIZENS OF THE NEEDVILLE AREA WHAT THEY DESERVE IN BEING PROTECTED AND MAKING SURE THAT COURT IS PROTECTED, THAT JUDGE IS PROTECTED, AND WE DO OUR JOB.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT PERSON.

NEXT PERSON. CONSTABLE FOUR HAS REMOVED HIS REQUEST.

SO THE NEXT ONE IS FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND SHE'S HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS.

OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS. AND TO THE PUBLIC, I'M BRIDGET SMITH LAWSON, FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY.

I JUST WANTED TO URGE MY REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR THREE FTES FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION OF MY OFFICE. THIS WOULD BE MY FOURTH TIME SUBMITTING THIS IN A BUDGET REQUEST, AND THE CASES ARE INCREASING.

I'LL JUST TO GIVE A SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE.

FORT BEND COUNTY, WITH A POPULATION OF CLOSE TO OR APPROACHING 1 MILLION, HAS EXPERIENCED A SPIKE IN MENTAL HEALTH CASES.

TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS IN 2019, PRIOR TO ME COMING TO OFFICE, THERE WERE 778 COMMITMENTS FILED IN 2020.

THERE WERE 959 COMMITMENTS FILED 2021 1056.

2022 908. 2023 1093. AND 2024 THERE WERE 1509 COMMITMENTS FILED AND TRACKING WITH AUGUST OF 2024.

AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 850.

RIGHT NOW, AUGUST OF 2025, WE ARE AT 902.

[02:45:02]

WE ALSO FILED FOR PSYCHOACTIVE MEDICATION CASES, WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IN CRISIS HAS BEEN ORDERED TO RECEIVE INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND HAS REFUSED TO TAKE MEDICATION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HIS OR HER MENTAL HEALTH, WE FILED INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED IHD CASES.

THOSE ARE RECEIVED FROM SANTA FOR CIVIL COMMITMENT.

THEY CAN INCLUDE REFERRALS FROM TECH SANTA THAT THAT ARE FOR INMATES IN JAIL.

WE ALSO FILE CASES FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHERE WE HAVE TDCJ CONTACT US FOR A PRISONER WHO HAS MENTAL ILLNESS AND IS STILL A DANGER TO HIM OR HERSELF, AND WE ENSURE THAT THAT PERSON IS NOT RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO SUPPORT THE DA'S OFFICE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IDD OR HAVE BEEN FOUND INCOMPETENT. WE FILE FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

AND TO JUST TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT, ALL OF THAT IS HANDLED BY ONE LAWYER AND ONE LEGAL ASSISTANT. AND THAT PERSON CAN SOMETIMES NOT EVEN TAKE A LUNCH BREAK.

SHE HAS THE STRAIN OF WORKING WITH A VERY TIME SENSITIVE PRACTICE.

AND THIS IS A NICHE PRACTICE AREA.

I CAN'T JUST THROW IN A CPS ATTORNEY.

I CAN'T HAVE A LAWYER THAT'S ASSIGNED TO SOME OF THOSE AWESOME MOBILITY PROJECTS TO FILE A MENTAL HEALTH CASE, AND THIS POSITION NEEDS TO BE FUNDED NOT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MY OFFICE, BUT FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A DIRECT SERVICE LINE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

AND I KNOW EVERYONE LIKES TO SUPPORT THE THOUGHT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND WANT TO DO THE PICTURES WHERE THE GREEN RIBBON.

BUT MY OFFICE IS OFTEN LOOKED OVER, NOT EVEN NOTICED.

AND WE ARE THE DIRECT SERVICE LINE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CRISIS.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT I'VE SUBMITTED THIS REQUEST.

THE NEED IS STILL THERE.

THE PRACTICE IS STILL THERE.

I HAVE KATRINA HERE, SITTING OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.

FOR ANYONE WHO HAS QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT HER DAY LOOKS LIKE, IN TERMS OF THE INTENSITY OF WALKING IN ON MONDAY MORNING AND HAVING ALL OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE TRACKED OVER THE WEEKEND, CONFRONTING HER AT THE DOOR AND HAVING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE WORK THROUGH HEARINGS.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE MATTER.

TIME SENSITIVE CASE. WHEN YOU FILE, WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO FILE NOTICES WITH THE COURT APPEAR, INTERACT WITH AD LITEMS, AND THEN FURTHER PROCESS THOSE CASES.

BUT I JUST WANT TO URGE THIS REQUEST.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR ONE ADDITIONAL LAWYER TO SUPPORT ALLOWING KATRINA TO MOVE INTO A CHIEF STATUS TO SUPERVISE AND TRAIN THAT NEW LAWYER, AS WELL AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT TO FUND THAT.

EXCUSE ME, TO HELP PROCESS THOSE PAPERS THAT ARE, AGAIN, LEGAL PLEADINGS.

SO OUR OFFICE DOES MANY THINGS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS TO HELP PEOPLE IN FORT BEND COUNTY FROM ALL PRECINCTS, ALL BACKGROUNDS ACROSS THIS COUNTY.

SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

AND I THINK THE BACKUP IS PROVIDED.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH FUNDING FOR FOR THINGS IN A GOVERNMENTAL SETTING.

THIS IS LIKE MY 22ND YEAR BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT WORKING IN A GOVERNMENTAL SEGMENT.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME THINGS ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE SHOULD BE GIVING THOSE PRIORITY.

MISS SMITH LAWSON JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS IS IT.

THIS IS FOR THREE FTES, RIGHT? A CHIEF, A DIVISION, AN ATTORNEY AND ADMIN.

YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM.

DID I HEAR YOU CORRECT THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE WAS A RECLASSIFICATION? YES. OKAY. AND JUST SO I HAVE MY NUMBER.

SORRY. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I, I, I HAVE THREE FULL FTES.

SO THEN YOU WOULD HAVE IF ALL THREE OF THESE WERE APPROVED, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A CHIEF, TWO ATTORNEYS AND AN ADMIN.

TWO? MAYBE THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR LUMP LUMPED INTO THAT.

SO YES, BECAUSE I HAVE CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION, CIVIL ATTORNEY, MENTAL HEALTH AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT THEN I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT A RECLASSIFICATION FOR MISS KATRINA.

YES, BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE THE CHIEF.

OH. SO CHIEF IS A LAWYER.

THE CHIEF. RIGHT? NO. UNDERSTOOD.

SO I'M JUST. I'M ASKING A QUESTION.

SO. SO YOU ASKED FOR THREE NEW FTES.

ONE WOULDN'T BE A RECLASSIFICATION.

IT WOULD BE A PROMOTION BECAUSE SHE WOULD BE MOVED INTO ONE OF THESE POSITIONS AND THEN FREE UP HER CURRENT POSITION TO BE FILLED BY ANOTHER PERSON.

YES. A LAWYER THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HIRE WITH THIS SPECIALTY AREA.

OKAY. AND YOU SAID RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE ONE LAWYER DOING ROUGHLY 1500 MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS. YES. AND SHE'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

WOW. WHAT'S THE AVERAGE?

[02:50:01]

THEY HAVE STANDALONE COURTS DESIGNATED FOR MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEY HAVE WAY MORE THAN ONE LAWYER AND ONE LEGAL ASSISTANT.

THAT WOULD BE I BELIEVE HER NAME IS CECILIA LONGORIA.

SHE'S THE CHIEF IN HARRIS COUNTY.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT OUR NUMBERS WOULD NOT BE DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO HARRIS COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURE BASED JUST ALSO ON OUR POPULATION.

BUT I CAN JUST TELL YOU WHAT OUR NUMBERS STATE FOR FORT BEND COUNTY.

AND AGAIN, THAT 1500 AS OF LAST YEAR DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE OTHER ANCILLARY SUPPORTS THAT I'VE LISTED SUCH AS THE FOR PSYCHOACTIVE MEDICATION CASES, THE TDCJ CASES, THE ID FILINGS AND THE SUPPORTS THAT WE GIVE FOR DEFENDANTS WHO NEED TO HAVE FORCED MEDICATION CASES BECAUSE THEY'RE AWAITING TRIAL.

OKAY. AND ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IF WE DO ADD ATTORNEYS TO YOU THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD SOME CLERKS INTO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LIKE, WHAT THE RATIO IS, BUT I. THERE WOULD BE NO WAY WE COULD HANDLE THE VOLUME WITH THE CURRENT CLERKS THAT I HAVE, WHICH I TAKE FROM MY CIVIL DIVISION.

I DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENT CLERKS.

AND AS MISS SMITH LAWSON STATED, THE THE PAPERWORK ON THIS IS VERY TIME SENSITIVE. SO AND I HAD MADE PAMELA AWARE THAT EVERYTHING FLOWS DOWNSTREAM TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE. SO I HAD MADE HER AWARE THAT IF THERE WERE ANY INCREASE ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S SIDE, I WOULD ALSO NEED AN INCREASE.

AND I CAN, IF THAT'S A CONSIDERATION, I CAN COME BACK AND PROPOSE TO.

RIGHT. AND I FORGOT TO ADD IT HERE.

I JUST IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME I'M LIKE, OH YEAH, I FORGOT TO ADD THE COUNTY CLERK ON HERE, BUT THAT SO THE COUNTY CLERK'S AMOUNT IS NOT ON HERE. AND I THINK YOU HAD PUT TWO I'D PUT TWO, I BELIEVE. YES, I'LL CONFIRM THAT.

BUT WHAT'S WHAT'S DONE RIGHT NOW? SO WHAT DOES WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW WITH THE ONE ATTORNEY IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE? HOW HOW WAS IT HANDLED NOW? IS IT JUST YOU PULL SOMEBODY OR PULL FROM FROM FROM MY FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.

I PULL FROM MY CIVIL DIVISION TO HANDLE THOSE.

AND IT IS CONSIDERED A PRIORITY BECAUSE OF THE TIME SENSITIVITY OF PROCESSING THOSE.

SO THEY'RE NOT WORKING ON A CIVIL CASE.

THEY'RE THEN PULLED TO WORK ON A MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENT.

SO LET ME ASK THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS NOW.

SO THE DEAL MAKING QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. SO WOULD A ADDITIONAL FTE, THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? AND IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

OKAY. I GUESS THAT MEANS THAT IF THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE ATTORNEY, THEN THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE MORE MORE PROCESSES, YOU KNOW, COMING DOWN TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

SO I'M SAYING, IS THIS A MIDDLE GROUND? OKAY.

I MEAN, SO ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

AND EACH CLERK IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS 68,000, APPROXIMATELY $68,000.

IS THAT IS THAT A POSITION? THAT'D BE HARD TO FEEL.

IS THERE SOME SPECIAL TRAINING OR.

I'M TALKING ABOUT ON THE COUNTY CLERK SIDE? OH NO, NO, I COULD EASILY FILL THAT.

AND JUST TO KIND OF GIVE A SNAPSHOT, THERE ARE SOME TIMES WHERE MY INVESTIGATORS ARE WAITING TO GET PAPERWORK PROCESSED FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND THAT'S THAT'S A DELAY IN SERVICE DELIVERY TO A PERSON WHO'S IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, NOT BECAUSE HER OFFICE IS NOT WORKING HARD.

THEY'RE MOVING AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

SO TO GIVE HER AN ADDITIONAL CLERK HELPS TO MOVE THE SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT MUCH FASTER.

SO INSTEAD OF AN INVESTIGATOR WAITING FOR AN HOUR OR SO OR HOWEVER LONG TO GET WHAT THEY NEED TO GO SERVE A PATIENT IN AT VOYAGE'S HOSPITAL FOR AN EXAMPLE, IT CAN MOVE THAT MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY SO THAT AGAIN, WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THE ORIGINAL QUESTION I ASKED.

AND THANKS FOR THIS ADDITIONAL CONTEXT HERE TOO, FOR THE IMPACT ON THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

THAT'S, I THINK, AN IMPORTANT ONE TO CONSIDER. ONE, WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN OTHER COUNTIES IN TERMS OF CASELOAD? I WOULD EVEN BE INTERESTED TO KNOW TO OUR NEXT CLOSEST PARTNER IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHAT THEIR AVERAGE CASELOAD LOOKS LIKE FOR COMPARISON.

[02:55:03]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF TYPICAL ATTORNEY CASELOAD, BUT THEN ALSO, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TIME CURRENTLY BEING SPENT ON THESE COMMITMENTS VERSUS IN THE IDEAL WORLD, WHAT SHOULD THAT AVERAGE TIME BE FOR AN ATTORNEY? THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW FOR THE DECISION MAKING ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE IT SEEMS HEFTY.

I'VE HEARD MULTIPLE STEPS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED HERE, BUT I HAVE NO CONCEPT OF WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE GREATER SCOPE OF MENTAL HEALTH WORK.

OKAY, I CAN I CAN DO A CROSS COMPARISON TO OTHER COUNTIES WITH COMPARABLE SIZE.

BUT AGAIN, OUR CLOSEST COUNTY, HARRIS COUNTY, THEY HAVE A WHOLE DIVISION SET UP AND THEY'RE ABOUT LIKE FOUR LAWYERS IN THAT DIVISION WITH STAFF, WITH INVESTIGATORS.

AND OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER.

COURTS ARE THERE. THEY'RE PROCESSING THESE CASES.

SO THAT MODEL WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD USE TO CROSS COMPARE FOR FORT BEND.

I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT COLLIN COUNTY, MAYBE TARRANT AND LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE STRUCTURED. BUT UNDERSTANDING TO 254 COUNTIES, EVERY COUNTY IS DIFFERENT.

THE BAR IS DIFFERENT. THE JUDGES ARE DIFFERENT.

WE COULD LOOK AT IT AS IT RELATES TO NUMBERS AND CASELOAD, BUT THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE SOME PRACTICE.

DISTINCTIONS ARE PER COUNTY THAT MAY NOT TRANSLATE FOR US.

IF THERE'S QUESTIONS FOR KATRINA, SHE IS HERE.

SHE CAN TELL YOU WHAT A TYPICAL DAY LOOKS LIKE FOR HER.

FROM HER PERSPECTIVE, NOT JUST ME AS HER MANAGER.

BUT SHE CAN SPEAK TO HERSELF AS TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF CASE FILINGS, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH HER DIRECTLY RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU WANT TO COME IN AND SHARE SOME OF THAT AND IF YOU KNOW OF ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES AND OTHER AREAS DO, I THINK I HEARD SOMETHING HERE, TOO, ABOUT THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR COURT SET.

SET UP WITH OUR SPECIALTY COURTS AS WELL.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ADDS ANY COMPLEXITY TO THIS AS WELL.

BUT IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE AND IT DOES, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE TAKE CASES OR NOT ONLY DO DOES THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW HEAR THE CASES WE HAVE FROM THE CIVILIANS, BUT WE ALSO GET CASES FROM THE DISTRICT COURTS, FROM THE CRIMINAL COURTS.

WE ALSO TRY THOSE CASES THAT NEED CIVIL COMMITMENTS.

DONE. BUT AS FAR AS OTHER COUNTIES, WHILE I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS, I KNOW THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A DIVISION THAT HANDLES CIVIL COMMITMENTS FOR WITH ONLY ONE ATTORNEY. THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAN ONE ATTORNEY TO HANDLE THESE CASES BECAUSE IT IT IS A LOT. IT IS TIME SENSITIVE AND IT TOUCHES EVERY RACE, EVERY NATIONALITY. I MEAN, EVERY PERSON, PROBABLY EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE DEALT WITH SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

SO IT IMPACTS EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTY.

AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, BURDETT KEEPS COMING BACK BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY. IT IS NEEDED.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M RUSHING OFF BECAUSE I DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR TODAY.

I DO NEED TO REVIEW THE CASES FOR TODAY.

I DO NEED TO GET THEM TO THE TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO GET THESE PEOPLE HELP.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE SICK? WHEN I'M SICK? IS THERE ANOTHER LAWYER THAT SERVES AS YOUR BACKUP CURRENTLY? WELL, ACTUALLY, THE CHIEF OF LITIGATION, WHO IS NOW MY BOSS, KEVIN HEDGES, WOULD REVIEW THOSE CASES.

GOT IT. YES. AS A SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND COMPROMISE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AS OPPOSED TO THREE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN THIS DIVISION.

IS THERE A WORLD IN WHICH THERE ARE TWO LAWYERS AND NOT, YOU KNOW, DOING THE CHIEF LAWYER AND ADMIN ASSISTANT TO START HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION? WE WILL TAKE WHATEVER YOU ALL CAN GET, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO WALK OUT OF HERE WITH A NO AGAIN FOR NOTHING TOWARDS THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS.

WE DEFINITELY WE HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER LAWYER.

I CAN MAYBE SWAP OUT A LEGAL ASSISTANT TO DRAFT PLEADINGS.

BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PARALEGAL, GOOD LEGAL ASSISTANT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO KIND OF CROSS AND CHANGE CAUSE NUMBERS, CAPTIONS, HEADINGS, ALL OF THAT.

BUT A LAWYER SPECIFIC TO THIS PRACTICE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

PROBATE CODE ALSO PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL.

CRIMINAL CODE OF PROCEDURE AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH AND FORCED PSYCHOACTIVE

[03:00:06]

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND.

YES. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT.

THE NEXT IS THE DISTRICT CLERK WHO'S REQUESTING PASSPORT CLERKS AND AN ADDITIONAL DEPUTY DISTRICT CLERK.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I AM BEVERLEY MCGREW WALKER, YOUR FORT BEND COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS FINAL HEARING ABOUT WHAT I NEED TO GET MY JOB DONE MOST EFFICIENTLY. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MISS PAM GUBBELS FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US. SHE DID GIVE US SOME CONCESSIONS IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE JUST FEEL THAT WE NEED MORE.

SHE GAVE US TWO RECOMMENDED, TWO IN HER FINAL BUDGET FOR US.

BUT WE BELIEVE WE NEED MORE CLERKS THAN THAT.

I THINK THE THINKING WAS, IF WE.

SINCE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, THAT IF THOSE JUDGES WERE NOT BROUGHT BACK, THAT WE COULD TAKE THE CLERKS FROM THOSE COURTS AND RECYCLE THEM AND USE THEM IN ANOTHER COURT.

SO SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINALITY OF THAT'S GOING TO BE, I'M GOING TO PRETEND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE WITH US.

AND SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TWO CLERKS IN THE 501 AND TWO CLERKS IN THE 502ND SECOND, AND PRESENTLY, WHAT THE BUDGET OFFICE HAS GIVEN US IS TWO CLERKS TOTAL.

WHERE I'M ASKING FOR FOUR CLERKS.

WHY IS THAT? WE ALREADY ROTATE CLERKS.

WHY? BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE SICK.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF MY CLERKS IS ABOUT 35 YEARS OLD.

AND SO THESE ARE STILL MOSTLY CHILDBEARING WOMEN WHO SOMETIMES HAVE TO BE OFF BECAUSE THE BABY IS SICK OR THEY'RE SICK.

SO WE HAVE THIS PRACTICE OF ROTATING CLERKS SO THAT THEY WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE COURTS AND CAN GO TO ANY, ANY COURT.

SO I'M ASKING FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE.

SHE GAVE US TWO, BUT WE NEED TWO.

IF, IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND GET TWO NEW COURTS.

ALSO, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER GIVING ME THAT RESEARCH CLERK THAT I ASKED FOR.

I THINK I GAVE YOU BACKUP THAT SHOWED WE HAVE CASES FOR WHICH MONEY EXISTS AND IS OWED TO THE COUNTY THAT WE'VE RESEARCHED, THAT GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2015.

AND THAT'S NOT ALL. THEY GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1990S, BUT THAT'S JUST AS FAR AS WE'VE DONE THE RESEARCH AND MADE SURE THAT THESE FUNDS ARE OWED TO FORT BEND COUNTY.

SO LAST TIME I SPOKE, I GAVE YOU A SHEET SHOWING THAT UP TO 2015, $2.5 MILLION IS OWED TO THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THESE OLD CASES AND PREPARE THEM TO SEND TO THE COLLECTORS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO PLAY AROUND WITH 2.5 MILLION JUST BACK TO 2015, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1990S, THEN DON'T GIVE ME A RESEARCH CLERK.

I WON'T BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

ALSO, THE THIRD THING WE DID ASK FOR PASSPORT CLERKS.

AS I TOLD YOU LAST TIME, IT WOULD BE $364,475, $5 TO BRING ON FIVE NEW PASSPORT CLERKS THAT WOULD BE THEIR ANNUAL SALARY, ALONG WITH THEIR FRINGE BENEFITS AND OFFICE MATERIALS.

WE NEED THOSE CLERKS. THE PASSPORT OFFICE BRINGS IN ABOUT $1.2 MILLION A YEAR.

WE HAVE GIVEN YOU. I THINK MY ASSISTANT PASSED OUT A PAPER TO YOU SHOWING YOU THAT JUST THE FUNDS THAT WE COLLECT FROM PASSPORTS ALONE WOULD PAY FOR FOR THESE FIVE PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS A SERVICE THAT IS VALUABLE.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, COME OVER TO MY OFFICE ANY DAY AND YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO GET A PASSPORT.

SO I WOULD BESEECH YOU, PLEASE, TO RECONSIDER GIVING US MORE PASSPORT CLERKS. YOU'VE GIVEN US A NEW OFFICE THAT WE CAN'T FEEL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE BODIES TO GO INTO THOSE OFFICES IN BOTH SIENA AND HERE AT THE JUSTICE CENTER.

AND THEN MY LAST REQUEST, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME OR IF IT'S ANOTHER ITEM DOWN THE LIST, BUT WE NEED NEW JURY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

WE HAVE ASKED FOR IT IN THE PAST.

I THINK IT'S IN THE IT BUDGET, SO I MAY BE STEPPING FORWARD BEFORE IT DOES, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IT.

[03:05:02]

IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND A SECURITY ISSUE.

AND SO I WISH WE COULD ADDRESS IT AND NOT PUT IT OFF UNTIL THE FUTURE.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT TAKES 8 TO 9 MONTHS TO GO OUT FOR AN RFP FOR THIS.

AND SO IF WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING IN THIS CYCLE, WE CAN'T GO OUT FOR THE RFP, I'M TOLD.

AND SO IT COULD BE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE WE COULD GET THE SOFTWARE THAT WE NEEDED.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR.

ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE A FEW.

FIRST IS TO MISS GOEBBELS FOR THE MONEY THAT THE REVENUE THAT COMES IN FROM THE PASSPORT OFFICE. WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO TO? DOES IT JUST GO TO GENERAL FUND OR OUR FUND BALANCE OR WHAT HAVE YOU? IT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND IN UNDER HER OFFICE.

SO IT IS EARMARKED UNDER THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

YES. RIGHT NOW. OKAY. BECAUSE I HEAR THE POINT ABOUT WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO PROCESS PASSPORTS AND WE, THEY WOULD BRING IN REVENUE TO COVER THEIR SALARIES. THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, RIGHT? THEY WOULD. AND I THINK SHE PASSED THIS OUT TO YOU. YEAH.

IT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY THE BREAKDOWN.

IF WE WERE TO GET SIX NEW AGENTS HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST ALONG WITH THEIR SUPPLIES? AND EVEN IF WE ADDED SUPERVISORS IN THERE, IT WOULD BE $1,061,147.

AND WE DO ABOUT $1.2 MILLION A YEAR.

SO IS THIS WHAT YOU EXPECT TO BE NET TOTAL PROFIT WITH THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES? YOU MEAN THE 1.2 MILLION? YEAH. SO WHAT I'M SEEING ON HERE IS WITH THE PROJECT.

WHAT IS YOUR PROJECTED INCOME WITH THE CURRENT AND NEW POSITIONS REQUESTED? YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 15% INCREASE IN REVENUE, RIGHT? WE'RE ALREADY AT 842,000 THIS YEAR.

AND THIS IS ONLY JULY, THE END OF JULY.

SO WE STILL HAVE SIX MORE MONTHS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.

SO EVEN IF WE DOUBLE THAT OR DIDN'T DOUBLE IT.

WHAT, 1.6 MILLION? IF WE DOUBLED.

OKAY, OUT OF CURIOSITY, JUST A RANDOM QUESTION.

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THIS DATA, SO I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF ON THE SPOT. DO WE SEE OUR NUMBERS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR INCREASING IN PASSPORT REQUESTS? AND I'M JUST ASKING IN GENERAL, IF WE'RE ALREADY AT EIGHT, $22,000, AND IT'S JUST JULY AND WE'VE BEEN MAKING 1.2 MILLION EVERY 12 MONTHS.

THEN WE MUST BE AHEAD, RIGHT? JUST JUST BY JUST JUST BY SHEER CALCULATION.

NO, I GOT YOU. BUT WE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT THE RATE DROPS AFTER THE SUMMER BECAUSE, OF COURSE, PEOPLE REQUEST PASSPORTS PRIOR TO THE SUMMER, BUT I'M JUST ASKING.

MY ONLY REASON. JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHY I'M ASKING IS I DON'T KNOW WHAT HOW INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY AND ALL THAT.

SO THAT'S JUST A RANDOM OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS IS IN AUGUST, WE'LL SEE A REALLY BIG INCREASE.

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO GET THE PASSPORT BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL. SO THEY THEY WON'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT OF SCHOOL WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.

YES. THAT'S FAIR. SO WE'LL SEE A BIG INCREASE.

OKAY. AND THEN MY OTHER ONE IS ON THE JURY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

I HAD JURY DUTY RECENTLY, AND I THINK THAT MORNING, JUST THE MORNING SESSIONS.

1500 PEOPLE HAD BEEN CALLED FOR WHAT ENDED UP BEING ONE, ONE CASE THAT ACTUALLY WENT TO TRIAL THAT MORNING.

AND SO WITH THIS, ARE YOU WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY, WHAT I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY IS THAT OUR SOFTWARE DOESN'T ALLOW US THE FLEXIBILITY TO CANCEL. YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON FOR THAT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS COURTS WILL SAY THEY'RE GOING.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUTION GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO PLEAD OUT RIGHT ON UP TO THE MINUTE OR TO SETTLE. AND SO AT THAT POINT, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO NOTIFY PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING HERE. THEY'RE ALREADY HERE BECAUSE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING UPSTAIRS IN THE COURTROOM WHERE THE CASE IS DISPOSED.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S ALSO A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.

OKAY. YEAH. THAT I THINK IS A BIG, BIG POINT.

AND IF THE SOFTWARE WILL INCREASE YOUR EFFICIENCY WITH THAT BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYBODY WHO COMES GETS $20 JUST FOR SHOWING UP IF THEY SIGN IN, THEY GET $20 THE FIRST DAY.

THAT COULD BE PERHAPS MAJOR COST SAVINGS.

IF WE HAD A SYSTEM FOR YOU THAT ALLOWED YOU TO SEND NOTICE NOTICES.

SO PEOPLE WEREN'T SHOWING UP AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THAT $20. SO FAIR POINT.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MA'AM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND JUST FYI THERE ARE TWO CLERKS FOR EACH COURT.

AND LATER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK DISTRICT

[03:10:06]

AND I'M CURIOUS, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THE PRESENTATION ON OUR COURTS WHEN THERE ARE CIVIL MATTERS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS, THOSE STILL GO THROUGH THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. OR DO THEY GO THROUGH COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE FOR. SAY AGAIN THEY GO SOME.

YEAH THEY GO THROUGH BOTH.

SO I'M HEARING ABOUT INCREASES WITH COURTS IN DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

BUT I DIDN'T HEAR THAT SAME POINT ABOUT OUR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AS WELL.

HAS ANY CONSIDERATION BEEN GIVEN TO THAT, OR AM I CONFLATING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT WERE MENTIONED THAT ONLY HANDLE CIVIL MATTERS IN OUR DISTRICT COURTS, WITH SOME OF OUR AJS? AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD, BUT WELL, SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS ARE DESIGNATED TO.

IF THEY'RE HANDLING FELONY MATTERS THAT MAYBE ARE TRACKING FOR A DRUG COURT OR A I'D SAY A FAMILY COURT, VICTIMS COURT.

SO THOSE THINGS WOULD TRACK ON WHETHER IT'S A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR.

LARA AND HER TEAM WOULD HANDLE ALL OF THE MISDEMEANOR CASES.

AND, OF COURSE BEVERLY, MY MY HONORABLE LAURA RICHARDSON, HONORABLE BEVERLEY WALKER WOULD HANDLE ALL OF THE FELONY MATTERS WHICH WOULD TRACK WITH THE DISTRICT COURT. SO WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING CASE TO DISTINGUISH WHICH CLERK IT WOULD FLOW TO.

GOT IT. OKAY. THAT WAS JUST A POINT OF CURIOSITY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, AND I WILL BRING UP ONE ADDITIONAL POINT ABOUT THIS JURY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

THAT DAY THAT I REPORTED, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION HOW PACKED OUR PARKING GARAGE IS DURING COURT OR WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUMMONS TO APPEAR AS JURORS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BROUGHT TO ME AS AN ISSUE, SOMETHING THAT I KNOW FACILITIES IS MONITORING.

BUT WE ARE IF WE CONTINUE WITH CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS, THAT INCREASES THE NEED FOR PARKING IN THE JUSTICE CENTER COMPLEX, WHICH IS ALREADY MAXED OUT.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO COMMISSIONER THE TOP FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE.

UNLESS THEY'VE CHANGED IT IN THE LAST DAY OR SO, IS NEW CARS THAT BELONG TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND SO THEY CAN'T PARK ON THE TOP FLOOR EITHER.

AND SO THAT MAKES EVEN A BIGGER PROBLEM.

IF WE COULD FIND SOMEWHERE TO PARK THOSE CARS, IT WOULD FREE UP SOME SPACE.

YEAH, NO, I AGREE, I THINK I DROVE UP THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO AND IT WAS LIKE 72 CARS UP THERE. IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IT'S ALL OF OUR VEHICLES THAT COME FOR CONSTABLES AND ROAD AND BRIDGE AND ENGINEERING TOO. BUT IT IS A VERY FAIR POINT.

MUCH OF THAT TOP FLOOR IS FILLED WITH THOSE VEHICLES.

OKAY. AND I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT WITH FACILITIES AND ROAD AND BRIDGE TO EXPAND THE AREA THAT THEY HAVE TO STORE VEHICLES OVER THERE AT VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.

ONCE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MOVES INTO THEIR NEW TRAINING FACILITY, TOO.

BUT IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD POINT.

YES. YEAH, WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ARE ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION.

AND WITH THAT I THINK WE COULD TAKE A LUNCH BREAK HERE.

DO YOU WANT TO OR DO YOU WANT TO TAKE HOMELAND SECURITY? JUST SO WE FINISH THIS SLIDE.

IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO THE COURT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PREFERENCE AT ALL.

HEY, GREG IS HERE. GREG, PLEASE.

HOMELAND SECURITY, JUST SO WE CAN FINISH THIS SLIDE. BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE ANAL LIKE THAT.

OKAY, WE CAN ALL STARVE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

SO HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

I DON'T THINK HE'LL BE LONG.

MAYBE. YOU DO REALIZE YOU'RE BETWEEN US AND LUNCH, RIGHT? YEAH, YES I DO.

COMMISSIONER. RESPECTFULLY, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO SPEAK ON THE THE BUDGET.

I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO COME TODAY BECAUSE THERE WAS LIKE I SPOKE WHEN I FIRST CAME IN FOR OUR BUDGET HEARINGS. I SPOKE ABOUT GRANTS AND WHERE WE ARE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND ALL THE CUTS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING UP UNTIL FRIDAY EVENING AT 5 P.M..

WE STILL HADN'T HAD OUR UASI GRANT THAT WAS CUT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026, WHICH WOULD IMPACT EIGHT EMPLOYEES.

EIGHT OF THOSE EMPLOYEES, OR 6 OR 7 OF THOSE EMPLOYEES, ARE WITHIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND ONE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO THAT WAS GOING TO REDUCE MY STAFF ALMOST IN HALF TO NOT BE ABLE TO RUN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS. YEAH. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EIGHT MEMBERS OR EIGHT STAFF, IF YOU HAVE 100 PEOPLE OUT OF ONE.

WELL, OUT OF 15 PEOPLE IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, MORE THAN 50%. YES, SIR.

OKAY. SO THAT WOULD HAVE CUT OUR STAFF AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AT THE FUNCTIONALITY THAT IS REQUESTED AND MANDATED BY THE COUNTY AND AT THE STATE

[03:15:05]

SO I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO COME HERE TODAY AND BEG, BORROW AND PLEAD TO GIVE US THAT FUNDING SO THAT WE COULD MAINTAIN OPERATIONS AT THE EOC.

AS OF 5:00 ON FRIDAY, THEY FINALLY CUT THE BUDGET.

WE GOT OUR FULL BUDGET SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN, ALL POSITIONS UNDERNEATH THAT GRANT FOR CALENDAR YEAR.

2026 FOR NOW. YES, SIR.

THAT'LL STILL BE UP TO SUBJECT FOR CALENDAR 27 AND SO ON, BECAUSE WE'LL STILL KEEP FIGHTING. MY QUESTION IS, WHICH ITEM IS GOING TO BE REMOVED FROM HERE BECAUSE OF THAT? YES, SIR. WHICH ITEM? THERE ARE THREE OF THEM.

ALL OF THE THREE. YOU GOT ALL OF THE GRANTS? I GOT I GOT THE FULL GRANT.

HE GOT THE FULL GRANT.

SO ALL OF THAT IS OFF THE TABLE.

THAT'S A GOOD. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS FOR THIS YEAR.

FOR THIS YEAR. SO YEAH.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO NOT HAVING TO DO THIS NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. THANK YOU. SO AT THIS TIME 1232 WE WILL RECESS FOR LUNCH.

COME BACK AT 132 AND LUNCH IN THE BACK.

IS THE MIC ON? OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

THIS IS OUR TIME IS NOW 132 WE ARE COMING BACK FROM RECESS.

AND PAMELA, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WITH THE BUDGET HEARING.

THE NEXT DEPARTMENT IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIG GRANT.

JUDGE, IF I MAY, BEFORE THE FIRST SPEAKER COMES UP, WE DO HAVE FIVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, AND I DON'T KNOW IN WHAT ORDER YOU WANT TO TAKE THOSE. OKAY. SO WE WILL TAKE THEM FIRST.

LET'S FINISH. WELL, I THINK THERE WERE FOUR.

ITEM FIVE 817. YEAH. WITH THE TAX OFFICE.

OKAY. SO CALLED THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO COME UP AND SPEAK.

AND SO LET'S FINISH WITH THAT AND THEN WE WILL CALL.

THE FIRST ONE IS MIKE COLE.

AGENDA ITEM 5A17. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

I'M MIKE COLE. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FORT BEND COUNTY AND TAXES SINCE 1990.

WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS AS FAR AS WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT HAVING ENOUGH PEOPLE WORKING THERE.

I GOOGLED OUR TAX CORMONS.

HER WEBSITE, OUR FORT BEND COUNTY.

YOU LOOK AT ALL THE NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE COUNTY, AND ALL THEY'RE SHOWING IS PICTURES OF HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THEIR OWN PERSONAL STUFF DONE FROM TRANSFERRING IT TO FLORIDA TO TEXAS.

WE NEED MORE EMPLOYEES.

I'M A DEALER IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

I HAVE A POWER SPORT WITH THE NEW TAX OR TAGS THAT THEY SENT US.

THEY SENT US ALL AUTOMOBILE TAGS FROM AUSTIN.

NOT ONE POWERSPORTS. NOT FOR A SCOOTER, NOT FOR ANYTHING TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH POWER SPORTS. I'VE GOT ALL THE AUTO DEALERS TAGS SITTING IN MY STORE RIGHT NOW AND I CAN'T TAG A THING. WHAT DOES THAT COME FROM? COMMUNICATION. JUST LIKE APPLYING FOR A LICENSE IN TEXAS, IT TAKES FOREVER. AND THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU FROM A DEALER STANDPOINT AND WHAT WE GO THROUGH WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR, THEY'RE GOING TO RAISE OVER $2 BILLION THIS YEAR.

ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS TEN EMPLOYEES.

IF YOU'RE PAYING $3,000 A MONTH, THAT'S 30 GRAND PLUS BENEFITS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $50,000 A PERSON.

IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO EXPEDITE WHAT WE GOT GOING ON.

FORT BEND COUNTY IS THE LARGEST RIGHT NOW COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR GROWTH.

I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THAT OR NOT, BUT WE ARE ON 100 ACRES OF LAND HERE, AND I GOT PEOPLE BEGGING ME TO SELL MY PROPERTY ACROSS NEBRASKA STATE PARK.

BUT ALL THESE PEOPLE SITTING BEHIND ME, IT'S ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

IF I GET A BAD REPORT ON MY SALES OR ANY OF THESE DEALERS, THEN THEY GET A BAD REPORT.

EVERYBODY LOOKS AT GOOGLE REVIEWS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT BUSINESS YOU'RE IN AND SITTING HERE AND SHE'S A 3.9 BECAUSE SHE DON'T HAVE THE EMPLOYEES, SHE NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF HER BUSINESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD WARDNER.

ALSO ON 5A17. GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M HERE. MY NAME IS RICHARD WARNER.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF GILMAN NISSAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP.

WE'VE BEEN IN FORT BEND COUNTY SINCE THE EARLY 90S.

AND OUR TURNAROUND TIME IN THE COUNTY USED TO BE ABOUT THREE DAYS WITH THE LAW CHANGES AND GETTING ALL OF THE DEALERS ONTO WEB DEALER.

THE WAIT TIME IS GOING FROM THREE DAYS TO THREE WEEKS.

THAT'S AS MR. COLE SAID, A HUGE CUSTOMER SERVICE PROBLEM.

[03:20:04]

WE'RE HERE TO GET OUR FORT BEND CITIZENS AND CUSTOMERS THEIR PLATES IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THAT.

WHEN CUSTOMERS DON'T GET THEIR PLATES TIMELY, WHEN THERE'S ISSUES OF OF REJECTIONS, THEY'RE TAKING ANOTHER TWO WEEKS JUST TO GET REJECTIONS BACK UP. OVER THE COUNTER IS ABOUT A TWO WEEK TIME FRAME OF DELAYS TO GET STUFF DONE OVER THE COUNTER.

TO CALL IN JUST TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT THE TAX OFFICE TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 45 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS JUST TO TALK TO SOMEONE TO GET SERVICE FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.

SHE NEEDS MORE PEOPLE.

IF WITH THE LAW CHANGING AND EVERYTHING, ALL THE DEALERS ARE REQUIRED TO USE WEB DEALER. THE SHIFT. YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE WEB DEALER DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE THE, YOU KNOW, 400 PLUS DEALERS, AND SOME OF THEM AREN'T EVEN ON WEB DEALER YET THE VOLUME OF ACTIVITY.

AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE GIVE HER THE RESOURCES TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY. SINCE WE ARE PROBABLY YOUR LARGEST TAX COLLECTOR AN AVERAGE, YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY IF THEY'VE GOT FOR EVERY HUNDRED HUNDRED VEHICLES THAT ARE IN QUEUE IN WEB DEALER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT $200,000 OF TAX REVENUE JUST SITTING THERE WAITING TO BE APPROVED.

IF SHE'S GOT, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY HUNDRED.

SO YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU COULD EASILY HAVE $1 MILLION JUST SITTING THERE WAITING TO BE PROCESSED. BUT IT GOES BACK TO WE WANT TO PROVIDE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, JUST LIKE YOU GUYS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

REDUCE DMV COMPLAINTS.

WE DON'T GET OUR PLATES TIMELY.

WE HAVE TO HANDLE THE DMV COMPLAINTS AND ALSO TITLE PENALTIES THAT ARE ASSESSED, WHICH CAN BE A SUBSTANTIAL 5% AFTER 30 DAYS, 10% AFTER 60 DAYS IF TRANSACTIONS ARE NOT TITLED TIMELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN MARTINEZ, ALSO ON 5817.

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KAREN MARTINEZ.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE AGENDA.

517. I'D LIKE TO BRING THE ATTENTION TO THE ONGOING PROBLEMS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE TERRORIST AT THE. SORRY.

I WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND FORT BEND, BUT WE'RE IN FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY FOUR CLERKS FROM WHAT CARMEN ADDRESSED TO US THIS AFTERNOON, PROCESSING OVER 1500 TITLES PER WHICH WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, WHICH IS CREATING A SIGNIFICANT DELAY AND FRUSTRATION ON BOTH CUSTOMERS AND TITLE SERVICE COMPANIES LIKE MYSELF.

I URGE, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COURT TO CONSIDER IMMEDIATELY HIRING AND TRAINING ADDITIONAL STAFF AND STRATEGIC STRATEGIC EXCUSE ME AND PLACING KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM MEMBERS BEHIND THE WEB DEALER DEPARTMENT SIDE.

TRAINING THE NEW ONES AND HAVING THOSE BEHIND THE BEHIND THE COUNTERS.

THOSE WITH STRONG EXPERIENCE AND FAMILIAR WITH TITLE PROCESSING SYSTEM LIKE WEB DEALER, SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE BACK END OPERATION, WHERE THAT KNOWLEDGE CAN BE MOST IMPACTFUL.

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT, TURNAROUND TIME, REDUCING BURNOUT ON THE CURRENT STAFF, AND BETTER SERVING THE FORT BEND COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PAMELA CARRICO ON 5817.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE AND SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR.

YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE RUNNING, I WORK FOR A SMALL TO MIDSIZE RV DEALERSHIP, AND THE AVERAGE RV IS, YOU KNOW, 50, 75,000, SOMETIMES OVER 100,000, 120,000.

WE'RE BRINGING IN A LOT OF TAX REVENUE.

BUT WE BUT BUT AGAIN, THOSE SALES DEPEND ON GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AND GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WHAT'S GOING TO BRING IN MORE BUSINESS TO US AND KEEP OUR OUR BUSINESS HEALTHY, WHICH IS GOING TO KEEP THE REVENUE COMING TO YOU HEALTHY.

AND FOR PEOPLE FOR THOUSANDS OF WEB DEALER APPLICATIONS, IT IS JUST UNREASONABLE THAT IT'S AN UNREASONABLE WORKLOAD FOR THEM TO GET THROUGH. BUT THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. BUT THERE'S JUST NO WAY THEY CAN.

THEY CAN THEY CAN COVER ALL OF THAT ADEQUATELY.

[03:25:01]

SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING IT AND THINKING ABOUT IT.

I HOPE THAT YOU'LL REALLY GIVE IT A LOT OF THOUGHT BECAUSE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE ZIEGLER ON 5817.

HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS STEPHANIE ZIEGLER.

I WORK FOR GROUP ONE AUTOMOTIVE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE DEALERSHIPS IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

I CAN SAY AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME IN THE CAR BUSINESS.

WE HAVE A DUTY TO THE CONSUMER AS A DEALERSHIP.

IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, PROVIDE FOR THEM, ISSUE ISSUE PLATES, THE REGISTRATION, THE STICKERS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THAT'S WHAT DMV DEMANDS FROM US.

BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT. WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE TAX OFFICE TO SUPPORT US IN THAT MANNER.

WE CAN'T DO IT. WE NEED TO GET BEHIND MISS CARMEN TURNER'S TEAM IN THE STAFF.

WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.

I THINK EVERY DEALERSHIP HERE IS.

WE'RE ONLY ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TO SUPPORT US.

HELP US TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN FORT BEND COUNTY.

THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE OWE IT TO THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

THEY'RE PURCHASING PRODUCT VEHICLES FROM ALL OF ALL OF US.

BUT WE CAN'T SUPPORT THEM WITHOUT THE HELP OF MISS CARMEN TURNING HER STAFF DMV MADE A CHANGE JULY 1ST THAT EVERY DEALERSHIP IN TEXAS GO LIVE ON WEB DEALER.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE. IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

WE THE FIRST GENTLEMAN SAID WE HAVE PLATES WE CAN'T USE.

WE NEED THIS, WE NEED THAT.

IT'S. IT'S FALLING APART RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES.

SO WE'RE ASKING THAT FORT BEND COMES, COMES FORWARD AND HELP US SUPPORT US.

WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

AND JUST AS WELL AS YOU DO.

SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, LOOK AT THE PRODUCTION THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT AND SUPPORT US, SUPPORT HER, HER TEAM AND GET THE BOTTLENECK OPEN SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. OKAY. DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE.

OKAY. PAMELA, BACK TO YOU.

SO WE'LL GO TO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

DOCTOR GALLO.

GOOD AFTERNOON. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS COMING BEFORE YOU TO DISCUSS THE CONTINUATION OF TWO STAFF. WE KNOW THAT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE CITIZENS OF FORT BEND COUNTY.

WE DO THAT WELL. WE HAVE DONE THAT IN AN EXCELLENT MANNER UNDER PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNDER THIS LEADERSHIP.

A PART OF ESTABLISHING PROPER HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS TO ENSURE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE. WE SAW AND SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SIGNIFICANT FUNDS WERE FUNNELED INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN COVID 19 CAME ALONG, AND THE IDEA WAS TO ENSURE THAT WE COULD PUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WHEN, NOT IF, ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY COMES ALONG, WE ARE WELL EQUIPPED AT THE TIME.

WE WERE MINIMALLY EQUIPPED.

WE ARE DOING WELL. WE ARE ON OUR WAY.

THIS IS NOW A REQUEST TO CONTINUE TWO POSITIONS.

ONE IS OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIVISION MANAGER.

PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN PUBLIC HEALTH IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EVIDENCE BASED DATA IN ORDER TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING DECISIONS ON EMOTION CROWD SURGES, BUT WE ARE USING THE DATA THAT WE OBTAIN FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS OBTAINED BY ACADEMIA AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AN ACADEMIC, HEALTH HEALTH DEPARTMENT,

[03:30:03]

AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO QUERY AND SURVEY COMMUNITY IN A WIDE MANNER, THAT PROVIDES US GREAT DATA TO TELL US WHAT ARE THE AREAS THAT CITIZENS SAY, NOT THAT WE SAY, WHAT ARE THE AREAS THAT CITIZENS SAY WE NEED HELP WITH IN PUBLIC HEALTH, IN PARTICULAR, THE PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY INDICATED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WERE JUST VERIFIED BY COMMUNITY SURVEY, AND THAT IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND INFORMATION THAT IS CHRONIC DISEASE INFORMATION AWARENESS AND INFORMATION THAT IS PRENATAL HEALTH CARE, PRENATAL CARE, INFORMATION AND INCREASED ACCESS.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE ARE ASKING TO CONTINUE CONTINUE IN THE ROLE, BECAUSE THIS POSITION HELPS TO ORGANIZE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, CREATING PROGRAMING, ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, CONNECTING AND COLLABORATING THAT CITIZENS HAVE SAID THEY NEED THAT THEY DESIRE.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT POSITION AN INDIVIDUAL, AND IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING ABOUT THAT INDIVIDUAL.

BUT THIS ROLE BRINGS IN GRANT DOLLARS.

WE RECENTLY HAVE ACQUIRED A HEALTHY BRAIN INITIATIVE GRANT, WHICH ALLOWS US FUNDING TO EDUCATE PUBLIC ON DEMENTIA.

THERE'S ALSO OUR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR TRADE FAIRS, WHICH ALLOWS US TO STAND BEFORE HUNDREDS OF ELDERS FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.

AND WE STAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 40 OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS, IN THIS COUNTY TO STAND AS RESOURCES FOR SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE DO THIS BECAUSE OF THAT POSITION.

THIS POSITION IS FUNDED BY A GRANT.

AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS ALL ABOUT GETTING GRANTS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ALL OF THE BURDEN ON THE COUNTY DOLLAR.

WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO OBTAIN GRANTS TO GO OUT AND GET GRANTS.

GRANTS HAVE TERMINATION DATES, THOUGH, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THE WORK THAT HAS TO CONTINUE. THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS BROUGHT IN GRANT MONEY.

THIS ROLE TRAINS PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE COMING INTO PUBLIC HEALTH WHO SEE THIS AS THEIR PLACE, THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR MARK AS A PROFESSION.

THIS PARTICULAR ROLE WORKS WITH MANY OTHER INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS TO HELP IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE. THAT IS AN INTERNAL DEPARTMENT.

IT WORKS WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES AND AREAS THAT HELP US IN OUR FITNESS AREAS HERE IN THE COUNTY. SO THIS IS A VERY CRUCIAL POSITION.

AND AT THE END OF AT THE END OF NEXT SUMMER, ALL OF THE GRANT MONEY THAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.

AND THAT'S WHAT PAM ACTUALLY ALSO CALLED ME TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT. THE FIG, A PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT WAS GIVEN TO US.

WE ACCEPTED IT AS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, $2.5 MILLION THAT WE HAVE DONE WELL SPENDING.

BUT THAT GRANT, AGAIN HAS COME TO AN END.

WE HAVE NOT KEPT ALL OF ALL POSITIONS.

I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS THE COMMENT THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TRADE ONE FOR ONE.

WHEN A GRANT IS OVER, IF YOUR GRANT IS OVER, YOU'RE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY SLIDE OVER INTO COUNTY FUNDING.

THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHERE WE ARE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS GRANT AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THIS GRANT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF FORT BEND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE AND IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE IT MOVING FORWARD, IF NOT, WE LOSE A TOTAL OF TEN PEOPLE.

THEREFORE, WE WILL LOSE OUR ABILITY TO DO EPIDEMIOLOGIC WORK.

WE'LL LOSE OUR ABILITY TO DO THIS COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORK.

WE'LL LOSE OUR ABILITY TO EVEN DO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WORK.

WE'LL LOSE OUR ABILITY TO DO MENTAL HEALTH WORK.

THE THE IMPACTS WILL BE PROFOUND.

MY ASK. TODAY IS ONE POSITION.

IT'S NOT ALL TEN. MY ASK TODAY IS FOR ONE POSITION.

THE OTHER ASK THAT IS ON MY PARTICULAR TOPIC IS THE THE FIG GRANT COORDINATOR OR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO AN ITEM ON THERE THAT WAS FOR A SANITATION INDIVIDUAL.

[03:35:04]

SO WE ARE REALLY COMING JUST FOR ONE POSITION, AGAIN, WHO HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE WORK THAT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DOES IN THE COMMUNITY? ANY QUESTIONS? DOCTOR CAN YOU REFRESH MY MEMORY? WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT YOU SAID TWO POSITIONS.

THE FUNDING WAS GOING AWAY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER ONE? OH, THIS IS THE ONE THAT I WAS SHARING WITH MICHAEL. IT IS THE SANITATION.

IT'S UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SAVINGS IN THE DEPARTMENT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR ROLE IS IN BEING EFFICIENT.

AND MICHAEL WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON HOW WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE IN THAT PARTICULAR IN THAT PARTICULAR ONE.

SO REALLY THE ASK IS FOR THIS ONE POSITION, SIR.

HOLD ON FOR BEFORE HE COMES UP.

HOLD ON. SORRY. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL WHEN YOU SAY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO EPIDEMIOLOGICAL WORK. THAT'S A BIG WORD.

YEAH. I'M SORRY. THE PUBLIC LISTENING.

SURE. BREAK IT DOWN. WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT? SURE. THE PARTICULAR ROLES THAT THE EPIDEMIOLOGIST STAFF HAVE THAT ARE ON THIS PARTICULAR GRANT ARE FOR FACILITIES OUTBREAKS.

SO THAT IS FOR YOUR SCHOOLS.

THAT IS FOR YOUR NURSING HOMES.

THAT IS FOR JAILS. WE ARE NOW IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PARENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXEMPT, BE EXEMPT THEIR CHILDREN FROM VACCINES.

SO THAT MEANS WE ARE WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE AN INCREASE IN VACCINE PREVENTABLE ILLNESSES IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS INDIVIDUAL HELPS THE LOCAL HEALTH DIRECTORS OF THE ISDS TO GO IN AND ASSESS AND TO DETERMINE HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE TO WERE CONTACTED, DO CONTACT INVESTIGATIONS, GIVE GUIDANCE AND HELP TO DIRECT ISD HEALTH LEADERSHIP. SO THAT'S THAT IS THE CRITICAL NATURE OF THIS PARTICULAR POSITION AS A EPIDEMIOLOGIC FACILITIES PERSON.

SO SAY, FOR INSTANCE, THIS POSITION DOESN'T EXIST.

AND THE WE SEE AN OUTBREAK IN, AND PREVENTABLE DISEASES IN OUR SCHOOLS OR EVEN NURSING HOMES. WHO DOES THAT WORK THEN OF COORDINATING WE? WOULD YOU FILL IN THE GAP? YEAH, WE WOULD HAVE TO ATTEMPT.

WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY DO IS CALL UPON DSHS, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING LATELY.

BUT AS YOU GUYS HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, A LOT OF FUNDING HAS BEEN REMOVED.

SO THERE'S NOT HELP FROM DSHS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO NEEDING HELP FROM THE STATE FOR AN OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION, WE DON'T HAVE THE HELP THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE STATE, NOR FROM A FEDERAL SORT OF LEVEL.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADD YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE 2 OR 3 EPIDEMIOLOGISTS TO GO IN AND DO THIS ENTIRE INVESTIGATION WHILE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS ARE DOING EVERYTHING ELSE COLLECTING DATA, GETTING INFORMATION FROM WEBSITES TO GATHER INFORMATION OF WHERE ILLNESS AND DISEASES ARE, TRACKING THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE KNOW THE SCOPE AND THE LAY OF THE LAND WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASE HERE IN THE COUNTY.

SO YOU'RE PULLING FROM RESOURCES, YOU'RE PULLING AND PULLING AND PULLING, AND YOU'RE LEAVING OTHER PLACES OPEN.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE ALL OF THIS MONEY HAS GONE? WHY ARE WE NO LONGER RECEIVING THESE GRANTS? I THINK I DON'T KNOW. I WON'T TELL YOU WHY.

I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT. I KNOW FOR A FACT WHY IT'S GONE.

WELL, LET ME HELP YOU. WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ENDED A NUMBER OF GRANT PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

WE HAD OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, GREG BAPST, HERE TALKING ABOUT THE RISK OF THAT IN FUTURE YEARS.

WE'VE SEEN CUTS IN EDUCATION GRANT FUNDING.

AND I CAN TELL YOU WHERE THAT MONEY'S GONE.

IT'S GONE TO BILLIONAIRES AND MILLIONAIRES, FOLKS WHO ALREADY HAVE A CRAP TON OF MONEY TO GET EVEN MORE MONEY. MEANWHILE, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY SUFFER.

AND AS IF WE ARE BEGGING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY NOT OURS, THAT THOSE TAX DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVE BACK IN THE FORM OF GRANTS.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT EVERY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE GET.

THOSE DOLLARS ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS THAT WE PAY WHEN WE GET OUR WHEN OUR PAYCHECK,

[03:40:03]

THE MONEY THAT WE GET BACK IN THE FORM OF GRANTS FOR THROUGH FEMA.

THOSE ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS.

THE MONEY THAT WE GET BACK IN GRANTS FROM HHS.

THOSE ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS COMING BACK HERE TO HELP OUR PEOPLE TO REMAIN SAFE AND HEALTHY.

AND WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT'S NOT A PRIORITY.

GO FIGURE IT OUT. GO FIGURE IT OUT.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR YOU BY MAKING IT LESS SAFE FOR OUR KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR YOU BY MAKING IT LESS SAFE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY.

BUT YOU FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE WE WE KNOW THAT STATES CAN HANDLE IT.

WELL, YOU'VE JUST TOLD US STATES ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING THE FUNDING.

SO WHO THE HELL IS SUPPOSED TO HELP US OUT? SO I'M THIS UPSETS ME BECAUSE IT IT PUTS YOU IN AN IMPOSSIBLE PREDICAMENT.

IT PUTS OUR BUDGET OFFICER IN AN IMPOSSIBLE PREDICAMENT. IT PUTS ME AND MY COLLEAGUES IN AN IMPOSSIBLE PREDICAMENT, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE FINITE RESOURCES HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND YET WE STILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THIS SUPPORT AND HELP. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, YOU'RE LOSING YOUR JOB, WE'RE LOSING OUR JOB, AND WE'RE ALL SCREWED.

AND WHO DO WE HAVE TO THANK FOR THAT? SO THAT'S JUST MY $0.02 AND I'LL GET OFF OF THAT. BUT I DO AGREE WITH YOU THAT THESE ARE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE.

I KNOW MICHAEL IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE OTHER ONE.

CADEN'S GOING TO PASS OUT SOMETHING REAL QUICK.

OKAY, SO WHAT I'VE PASSED OUT IS A BREAKDOWN OF REVENUE VERSUS EXPENSES.

SO FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, YOU HAVE TO REALLY COMPARTMENTALIZE THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE REVENUE CAN'T BE USED ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT MUST BE SPECIFIC FOR WHAT AREAS IT'S BEING USED FOR.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE UNDER THE COLUMN OF FOOD, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A $133,000 SURPLUS.

AND THAT WOULD PAY FOR THIS POSITION.

OKAY, SO AS A REMINDER, WHEN I CAME TO FORT BEND COUNTY, WE HAD A REVENUE OF $1.9 MILLION.

AND SO I'VE CHANGED THE FUNDING MECHANISM AROUND THAT TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINABLE.

SO WE ARE NOW $2.15 MILLION THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN REVENUE TO TO MAKE THESE PROGRAMS SUSTAINABLE, WHICH IS ALLOWABLE. SO I'VE BEEN FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN DOING THAT.

SO IF WE DO NOT UTILIZE THESE FUNDS, THEN WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS REVIEW THE FEE SCHEDULE TO REDUCE THE REVENUE TO COME TO A BREAK EVEN POINT.

SO AND UNDERNEATH THOSE NUMBERS, I ALSO I PUT ON THE STATUTES THE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE REVENUE BROUGHT IN UNDER THE PROGRAM CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE PROGRAM, NOT FOR OTHER NON RELATED ACTIVITIES.

SO AGAIN, ALL THAT SAID, THE GRANT THAT THIS POSITION IS UNDER IS DOCTOR GAIL LOWE POINTED OUT RUNS OUT OF FUNDING IN AUGUST 2026.

AND I'M REQUESTING THAT WE MOVE THE POSITION TO GENERAL FUNDS, WHICH COSTS ARE COVERED AS I JUST DESCRIBED. SO I TRIED TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO SEE.

I GOT REVENUE THAT COMES IN FOR FOOD POOLS.

OSF AND I TAKE THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PARTICULAR PROGRAMS. AND THEN YOU SEE WHAT A SURPLUS OR DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MANAGE THROUGH THOSE. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK SPECIFICALLY FOR FOOD, WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO THE REVENUE FUNDS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR FOOD TO COVER THAT. AND AGAIN, IF NOT, THEY'LL HAVE TO REDO THE FEE SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE CANNOT MAKE A PROFIT.

SO THE HEALTH INSPECTOR $81,403 IS THE POSITION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. AND YOU'RE SHOWING THAT UNDER FOOD $113,026.21 IS REVENUE.

THAT'S THAT'S EARMARKED SOLELY FOR CERTAIN FUNCTIONS.

THE $81,000 SALARY CAN BE UTILIZED WITHOUT 133.

OKAY, I GOTCHA, I GOTCHA.

AND AND THAT REVENUE IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET.

SO THIS WOULD STILL REQUIRE US TO ADD 81,000 TO THE EXPENSE.

MRS. OKAY. SO THIS IS STATING IS THAT WE CAN ONLY USE THAT 113 FOR FOOD INSPECTIONS.

GOTCHA. SO, MICHAEL. SO IT'S A BALANCE OF I HAVE TO HAVE A BREAK EVEN POINT WHEN IT COMES TO THE REVENUE FUNDING. YEAH, THIS IS MY QUESTION.

SO THESE NUMBERS ADD UP LIKE 1.064 AND 181,000 FOR POOL AND 894, 95,000 FOR IS THAT THE COMBINED REVENUE YOU BRING IT TO THE COUNTY LIKE THAT TOP LINE ANNUAL BASIS? IS THAT AM I READING? YES. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP LINE WHERE IT SAYS REVENUE UNDER FOOD POOL AND OSF, THAT EQUALS THE $2.14 MILLION THAT WE BRING IN TO THE, TO THE CURRENTLY TO THE COUNTY NOW AUDITORS AND OFFICE.

AND I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON MORE INCREASED REVENUE.

[03:45:01]

NO, I GET IT. WHAT I'M TRYING TO THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THERE ARE CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY, THEY BRING REVENUE TO THE COUNTY.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR DEPARTMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE MARSHAL, WHEN IT COMES TO EMS. AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

I'M NOT SAYING DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT IS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE MAYBE GIVING YOU A LITTLE MORE RESOURCES CAN EVEN BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE COUNTY, SO THAT MAYBE PRETTY MUCH IT CAN BE A WASH.

MOST OF THE TIME, ALTHOUGH THESE STATE STATUTES REQUIRE THAT WE ARE, WE CANNOT SPEND THE REVENUES FOR THE FOOD ON ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SO LIKE HE CAN'T EVEN USE IT ON HIS POOL INSPECTORS.

HE HAS TO USE IT FOR THE FOOD.

AND THEN HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RIGHT NOW IF WE WERE TO NOT PUT IN THAT EXTRA HEALTH INSPECTOR, WE WOULD NOT.

WE WOULD. HIS FEE CHART IS THEN TOO HIGH.

HE'S CHARGING TOO MUCH. SO THAT'S MY QUESTION. IF WE LET'S SAY MICHAEL BROUGHT IN X NUMBER OF DOLLARS, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEND THAT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MONEY? WE GOT TO REDUCE THE FEES. YOU HAVE TO REDUCE THE FEES.

THE FEE. REDUCE THE FEES. OKAY, I GET IT.

YOU'RE NOT. YOU'RE NOT A MUNICIPALITY. SO THE MUNICIPALITY, WHEN THE FEES COME IN, THEY'RE NOT FORCED TO DO A WORK. YOU ARE IN A VERY GOOD SITUATION HERE.

WHAT'S THAT? YOU ARE IN A VERY GOOD SITUATION COMPARED TO MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

YEAH, OKAY. I'M JOKING, I'M JOKING.

BUT GO AHEAD. WHEN YOU PUT THAT IN, THE BUDGET IS SINCE IT IS RESTRICTED.

DID YOU RESTRICT IT? NO, I ACTUALLY ALL OF THESE REVENUES ARE TOGETHER AND I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS.

GOT IT. A LOT OF FOLKS A LOT OF COUNTIES WILL HAVE A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH IS WHAT GENERALLY IS DONE.

BUT SINCE WE DON'T DO THAT HERE, I GOT TO TRY TO KEEP IT ALL SEPARATE.

SO I, I GET THIS BUDGET WITH THE REVENUE.

AND I GOT TO COMPARTMENTALIZE THE REVENUE UNITS THAT THE PROGRAMS THAT I HAVE SO I CAN BALANCE OUT THE EXPENSES.

BECAUSE IF I WAS TO BE AUDITED, I WOULD HAVE TO DO THE SAME EXERCISE.

SO. SO YOUR BUDGET YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH $113,000 THAT MAY HAVE GONE TO SOMETHING ELSE. NO, IT COULDN'T GO TO SOMETHING ELSE.

WELL, NO, SHE SAID IT UNRESTRICTED.

YES, THAT IS TRUE. IT MAY HAVE ALREADY GONE.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE REST OF HIS OFFICE.

SO THAT'S WHY AT THIS POINT, WE EITHER HAVE TO REDUCE HIS FEE ACCOUNT HIS FEE SCHEDULE, OR ADD IN THIS INSPECTOR UNDER JUST FOOD BECAUSE YOU NOTICE ON POOL.

RIGHT. AND THE OTHERS IT'S A IT'S IT SHOWS A DEFICIT RIGHT.

WHAT DOES NAC AND MC STAND FOR.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT AND THEN NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE ABATEMENT AND THE MOSQUITO CONTROL. SO THERE IS STILL SOME MOSQUITO CONTROL EXPENSES THAT COME OUT OF THE BUDGET THAT'S STILL BEING USED FOR MOSQUITO.

SO YOU CAN GET YOUR PERSON, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO LOSE OUT.

I HAVE TO REDUCE REVENUE.

I'M JUST RIGHT NOW THAT 113 THAT YOU'RE SEEING IS IS GOING TOWARDS PULL IN AN ECU AND MC OKAY ITS OWN DEPARTMENT WHICH WHICH YOU CAN'T DO.

BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT. RIGHT.

WITH THE NEW NUISANCE ABATEMENT ISN'T SOME OF THAT COMING FROM CDBG FUNDS? SAY THAT AGAIN WITH THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT PERSONNEL? ISN'T SOME OF THAT COMING FROM CDBG FUNDS? THAT IS CORRECT. SO WITH THIS THE THE DEFICIT IN THAT BUDGET AS COMPARED TO THE REVENUE IS YOU HAVE IT LISTED AT ALMOST 350 GRAND.

IS THAT 350 GRAND ON TOP OF WHAT WE RECEIVE FROM CDBG OR THE CDBG IS INCLUDED IN THAT 300? IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS FIGURE.

I DID NOT INCLUDE CDBG.

I WAS JUST I WAS JUST POINTING OUT FOR THIS JUST THE REVENUE GENERATING FUNDS, BUT NOT THOSE BEING SUPPLEMENTED FROM ANOTHER FUND SOURCE.

GOT IT. OKAY, SO THIS ISN'T ACTUALLY $350,000.

IT'D BE ABOUT 40 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS.

OKAY, CORRECT THIS BECAUSE 50% OF THE SALARY COMES FROM CDBG AND CDBG.

DR.. I GOT YOU. OKAY. SO BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE HEARING IS THE POSITION MICHAEL IS ASKING WE WE COULD DO IT, RIGHT.

THAT'S OR MAYBE WE HAVE TO DO IT.

I THINK IT'S MORE OF WE HAVE TO OR REDUCE HIS FEE SCHEDULE.

NO, WE'D RATHER HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO THE JOB.

YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, YES.

AND THEN IT FREES UP THOSE MONIES FOR THE GRANT FOR HHS TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO INSIDE THAT GRANT, WHICH IS WHAT DOCTOR GALLO WAS TRYING TO TO TALK ABOUT.

OKAY. ASSUMING THERE IS NO OTHER QUESTION.

THANK YOU. MICHAEL. SINCE I'M UP HERE, CAN WE JUST.

HE'S UP HERE. CAN WE FINISH HE'S MOSQUITO CONTROL?

[03:50:02]

SO WHEN I PRESENTED THE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THE INTENTION WAS TO ROLL OUT A THREE YEAR PROGRAM THAT WOULD MEET THE COUNTY'S NEEDS AND CONSISTED OF 18 FTES.

SO BACK IN 24, THAT WAS PART OF THE PLAN.

LAST YEAR, I REQUESTED SIX POSITIONS.

OF THOSE SIX, I ENDED UP GETTING THREE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THAT THREE YEAR PLAN WOULD JUST NEED TO GO TO FOUR YEAR.

AS WE PUSHED IT OUT. SO CURRENTLY CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW I HAVE SEVEN FTES TO RUN THE MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM, WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO RUN AN EFFICIENT PROGRAM. AND AS WELL AS I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU THAT WE GET A GREAT NUMBER, A GREAT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME, AND CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO RESPOND WITH THE RESOURCES THAT I HAVE.

WHILE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPETING DEMANDS THAT YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT ALL TODAY, THE POSITIONS I WOULD ASK THE COURT, RATHER THAN DENYING ALL FIVE OF THOSE POSITIONS TO ADD THREE POSITIONS AND THREE ISN'T THE NUMBER, IS IT TWO? IS IT ONE? BUT NOT ZERO, IS WHAT I WOULD ASK.

WITH THOSE THREE POSITION, WE WOULD BE AT TEN FTS, WHICH WOULD BRING US TO 56% OF THE TOTAL NEED FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

AND I'LL JUST END WITH, AS ALWAYS, I CONTINUE TO BALANCE NEEDS WITH AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND THE LACK OF THESE REQUESTED RESOURCES WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT THE RESPONSE EFFORTS FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THAT'S ALL. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SO WE CAN GO BACK TO MS IF.

YEP. MS. AFTERNOON. THAT'S LOUD.

GOT BRIAN HANDING SOME PAPERWORK OUT TO EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU GUYS KNOW, WHENEVER I'M GOING TO START A DIFFICULT TALK.

I LIKE TO START WITH A JOKE, SO I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND START OFF WITH DO YOU KNOW WHY THE JELLYFISH WAS UPSET? BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PEANUT BUTTER FISH. HEY, THAT WORKED ON MY KIDS.

I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING. AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

THERE'S A LONG LIST OF THINGS UP THERE, AND I'M GOING TO GET TO MOST OF THAT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES. BUT I WANT TO START OFF TALKING MORE.

KIND OF LIKE WHAT MICHAEL WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT REVENUE.

AS EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS, THE MS DEPARTMENT GENERATES REVENUE.

WE GENERATE REVENUE FROM A COUPLE OF SOURCES.

SMALL PIECE OF OUR REVENUE IS FROM STANDBY REQUESTS AND DOING EDUCATION CLASSES.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD GROW OVER TIME, BUT THAT'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF AN FTE HOG.

AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO TO DO THAT IN OUR CURRENT STAFFING SITUATION.

BUT THE PRIMARY PIECE OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM TAKING PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO AND OUR REQUEST FOR SERVICE CONTINUE TO RISE EVERY YEAR.

LAST YEAR WE DID JUST OVER 42,000 REQUESTS.

WE'RE ON TRACK TO DO 45,000 REQUESTS THIS YEAR, AND AROUND 63% OF THOSE REQUESTS GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

THAT REQUIRES AN AMBULANCE, IT REQUIRES PARAMEDICS. IT REQUIRES ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE CARRY, ALL OF THOSE OTHER PIECES.

AND IN RETURN FOR THAT, WE BILL OUR CITIZENS OR OUR VISITORS THAT GET INTO ONE OF OUR AMBULANCES FOR PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

AND SO OUT OF THAT COMES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THE THE OTHER PLACE THAT OUR REVENUE COMES FROM IS, OF COURSE, THE GENERAL FUND.

AND I CALL THAT THE COST OF READINESS.

RIGHT. THE GENERAL FUND IS KIND OF LIKE THE, THE INSURANCE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S IT'S LOOKING AT THIS YEAR, IT'S AROUND 48% OF OUR OVERALL REVENUE COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND, 52% COMES FROM WHAT WE DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND AND I LOOK TO THAT AS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A SECURITY BLANKET, A LITTLE BIT OF AN INSURANCE POLICY FOR US BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE COST OF PROVIDING OUR SERVICE WILL EVER BE COVERED BY THE REVENUE THAT WE RETURN.

RIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S GOVERNMENTAL PAYERS OUT THERE THAT DON'T PAY THE TRUE COST OF WHAT IT WHAT IT TAKES US.

AND THEN PRIVATE INSURERS CONTINUE TO FIND NEW AND INGENIOUS WAYS TO NOT WANT TO PAY THE AMBULANCE BILL WHEN WE TAKE SOMEBODY TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO TRY TO GET THAT MONEY INCLUDED.

BUT EVERY YEAR IN THE FORMULATION FORMULATION OF OUR BUDGET, WE START WORKING IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, PROVIDES AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE OUR COLLECTIONS WILL LEGITIMATELY BE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

AND AND THAT HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

I GOT HERE IN 2023 AND IT CAME UP IN THE 23 BUDGET, WENT UP AGAIN IN 24, 25, AND IT'S SLATED TO HAVE ANOTHER INCREASE IN 26. WHAT WE DO, WHAT I DO IS I ALWAYS LOOK AT WHAT PART OF OUR BUDGET IS COMING FROM THE

[03:55:02]

AND SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ABOUT 52% OF OUR REVENUE HAS COME FROM AMBULANCE OPERATIONS, AND ABOUT 48% CAME FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER FOR A YEAR.

COMING. COMING OUT OF THE PARAMEDICS.

BUT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S BEEN 52 AND 48.

AND WHAT WE SAW THIS YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET ISSUES THAT THE COUNTY HAS WAS THAT THAT GOT MOVED.

THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO OUR BUDGET.

AND SO THAT GOT MOVED TO 60% OF THE REVENUE IN THE IN THE PROPOSED 26 BUDGET COMING FROM MS OPERATIONS, OUR BILLING AND ONLY 40% COMING FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND.

AND IN MEETING WITH PAMELA, WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS.

SHE'LL TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN IN HER OFFICE MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS AND AND TRYING TO REALLY GET HER TO UNDERSTAND IT, LIKE I WANT HER TO UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT SHE STARTED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND SHE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET ON THINGS THAT GO OUT FOR AMBULANCE CALLS. RIGHT, LIKE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AND FEES AND THE, THE THINGS THAT. RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHO GETS A BAND AID AND WHO DOESN'T GET A BAND AID, RIGHT. THEY SHOULD BE THERE IN PLENTY OF SUPPLY BASED UPON THE VOLUME THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING RUNNING. BUT I WANT TO COME AND AND ASK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DEFERENCE. AND WHAT I WANT TO ASK IS IF WE COULD RESTORE THE GENERAL FUND AMOUNT OF OUR BUDGET BACK TO WHAT IT WAS IN 2025, -2%.

RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE ARE SITTING IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS A 16% REDUCTION IN THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION AND A 16% INCREASE IN THE AMBULANCE REVENUE.

RIGHT. SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH A WASH.

THE REASON I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GENERAL FUND GET RETURNED TO WHAT IT WAS IN 2025 AND REALIZING THAT THERE'S BUDGET ISSUES CUT THAT BACK BY 2% IS BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW AND THE LEGISLATURE IN AUSTIN DOES WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE OF KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND OF OUR CITIZENS, AND THE MORE AND MORE FOLKS MOVING TO OUR FANTASTIC COUNTY, IS TO FUND THAT OFF OF THE GROWTH IN OUR AMBULANCE REVENUE.

AND EVERY TIME WE RAISE OUR AMBULANCE REVENUE, IF THE GENERAL FUND REFUND AMOUNT DECREASES BY THE SAME.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO GROW OUR OPERATION TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

SO THE YEAR I GOT HERE, WE DID RIGHT AT 40,000.

LAST YEAR IN 24, WE DID 42,000.

WE'RE EXPECTING 45,000 THIS YEAR IN REQUESTS FOR THE AMBULANCE.

AND NEXT YEAR WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO BE CLOSER TO 49,000.

THAT TAKES MORE PARAMEDICS.

IT TAKES MORE AMBULANCES TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT NEED.

WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT THE THE THE THE THE THE RESULT IS LONGER RESPONSE TIMES LESS POSITIVE OUTCOMES BECAUSE IT TAKES LONGER TO GET THE PARAMEDICS TO THE SCENE AND MORE AND MORE DIFFICULTY. EVEN THOUGH THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY, WE ARE PAYING OUR PARAMEDICS A WAGE, THAT IN ALL OF MY.

WHEN I STARTED AS A PARAMEDIC FOR $6 AN HOUR IN PASADENA, TEXAS, I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT PARAMEDICS WOULD BE MAKING WHAT THEY'RE MAKING TODAY.

BUT WE CAN ONLY WE CAN ONLY USE AND ABUSE THEM SO LONG BEFORE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THAT, EVEN AT THE MONEY WE'RE PAYING THEM. AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO WORK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE FOR LESS MONEY, BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE STARTING TO DRIVE THEM INTO THE DIRT. WHEN AN AMBULANCE GETS A CALL IN FORT BEND COUNTY, IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND 15 MINUTES ON AVERAGE TO DEAL WITH THAT CALL.

AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE UNITS EVERY DAY THAT ARE RUNNING TEN, 11 OR 12 CALLS. SO LET'S LOOK AT 12 CALLS AT AN HOUR.

AND 15 MINUTES IS 15 HOURS OF TIME.

THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TIME IT TAKES THEM TO DRIVE BACK TO THEIR STATION, MAYBE GET A MEAL, TAKE A SHOWER, MAYBE, ODDLY, IN A 24 HOUR SHIFT, MAYBE TRY TO SLEEP A LITTLE BIT.

NONE OF THAT IS INCLUDED.

AND AND AS THESE IF THIS DEMAND CONTINUES TO COME IN, WHAT THIS ENDS UP DOING IS IT TELLS THOSE PARAMEDICS WE DON'T NEED YOU TO RUN 12 CALLS IN 24 HOURS. WE NEED YOU TO RUN 15 CALLS IN 24 HOURS OR 16 CALLS, 16 CALLS AND 24 HOURS IS 20 HOURS A WEEK.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS START TO DECREASE TO THE POINT OF LEGAL INTOXICATION.

IF YOU GO 16 HOURS OR LONGER WITHOUT ANY AMOUNT OF SLEEP.

[04:00:04]

IF WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR AIRWAY THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, THERE IS NO MORE EFFICIENT WAY TO STAFF THAN 24 HOURS A DAY WITH THE BASE UNITS THAT WE HAVE. BUT WITH THE VOLUME WE'RE SEEING AND WHERE WE BELIEVE IT'S GOING IN THIS COUNTY, WE NEED THE ABILITY TO ADD MORE PARAMEDICS AND TO ADD SOME OTHER PIECES TO OUR LEADERSHIP THAT WILL MAKE US A A MORE EFFICIENT OPERATION AND ALLOW US TO MEET THOSE NEEDS AND THOSE DEMANDS FROM OUR CITIZENS IN THE WAY THAT THEY EXPECT US TO DO IT. AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT OFF THE GROWTH IN OUR REVENUE.

IF WE CAN KEEP OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS STATIC AND NOT DECREASE IT IN THAT PACKET I GAVE YOU. MOST OF THIS IS IS LISTED ON THAT FIRST PAGE.

THE SECOND PAGE SHOWS YOU A COMPARISON YEAR TO YEAR OF THE AMBULANCE REVENUE AND THE REVENUE THAT THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE 16% DECREASE THIS YEAR.

AND THEN THE PERCENTAGE HOW IT WENT TO 60%, IF WE, IF WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S RESTORE ALMOST ALL OF THAT $2 MILLION BACK TO THE BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR MS, THEN THAT WILL PUT OUR AMBULANCE CONTRIBUTION AT 56% THIS YEAR, WHICH IS JUST A PERCENTAGE POINT ABOVE THE AVERAGE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SO WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT. BUT THAT'LL FREE UP ABOUT $2 MILLION.

AND WHEN YOU GO TO PAGE THREE AND FOUR OF YOUR SLIDE DECK, AND THESE NUMBERS MAY NEED A LITTLE TWEAKING FROM PAMELA'S OFFICE, I TOOK THEM OFF OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET OF WHAT WE DIDN'T GET AND TRIED TO PLUG THEM IN, BUT I'M SURE THERE'S STUFF I'M MISSING ON THIS.

BUT IDEALLY, $2 MILLION WOULD FUND 12 PARAMEDICS.

IT'S NOT THE 28 WE ASKED FOR, BUT 12 IS A TREMENDOUS INCREASE.

THAT COULD BE 3 TO 4 MORE AMBULANCES A DAY DURING THE PEAK HOURS OF OUR SYSTEM DEMAND, WHICH WOULD TAKE A TREMENDOUS WORKLOAD OFF.

IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BASICALLY BE A 22, 23% INJECTION OF MORE, MORE MORE RESOURCES DURING THOSE HIGH PEAK TIMES OVER WHAT'S OUT THERE TODAY? A COUPLE OF BATTALION CHIEFS ONE IN LOGISTICS, ONE IN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, TAKING OUR ADMIN ASSISTANT FROM PART TIME TO FULL TIME AND BRINGING IN I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND AND THEN BRING IT IN.

TWO MORE FOLKS TO WORK IN OUR ACCOUNT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

I'M UP HERE GOING. WE'RE BRINGING IN ALL THIS GREAT MONEY FROM AMBULANCE REVENUE.

WE HAVEN'T ADDED PEOPLE TO OUR BILLING DEPARTMENT IN TEN YEARS.

THEY ARE GETTING MAXED OUT ON THE ABILITY TO BUILD THE CLAIMS IN A TIMELY, EFFICIENT MANNER, AND THAT IMPACTS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE CAN BRING BACK.

IF WE CAN'T GET THE CLAIM OUT THE DOOR QUICKLY, WE'RE NOT GETTING MONEY BACK. THE FIGHT BECOMES A LOT HARDER, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT THE FIGHT THAT WE NEED.

SO BUT THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT $2 MILLION COULD DO.

THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THAT. YOU GUYS WHEN I GOT HERE HAD BROUGHT HAD HAD GIVEN US THE THE ABILITY TO HIRE A FULL TIME MEDICAL DIRECTOR.

IT HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED THE CLINICAL CARE THAT IS BEING PROVIDED OUT IN THE STREETS OF FORT BEND COUNTY. WE ARE DOING THINGS IN FORT BEND COUNTY THAT A LOT OF OTHER PLACES ARE NOT DOING, AND THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF OUR FULL TIME MEDICAL DIRECTOR.

BUT WEIRD THING WAS HE KIND OF WANTS SOME TIME OFF EVERY NOW AND THEN.

AND SO, YEAH, I DON'T GET IT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BUT SO LAST YEAR.

RIGHT? RIGHT. IN NOVEMBER WE HAD THE THE CONTRACT AVAILABLE FOR DOCTOR.

WE AND SO WE, WE WE GOT AN ASSOCIATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR ON THAT CONTRACT.

HIS NAME IS LARS THESTRUP.

YOU'LL PROBABLY GET TO SEE HIM ON THE NEWS IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE HE'S THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE FIFA HOUSTON GROUP THAT'S BRINGING FIFA HERE.

HE'S THE ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING TO TOWN ARE GOING TO BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF. BUT HE IS HE CAME ON FOR THAT $50,000 CONTRACT.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONVERT THAT INTO MAKING HIM AN EMPLOYEE, LIKE DOCTOR, LIKE DOCTOR GILL IS OUR FULL TIME MEDICAL DIRECTOR, BECAUSE THE LEGAL PROTECTION FROM THE COUNTY IS BETTER THAN WHAT HE CAN PURCHASE WITH THE $50,000 WE'RE PAYING HIM FROM A FROM A MED MALPRACTICE SIDE.

AND SO IT IS HIS MEDICAL LICENSE AND DOCTOR GILL'S MEDICAL LICENSE THAT IS AT RISK.

AND SO WE WANTED TO DO THAT.

WE PUT SOME. THERE WAS I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCREEN, THERE'S THERE'S 146 HE'S AGREEABLE REALLY FOR THE $50,000, WE KIND OF WORK THAT OUT TO ABOUT FOUR HOURS A WEEK, WHICH IS REALLY APPROPRIATE.

AND SO THAT NUMBER WOULD COME DOWN. BUT ANYWAY SO $2 MILLION WILL FUND ALL OF THAT AND LEAVE ABOUT $187,000 BEHIND.

[04:05:04]

LET'S NOT MAKE THE FULL TIME, PART TIME TO FULL TIME ADMIN.

AND IF ALL THE NUMBERS WORK OUT ACCORDING TO PLAN, THAT'LL LEAVE 313,000 BEHIND.

THE BIG DEAL FOR ME IS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE 12 PARAMEDICS.

I'LL TAKE AS MANY PARAMEDICS AS I CAN GET.

WHEN WHEN YOU SEE THESE, WHEN YOU SEE THESE INDIVIDUALS GETTING OFF SHIFT AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING AND THE WAY THEY DRAG AND AND AND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THEY ARE HAVING SOMETIMES WITH FATIGUE.

WE WE NEED TO GET THEM HELP AND I CAN'T I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH.

THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I'VE TALKED TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I USUALLY USE THE EXAMPLE THAT WE NEED TO TEACH CPR IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED TO WE NEED TO BUILD UP A TEAM OF MEDICS AND OTHERS THAT ARE INTERESTED AND GET THEM OUT THERE TEACHING CPR BECAUSE LESS THAN 20% OF THE TIME IN, IN FORT BEND COUNTY, DOES SOMEBODY HAVE CPR BEING DONE ON THEM BEFORE THE AMBULANCE GETS THERE? AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS WELL ABOVE 50%? WELL, IN OUR REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING THEY HAD PULLED NEW NUMBERS FOR TRAUMA AND STROKE. AND WE ALSO FORT BEND COUNTY ALSO HAS THE ZIP CODE WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF OVER 65 YEAR OLD FALL VICTIMS IN THE ENTIRE HOUSTON REGION, AND WE HAVE A ZIP CODE THAT ALSO HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF STROKE PATIENTS WHO DO NOT GET TO THE HOSPITAL WITHIN THE TREATMENT WINDOW OF SIX HOURS.

THAT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING THE CALL. WE'RE GETTING THE CALL. WE'RE TAKING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL. IT'S BECAUSE THE STROKE ISN'T GETTING RECOGNIZED.

AND ALL OF THAT COMES THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

THAT HONESTLY, YOUR EMS AGENCY THE LARGEST COUNTY EMS AGENCY IN THE STATE, BY THE WAY, EVERYBODY GOES. OH. AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY. AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY IS A MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT THAT GETS A SUBSIDY FROM THE COUNTY.

WE'RE THE LARGEST COUNTYWIDE DEPARTMENT.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY FOLLOWS US.

AND WE NEED TO BE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATING OUR CITIZENS SO THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY EARLIER.

WE GET THEM TO THE HOSPITAL EARLIER, AND THEY COME BACK HOME ABLE TO LIVE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE AFTER THEIR AFTER THEIR ACUTE HEALTH CARE EMERGENCY.

SO THAT'S IT. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YES, MA'AM. THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE HAS ESTIMATED A REVENUE FOR 2026 OF $17.8 MILLION. IN YOUR PRESENTATION HERE, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT SHOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION? NO, THE 17.8 IS. I GOT TO LOOK AT MY WITH MY OLD MAN.

THAT'S THAT'S IT'S ABOUT 2.3, 2.4 MILLION MORE THAN THAN WHAT THEY PREDICTED WE WOULD MAKE IN 2025.

THE 2025 NUMBERS WE'RE ON TARGET TO HIT MAYBE COME WITHIN.

IF THE MATH I'VE BEEN DOING LESS THAN $100,000 ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT HITTING THOSE NUMBERS. AND SO I THINK THEY'RE BASED UPON WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS OUR INCREASE IN TRANSPORTS.

I BELIEVE WE'LL SEE THAT INCREASED REVENUE.

THAT'S WHY WHEN THAT 2.3 EXTRA CAME IN AND THEN THE 2.3 CAME OUT, THAT'S THAT WAS MY CONCERN ABOUT GROWING THE AGENCY WITH THOSE AMBULANCE REVENUE DOLLARS.

AND IF WE CUT THAT GENERAL FUND.

I'M CONCERNED HOW WE GET CAUGHT UP NEXT YEAR OR THE NEXT YEAR.

THIS, THIS THIS PUZZLE IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY EASIER FOR Y'ALL AND FOR FOR MISS PAMELA TO BE ABLE TO WORK OUT.

SO, SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND HERE A LITTLE BIT ON THAT POINT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. SO THIS YEAR THE REVENUE WAS 15.5 MILLION OR IS EXPECTED TO BE $15.5 MILLION BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

NEXT YEAR, IT'S EXPECTED TO BE $17.8 MILLION BASED ON THE AUDITOR'S NUMBERS.

SO THAT'S BEEN VERIFIED.

SO WHERE I GUESS WHERE I'M CONFUSED.

YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT REDUCE.

IT WAS REDUCED BY 2,000,000 IN 1 AREA, AND THEN THAT 2 MILLION ADDED TO ANOTHER AREA OF YOUR OPERATION. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? NO, SIR. SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING FOR THE 2026 BUDGET AN ADDITIONAL $2.3 MILLION IN AMBULANCE REVENUE DRIVEN BY OUR TRANSPORT.

AND IN AN EFFORT TO GET THE BUDGETS WHERE THEY NEED IT TO BE.

$2.3 MILLION WAS REMOVED FROM THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO OUR BUDGET.

SO OUR BUDGET ISN'T GOING TO BE $2.3 MILLION MORE NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE 30 OR $40,000 MORE NEXT YEAR.

I GOT YOU, AND WE'RE ASKING TO RESTORE THAT 2.3 IN THE GENERAL FUND PUT US AT LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS, -2%. THAT'S WHERE THE 2 MILLION COMES FROM TO FUND THE GROWTH WITH THE

[04:10:03]

SO WHERE IS THAT MONEY THAT'S BEEN ALLOCATED? IT'S EVERYBODY ELSE. SO YOU HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED IT ANYWHERE.

SO YOU DON'T YOU DON'T BUDGET BASED OFF OF IT.

BUT NOW PROJECTIONS. WHAT HE'S REQUESTING.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS TO KEEP THAT RATIO, THE REVENUE TO GENERAL FUND AT ABOUT A 5556.

YEAH. PERCENT. 55%. GENERAL FUND.

OTHER WAY. OH, DANG. 50.

55%. REVENUE. 45% GENERAL FUND.

YES, MA'AM. THAT'S NOT WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 60, 40, 60, 40. SO IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE AN EXTRA $2 MILLION.

HE'S REQUESTING THAT THAT RATIO STAYS THE SAME.

GOT IT. HOLD ON. I'M WORKING ON AN WINDOWS OS RIGHT NOW.

NOT. SO IT TAKES ME A SECOND TO COMPUTE.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE RATIO FOR THIS COMING BUDGET IS SET TO BE 60% GENERAL FUND AND 40% GENERATED REVENUE.

OTHER WAY, OTHER WAY AROUND. SO 6,060% GENERATED REVENUE FROM AMBULANCE OPERATIONS, 60% IS REVENUE AND 40% IS GENERAL FUND.

I GOT YOU, I GOT YOU. SO I'M ASKING FOR AN INCREASE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

WELL, TO BE ABLE TO I WOULD LIKE TO PHRASE THAT, SIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE DON'T WANT AN INCREASE. I WOULD LIKE IT TO RETURN TO WHERE IT WAS.

OUR DEMAND IS NOT OUR CHOICE, RIGHT? NOBODY'S OUT THERE CARRYING A BILLBOARD SAYING, GO CALL 911.

RIGHT. WE IF WE COULD HAVE A SAY IN IT, WE WOULD REALLY WANT THAT NUMBER TO GO DOWN BECAUSE THAT MEANS LESS PEOPLE ARE SICK OR INJURED.

BUT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO INCREASE.

EVERYBODY THAT COMES TO THE COUNTY IS GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIAL 911, WHICH IS GOING TO IMPACT US. WE DON'T GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE.

WE DON'T GET TO GUARANTEE WE'RE GOING TO GET REVENUE FROM EVERYBODY.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T PAID US FOR TEN AMBULANCE BILLS IN THE PAST AND YOU DIAL 911, WE'RE STILL GOING TO COME GET YOU AND TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. SO IN MY MIND, IN A COUNTY IN THE POSITION WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IN TEXAS, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO POINT AT FORT BEND COUNTY WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IN TEXAS TODAY.

IF WE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO HOLD OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION SOMEWHAT STABLE, WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICE THAT'S COMING TO US.

BECAUSE IF WE CAN HOLD THAT GENERAL FUND STABLE, THEN THAT ALLOWS US TO USE THAT EXTRA REVENUE FROM THE AMBULANCE OPERATIONS TO FUND THE GROWTH NEXT YEAR. IF IF NOTHING CHANGES IN OUR ECONOMY AND THE COUNTY CONTINUES, I WOULD EXPECT WE'LL SEE ANOTHER 2 TO $2.5 MILLION IN 27 THAT WE DIDN'T SEE IN 26.

AND SO, AGAIN, IF WE CAN HOLD THAT GENERAL FUND STABLE, THEN WE CAN WE CAN USE THAT MONEY TO FUND THE GROWTH.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER WAY THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH THAT WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH.

WE'RE EXPENSIVE AND IT'S DIFFICULT AND COSTLY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A PLACE, KNOCK ON WOOD, WITH A GOOD ECONOMY. WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE I THINK OUR AMBULANCE REVENUE CAN DO IT.

IF WE CAN. IF WE CAN NOT, WHEN WE SEE AN INCREASE IN THAT AMBULANCE REVENUE. NOT IN A DIFFICULT BUDGETING TIME.

TAKE SOME OF THAT GENERAL FUND AWAY.

I'M JUST ASKING FOR IT TO KEEP IT ALMOST LEVEL AT 45%, AT 45%, OR FUNDING TO THE GENERAL FUND FUNDING 45% OF YOUR BUDGET AND KEEP IT.

AND THIS YEAR, MY ASK IS IF WE COULD GO TO 2% LESS THAN THE GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION IN 25, IT'S 56% FROM AMBULANCE AND 44 FROM GENERAL FUND.

AND THAT SHOULD GET US WHERE WE NEED TO GET THE POSITIONS THAT, THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. THAT MEANS YOU ARE KIND OF ANTICIPATING MOVING FORWARD THAT THAT SPLIT BECAUSE BECAUSE THE END OF THE DAY, YOU SAID, OF COURSE, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN WHO IS CALLING 911.

THAT IS CORRECT. MORE PEOPLE COME, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CALL. AND THAT'S HOW IT WORK, RIGHT? SO HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THIS GROWTH? THAT'S WHAT I'M, I'M KIND OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE EACH YEAR YOUR CALL VOLUME IS GOING TO GO UP. SO HOW DO WE PUT SOME KIND OF A PLAN IN PLACE? WHAT KIND OF GROWTH? AND I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'M EVEN SITTING HERE AND THINKING ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT MAYBE WE HAVE TO DO A EFFICIENCY STUDY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO SEE HOW WE ARE DOING.

SO MY CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING IS I'M AGREEING WITH YOU. WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW.

MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CALL 911.

SO HOW DO INSTEAD OF HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ONCE A YEAR, HOW DO WE COME UP WITH A PLAN? MAYBE FIVE YEARS OR NOT? THIS IS MAYBE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING RIGHT NOW.

BUT BUT HOW DO WE HOW DO WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN A?

[04:15:02]

SO HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I THINK HE ACTUALLY HAS THAT.

AND HE PRESENTED IT TO US SOME TIME AGO.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE.

AND PAMELA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IS EITHER WE HAVE A SET GENERAL FUND AMOUNT OR WE HAVE A SET GENERAL FUND PERCENTAGE.

AND THEN OUR BILLING OPERATION, OUR ABILITY TO BRING IN REVENUE PAYS FOR WHAT WE NEED BEYOND WHAT THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT BECAUSE YOU DEFINITELY I REMEMBER YOU PRESENTED I CONSIDER THAT SOME OF THAT IS A WISH LIST.

AND UNFORTUNATELY I JUST WANTED TO SAY BUT I JUST WANT SOMETHING REALISTIC, YOU KNOW, AND WHATEVER YOU'RE SAYING, I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU AT ALL.

SO I'M JUST SAYING SOMETHING REALISTIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL LIKE TO HAVE YOU HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE COMING HERE AND TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY'S NEED IS REAL.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO HOW DO WE DO? MEET EVERYBODY'S NEED? THAT IS THE QUESTION WE ALL ARE ASKING, RIGHT? SO SOME REALISTIC AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THAT NUMBER MAYBE AN OUTSIDE PARTY LOOKING AT IT.

AND YOU SAID YOU ARE THE, THE THE TOP MS OPERATION WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTY COUNTY EMS IN TEXAS? YES, SIR. MS. SO I THINK MAYBE LOOKING INTO THAT WAY CAN GIVE A LITTLE MORE, BETTER PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT WHAT WE HOW DO WE PREPARE IN THE FUTURE? AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF, YOU KNOW, CUTTING SERVICES.

IF IF WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, IF WE CONTINUE TO DECREASE THE TAX RATE.

YES. HE'S INCREASING HIS REVENUE FROM BILLING, BUT WE'RE HAVING TO FUND LESS ON THE GENERAL SIDE.

AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU, CHIEF WADE, BECAUSE EVEN OUR THE COLLECTING, THE REVENUE THAT EVEN THAT RATE GOT IMPROVED, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT IS GETTING BETTER. AND SO I'M JUST SAYING IT'S ALL ABOUT PUTTING SOME REALISTIC, NOT JUST US DOING IT.

SOMEBODY ELSE OUTSIDE, SOME EXPERT.

YOU KNOW, I HEARD TODAY, SO MANY PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHICH EXPERT LOOKED AT IT, AND I AM ALL SUPPORTIVE OF EXPERTS LOOKING AT IT, AND ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT BIASED.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

THE FUTURE IS NOT BRIGHT FOR ANYBODY PROVIDING PREHOSPITAL HEALTH CARE.

IT'S NOT JUST FORT BEND COUNTY. IT'S DIFFICULT EVERY TIME WE TURN.

IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OUR STATE TO BE ABLE TO FUND THINGS APPROPRIATELY.

IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING. AND SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE THINGS.

I COULDN'T I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, POTENTIALLY GETTING SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE TO COME IN AND LOOK AND PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT.

I ALSO WOULD I THINK RITA GRABER AND MYSELF WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH PAMELA AND HOPING THEIR TEAM TO TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A FIVE, 8 OR 10 YEAR BUDGET, AN OUTLOOK ON THAT, RIGHT? THERE'S THINGS WE KNOW WE NEED EVERY YEAR.

AND EVEN IF WE WERE NOT IN A RAPIDLY GROWING COUNTY.

THE 911 CALL VOLUME IS GOING TO GO UP ABOUT 3% A YEAR AS OUR CITIZENRY AGES UP AND WE'RE NOT OVER THE HUMP OF THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION YET.

AS FAR AS GETTING THEM OVER 65 AND GETTING THEM IN OVER 65 IS THE HIGHEST CONSUMER OF HEALTH CARE IN OUR NATION.

AND SO WE'RE NOT EVEN OVER THAT HUMP YET.

SO WE KNOW AT LEAST 3% A YEAR IS GOING TO COME FROM JUST PEOPLE AGING UP.

AND THEN THE REST OF THAT, AS WE BRING MORE CITIZENS IN, IS ONLY GOING TO CREATE MORE AND MORE OF THAT DEMAND.

SO I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT THOSE TWO THINGS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY TREMENDOUS MOVING FORWARD.

SO I GET IT. AND ALSO, YOU JUST MENTIONED 3% BASED ON YOUR TOTAL CALL VOLUME. THAT'S LIKE ALMOST 13, 1400 CALLS MORE EVERY YEAR GOING UP WITHOUT ANY MORE GROWTH. RIGHT.

OKAY. AND YOU SAID THAT THERE'S A ZIP CODE IN OUR COUNTY THAT HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF STROKES IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT ZIP CODE THAT IS? IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF STROKES THAT DO NOT GET RECOGNIZED INTO THE HOSPITAL IN THE TREATMENT WINDOW OF SIX HOURS.

REALLY? YES, I DO KNOW A ZIP CODE.

THAT IS, IT'S THE SAME ZIP CODE AS OVER 65 FALLS, WHICH IS 77494. IT'S CINCO RANCH.

WOW. SORRY. AND AND WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE BEING THE CHANGE? I KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO ISD'S THAT RECENTLY HAD SOME DUBIOUS SELECTION TO EXPAND THEIR BOUNDS TO PROVIDE EMS SERVICES.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME LITIGATION AROUND THAT BECAUSE OF THE DUBIOUS NATURE OF THESE ELECTIONS.

[04:20:01]

PRIOR TO TO TO ME GETTING HERE PRIOR TO CHIEF PETRILLA GETTING HERE.

CITY OF SUGAR LAND SAID WE WANT TO DO OUR OWN THING.

OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE REST OF THE COUNTY AS BEST AS WE CAN.

OUT OF THOSE TWO ELECTIONS, ONE WAS THE NORTHEAST FIRE DISTRICT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

COMMUNITY IS THE ONE THAT PROVIDES EMS TRANSPORT.

SO THAT WOULD TAKE AN AREA OF THE COUNTY AWAY FROM US JUST LIKE IT'S DOING FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND. NORTHEAST FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEIR EXPANSION DOESN'T AFFECT US AT ALL.

IT AFFECTS THE CITY OF RICHMOND BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE FIRST RESPONDER SERVICES IN THERE, AND THEY HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THOSE MUDS, BUT THAT WE WERE ALREADY PROVIDING TRANSPORT FOR NORTHEAST FIRE. SO THAT SECTION, THAT EASTERN SECTION THAT THEY, THAT THEY TOOK WAS THAT DOESN'T AFFECT US.

IT'S IT'S BETWEEN THEM AND RICHMOND. THE OTHER ONE WERE COMMUNITY WAS COMING DOWN FARTHER SOUTH IS THE PART THAT THAT AFFECTS US.

BUT IT'S AGAIN, IT'S NOT.

IT'S NOT 10,000 CALLS A YEAR IN THAT LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 100. OKAY.

AND AS FAR AS THE BILLING PART, IS THAT NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTRACT OUT THOSE SERVICES TO GO CHASE DOWN THOSE TO COLLECT ON THOSE BILLS? YES, WE'VE DONE THAT. AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

I LEARNED MANY, MANY MOONS AGO THAT YOU CAN'T EXPECT WHAT YOU DON'T EXPECT.

AND A BILLING SERVICE WILL PUT ON A GOOD SHOW WHEN I SHOW UP AT THEIR OFFICE.

AND THIS IS NO SLAM AGAINST THE BILLING SERVICES.

BUT OUR BILLERS AT SIENA ARE PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JOB THEY'RE DOING. THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S PAYING THEIR SALARY AND THE SALARIES OF A LOT OF OUR PARAMEDICS.

AND SO THERE'S MORE PRIDE AND HONESTY THERE.

PLUS, THEIR FORT BEND COUNTY EMPLOYEES, AND THEY WILL REACT AND INTERACT WITH OUR CITIZENS WHO OWE US MONEY IN A WAY THAT WE WILL.

WE WOULD ALL APPRECIATE WHERE WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET THAT FROM A PRIVATE VENDOR, BUT A PRIVATE VENDOR. THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE US A PERCENTAGE TO DO IT.

AND THEN THE QUESTION WILL BE WE'RE A BIG OPERATION, SO THEY MAY PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION TO US.

BUT THAT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH ATTENTION ARE THEY PAYING TO OUR CLAIMS. SO SO I MEAN, ALL IN ALL, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE PRESENTING MAKES SENSE, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOUR ANTICIPATED REVENUE MIGHT COVER THIS DIFFERENCE, TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE A NO BRAINER.

AND WITH THIS, ALL OF THESE THINGS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE THAT YOU EVEN HAVE TO COME UP HERE AND ASK FOR THIS AND FUNDS THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO YOU.

I'M JUST GOING TO STATE THE OBVIOUS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT PRIORITIES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT ASKED US TO DO.

AND MS IS NOT THE ONE ON THAT LIST.

AND SO I'M REALLY SORRY THAT THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT I DEFINITELY THINK OUR BUDGET OFFICE SHOULD GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THE PROPOSAL YOU MADE TODAY.

THANK YOU SIR. SO, PAM, PAM, SO HAVE YOU AND HAVE THE ANTICIPATED REVENUES AS PART OF YOUR REVENUE PROJECTION? I, I CURRENTLY HAVE THE 17.8 REVENUE PROJECTIONS IN THE BUDGET.

YES. AND EARMARKED TO BE SPENT ON ON MS ANY O MS ON MS. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE THEY'RE REVENUE.

LET ME CHANGE MY PAGE HERE.

SO HOW MUCH HOW MUCH OF HIS REQUESTS? HE'S ALREADY BACKED OFF FOR THE 28 FOR THIS YEAR.

BUT RIGHT NOW, HIS REVENUE IN THE 2026 RECOMMENDED BUDGET THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS $17.8 MILLION, AND HIS TOTAL BUDGET IS 29.5 MILLION.

SO THAT 17.8 IS ALREADY GOING TOWARDS THE 29.5.

HE'S REQUESTING THAT THAT RATIO CHANGE FROM A 60 OVER 40 TO A 55.

WHAT'S THE DELTA? RIGHT.

ABOUT $2 MILLION. WHAT HE SAID.

SO THAT WOULD BE $2 MILLION THAT WE'D HAVE TO COME, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD TO THE BUDGET.

SO WHAT IF WHAT IF WE WE REDUCED OPEC TO 8 MILLION INSTEAD OF TEN.

WOULD THAT BE A LIKE A CONVENIENT WAY TO COVER.

WE JUST KEEP KICKING THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD BUT HAVE BEEN TOTALLY KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FOR THIS YEAR. BUT IT'S KIND OF COMING BACK IN.

AND 8 MILLION WOULD SHOW CONTINUED EFFORT WITH OPEB.

MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN, AS WE PROGRESS WITH FINALIZING NUMBERS,

[04:25:07]

TALKING ABOUT OPEB THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO A LARGER NUMBER OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND DEBT SERVICE, AND MAYBE CREATE A RESOURCE FOR THE PRIORITIES THAT RESULT FROM ALL OF THIS EFFORT. I DO NEED TO NOTE THAT CHIEF WHITE'S EFFORT WITH COLLECTIONS, HIS TEAM. I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE THAT.

THEY HAVE GOTTEN SO AGGRESSIVE AND CHIEF TEMPLE STARTED IT.

CHIEF PETRILLA CONTINUED IT.

CHIEF WAITE HAS TAKEN IT ON AND MOVED IT FORWARD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT COLLECTION RATE CAN IMPROVE.

ABSENT SOME LEGISLATION THAT SAYS THAT MEDICARE IS GOING TO START PAYING MORE.

INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN'T CUT WHAT THEY'RE PAYING US.

ABSENT THAT, THE COLLECTION RATE IS AS AGGRESSIVE AS IT CAN BE, SO IT'S ONLY VOLUME THAT CHANGES IT, WHICH DIRECTLY CORRELATES TO THE EFFORT THAT HIS TEAM HAS TO PERFORM.

PLUS, PLUS, THEY'RE THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION IS FINE SO WE WON'T REVISIT NEVER AGAIN THE SITUATION WE HAD BEFORE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU. YOU WEREN'T. I'M AN AGGIE. I DON'T LOOK GOOD IN ORANGE. THAT EFFORT IS 100% WITHIN IN THE LAW, SIR.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE DON'T EVER WANT TO DEAL WITH OIG AGAIN ON THAT MATTER.

AND I WAS SO. JUST SO I UNDERSTAND YOU MR. STURDEVANT, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE EVEN IF WE ADDED ANOTHER PERSON IN BILLING RIGHT NOW, ABSENT THE INCREASE IN THE PARAMEDICS AND TRUCKS ON THE STREET, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR COLLECTIONS.

THEY ARE SO AGGRESSIVE MAXIMIZE THAT.

WE'VE EVEN I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH CORRESPONDENCE YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN FROM OUR OUR SUPPLEMENTAL COLLECTION FIRM, BUT BECAUSE THE CHIEFS TEAM IS SO AGGRESSIVE, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY A SUPPLEMENTAL COLLECTION FIRM TO GET ANYTHING OF RELEVANCE.

THAT'S A FAIR POINT. GOOD JOB.

BUT YEAH, SO SO I THINK THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE BUDGET AND ALL.

BUT DID YOU ALL WERE YOU ABLE TO CALCULATE THAT NUMBER FOR IF WE WENT TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHAT WOULD THAT BE FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD? YES, SIR. RIGHT NOW OUR CURRENT TAX RATE, THAT'S SAME AS THE 2024 RATE IS 42.2 CENTS.

THAT WOULD INCREASE THE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD BY $29.

IF WE INCREASE IT RIGHT UP TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, IT WOULD BE 42.8 CENTS.

SO ABOUT 0.6 OF A CENT, 6/10 OF A CENT, THAT WOULD INCREASE THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD TO $54.

AND THEN IF WE WERE TO GO UP TO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OR JUST UNDER THE VOTER VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH IS 44.5 CENTS THE AVERAGE INCREASE WOULD BE $117.

AND SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CURRENT TAX RATE, THE $0.42, AND THEN THE 44.5 CENTS IS 2.3 CENTS.

SO THAT'S $30 MILLION.

2.3 CENTS IS WHAT 24 OR 5.

YEAH ALMOST 30 MILLION.

ALMOST 30 MILLION. ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO FORT BEND COUNTY AND ADDITION.

SO YOU SAID 55 FOR THE NO NEW FOR 55 PER HOUSEHOLD FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FROM 29, NO NEW REVENUE, NO NEW REVENUE IS $54.

AND THEN THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS $117.

AND SO WHAT? SO? SO WHAT'S THE MONEY GENERATED FROM THE JUST UNDER NO NEW TAX? THAT IS A HALF A CENT, $6 MILLION, $6 MILLION.

AND SO WE'RE FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $2 A MONTH FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD, $2, $2 A MONTH MORE AT THE $52 A MONTH OVER WHAT WOULD BE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 29.

CORRECT. SO GOING UP TO 54.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT 54 FROM THE 29 REPRESENTS $2 A MONTH ON AVERAGE.

OH THAT'S $25. YEAH. NO NO SORRY $25 A YEAR MORE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SO ADDITIONAL $2 A MONTH FOR MS SERVICES FOR THE AVERAGE OR THE MEDIAN? THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD? YEAH. THAT'S THE AVERAGE OR AVERAGE? YEAH. AVERAGE. OKAY. $423,000 HOME.

GOT IT. IS THE DANG. THAT'S ANY OTHER.

[04:30:06]

A MEDIAN IS WHERE YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT.

SO AS MANY ABOVE THE MIDPOINT AS THEY ARE BELOW THE MIDPOINT ON AVERAGE IS YOUR MEAN IS AVERAGE IS SO SO SO SO PROBABLY AS MUCH AS TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE NO INCREASE OR MINIMAL LESS INCREASE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS SPLIT UP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MEDIAN IS.

YEAH. OKAY. I, I'VE JUST BEEN GIVEN THE MEAN THE AVERAGE.

OKAY. SO COMMISSIONER, I THINK THE THE LOWER PART OF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT RISES SUBSTANTIALLY WENT DOWN.

YEAH, IT WENT UP. YEAH.

NOTHING BELOW THREE. BUT THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF HOMES IN FORT BEND COUNTY THAT ARE BELOW THAT ARE LESS THAN 423.

MOST OF THEM. YEAH. I MEAN, YOU CAN NOW GO FIND AVERAGE HOME LIKE 1215 HUNDRED SQUARE FEET, LESS THAN 300.

IT'S GETTING VERY TOUGH.

YEAH, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER DAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTION? ASSUMING NO OTHER QUESTION THAN ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD? NO, SIR. OKAY. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU. PAMELA, LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT.

NEXT PAGE, PLEASE. WE DID, HEALTH INSPECTOR.

WE DID MOSQUITO CONTROL, EPIDEMIOLOGY.

WE ALREADY TALKED. DID SHE COVER THAT? WE HAVEN'T DONE EPIDEMIOLOGY YET.

IS SHE NOT COMING? I THINK I THINK SHE COVERED THAT.

YOU COVERED IT ALREADY? YEAH. IT IS. REMEMBER I DID THE WHOLE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL.

BLAH BLAH BLAH, YOU KNOW. YEAH.

I THOUGHT SHE HAD. I WAS, I WAS EXPECTING.

YEAH. OKAY. AND I WAS EXPECTING NICOLETTE.

YES. HUMAN RESOURCES, DID YOU STILL WANT TO DISCUSS? NO. NEXT. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

GOOD AFTERNOON. EARLIER, I HANDED YOU GUYS A COPY OF THE BUDGET SUMMARY FOR IT TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE, HIGH QUALITY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ACROSS ALL COUNTY FACILITIES. I AM ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN OUR 63,000 FEES OF $214,103.

ADDITIONALLY, I AM ASKING FOR THREE FULL TIME POSITIONS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT. OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WE HAVE RECEIVED 27,947 NEW SUPPORT REQUESTS AND OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED 26,315.

ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE DEDICATED TIME TO SUPPORTING OVER 26,000 TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT REQUESTS COUNTYWIDE. AND THAT IS WHY I AM REQUESTING THAT THREE ADDITIONAL FULL TIME POSITIONS TO HELP WITH THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS? WHAT DOES ASTERISK MEAN? THAT THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO MENTION.

SO IN HERE THAT'S ME I HAVE AN OKAY.

THAT'S ME. I HAVE AN ASTERISK THERE BECAUSE AFTER SPEAKING WITH ROBIN AND HER TEAM THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO DECREASE HER CONTRACT STAFFING BY THAT AMOUNT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN HER FEES. SO IT WOULD BE A NET ZERO.

CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME WE WOULD READ THERE WAS A PROPOSAL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS PROPOSAL IS STILL ON THE TABLE.

IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE.

OKAY. SO ROBIN PROPOSED THAT SHOULD SHE GET THESE THREE FTE, SHE WOULD REDUCE HER FEES RIGHT NOW WHICH FOR CONTRACT STAFFING BY THAT AMOUNT.

SO IT WOULD BE A NET ZERO.

SO IT'S, THAT'S THE NUMBER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 200 TO 400, THE 413 598. SO IN HER BUDGET REQUEST, DID YOU INCLUDE WHAT SHE HAD ALREADY FOR CONTRACT. SHE HAS MAYBE $1 MILLION, $1 MILLION FOR CONTRACTORS.

SHE HAS $1 MILLION FOR CONTRACTS.

SO SHE WOULD REDUCE IT DOWN TO SIX.

OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO CAN WE CALL THAT MORE LIKE A WASH? YEAH, YEAH. I WASN'T SURE.

THAT'S WHY IT'S AN ASTERISK.

BECAUSE SHE SAID IT. BUT I WASN'T SURE THAT SHE WAS LIKE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M STILL ON BOARD WITH IT.

WE DO, JUST AGAIN WITH THE PERSONNEL.

EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU FIND THE PERSONNEL? YES, BECAUSE THE CONTRACTORS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DIFFERENT BREED,

[04:35:03]

RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WE'VE HAD A GOOD SUCCESS RATE WITH CONVERTING THE CONTRACTORS OVER TO FULL TIME STAFFERS. AND THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD IS AND THE REASON WE TALKED ABOUT IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WOULD GET MORE HOURS FROM FULL TIME PERSONNEL THAN SHE WOULD FROM CONTRACTORS.

YES. AND ALSO THERE IS SO ESSENTIALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ZERO IMPACT ON THE BUDGET FOR THE FOR FOR THE THREE FTE.

YES. YEAH. OKAY. BUT THEN WE HAVE THE THE SOFTWARE THAT SHE'S ASKING FOR IS ANOTHER ISSUE, RIGHT? SOFTWARE.

SOME OF THE $214,103 FOR THE RECURRING COSTS.

IS THAT SOFTWARE? IT IS SOFTWARE.

OKAY, THAT IS THE. WHAT SOFTWARE IS IT? IT IS SHE. OH, WELL, IT'S ON YOUR LIST.

BUT SHE MICROSOFT LICENSING LIST HERE.

OKAY. YES, SIR. IN THE FIRST TABLE.

SO DUMB QUESTION. WHAT DOES SHE STAND FOR? I DON'T KNOW, IT'S THE NAME OF THE VENDOR, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE INITIALS STAND FOR. SHE. SOFTWARE HOUSE INCORPORATED.

I BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD GUESS.

I WAS GOING TO GUESS IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. SO IT'S INCORPORATED, I BELIEVE.

BUT THAT SOFTWARE HOUSE.

OKAY, IT'S THE FIRST TWO I KNOW.

OKAY. BUT ALL BUT ALL OF THOSE ARE RELATED TO THE NEW LICENSES THROUGH THE LIBRARIES.

RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

YEAH. IT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO OPERATE THE LIBRARY.

POLARIS. RIGHT. YES. POLARIS IS THE THE LAST ITEM ON THERE RIGHT BEFORE.

BUT THE OTHERS ARE NECESSARY.

THE OTHERS ARE NECESSARY.

YES. YEP. AND THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION.

THERE WAS. WE DID NOT I DID NOT INCLUDE ANY NEW POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET.

THE NEW POSITION, THE ONLY NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET ARE THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS AND THEN SOME THAT WE UNFROZE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WE HAD FROZEN LAST YEAR.

I, I DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY OTHER NEW POSITIONS IN THERE, AND I HAVE THOSE THAT ARE HERE.

JUST BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ADDING POSITIONS WITHOUT ALL OF YOU AWARE OF IT.

WHAT ABOUT THE SOFTWARE? SOFTWARE THAT CAME BACK LATER. BUT, YEAH, WE NEED TO ADD THE SOFTWARE.

OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. ANY PART OF THE QUESTIONS? ONLY THESE TWO ITEMS RIGHT FOR YOU? YES. ONLY THOSE TWO ITEMS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.

SO CONSTABLE, PRECINCT FOUR HAS REQUESTED TO BE SEEN.

HE WAS. WE SKIPPED OVER HIM THIS MORNING, BUT HE'S CHANGED HIS MIND.

OKAY. CAN WE GO BACK, PLEASE? HE'S ON ONE. THANK YOU.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THE AMOUNT OR ANYTHING BECAUSE I TOOK IT OFF.

NO, IT'S FINE. THE ONLY THE ONLY THING THAT WE REQUESTED WAS THE RECLASSIFICATION FOR OUR COMPLIANCE SERGEANT. IT WAS IT'S A POSITION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

IT'S A DEPUTY SLOT. BUT DUE TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRIMARILY IN KEEPING OUR NOT ONLY OUR AGENCY, BUT ALSO OUR DEPUTIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH TECO TO KEEP OUR LICENSE ACTIVE. THEY ALSO HANDLE ALL OF OUR TRAINING ALL OF OUR RECRUITING THE WHOLE GAMUT.

SO THE ONLY THING WE WERE REQUESTING WAS JUST TO RECLASSIFY THAT POSITION APPROPRIATELY TO A SERGEANT. AND THE BUDGET IMPACT 37,000 337,300.

AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY HUMAN RESOURCES.

WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THAT ONE IS NOW IT IS LATE.

YES. HE CHANGED HIS MIND.

SHE CHANGED HER MIND. SHE CHANGED HER MIND. EXACTLY. WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. EVERYBODY CHANGED THEIR MIND. OKAY, WELL, IT WASN'T ON THERE BECAUSE IT WASN'T RECORDED. OKAY. AND SO ANYTHING ELSE? THAT WAS IT. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT WAS THE ONLY. THAT WAS THE ONLY THING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM.

THANK YOU. QUICK QUESTION.

DOES ANYBODY WANTED TO TAKE A BREAK OR JUST KEEP GOING? MY BACK IS HURTING ALREADY.

[04:40:02]

WE WILL COME BACK IN TEN MINUTES.

WE ARE ON RECESS.

CHECK. IT'S TIME 315. WE WILL RECONVENE TO CONTINUE OUR BUDGET HEARING.

PAMELA, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. PRECINCT FOUR.

TALL AS A CONSTABLE, I'D HAVE TO LOWER THIS JUST A BIT.

YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LORINDA MOORE, AND I'M THE COURT COORDINATOR FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT FOUR UNDER JUDGE KESHA SMITH.

AND THIS IS CATHY KEEFER, OUR CRIMINAL LEAD.

WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF JUDGE SMITH.

SHE WOULD LOVE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT SHE ACTUALLY HAS THREE DOCKETS.

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT'S EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE THREE THAT SHE'S ABLE TO BE ON.

WE ARE HERE TO DEFEND OUR REQUEST FOR TWO PART TIME POSITIONS.

THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT FOUR FACES A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF CASES RECEIVED, RESULTING IN AN EXTREMELY HEAVY FLOW OF PUBLIC TRAFFIC. CURRENTLY, FULL TIME CASE MANAGERS ARE TASKED WITH MANAGING THE FRONT WINDOWS AND ANSWERING PHONES, IN ADDITION TO FILING AND PROCESSING CASES.

THIS MULTITASKING LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO FOCUS ON SETTING EFFICIENT DOCKETS ADDRESSING THE GROWING BACKLOG OF CASES, AND E-FILING.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CASELOAD THE CASE MANAGER OVERSEES, THEY MAY BE NEEDED IN COURT DURING THE HEARINGS.

TO ALLEVIATE THIS STRAIN, WE ARE REQUESTING A PART TIME POSITION DEDICATED SOLELY TO THE WINDOW PHONES AND E-FILING DUTIES.

THIS ROLE WOULD ENSURE TIMELY SERVICE FOR THE PUBLIC, WHILE ALLOWING CASE MANAGERS TO FOCUS ON THEIR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES.

BY STREAMING THESE OPERATIONS, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE COURTROOM EFFICIENCY, REDUCE DELAYS, AND PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES TO TO RESIDENTS OF FORT BEND COUNTY. THE JP4 COURT VOLUME IS BEYOND THE PACE OF THE CURRENT STAFF.

THE TWO PART TIME CLERKS WILL CONSISTENTLY WORK THE CLERK WINDOW, ANSWERING PHONES BETWEEN IN-PERSON VISITS AND MANAGING E-FILING.

THIS WILL HELP REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND FREQUENCY CURRENTLY REQUIRED OF FULL TIME CASE MANAGERS. THE CONSISTENT TRAFFIC AT THE WINDOW DOES NOT ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR THE CASE MANAGERS TO WORK THE CURRENT AND INCOMING CASE LOADS.

THE ADDITIONAL STAFF WILL ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD MORE DOCKET HEARINGS, WHICH WILL RESULT, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE EFFICIENCY NEEDED TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG CASES.

THE FORT BEND COUNTY CITIZENS WILL BENEFIT BECAUSE WE WILL BE ABLE TO EFFICIENTLY HEAR THE HUNDREDS OF CASES WHICH DATE BACK AS FAR AS 2021, AND I WILL SHARE A FEW STATISTICS WITH YOU ALL.

AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE TOTAL A TOTAL PENDING CASE NUMBER OF 18,911 CASES AS OF TODAY.

THANKS TO JUDGE SMITH AND HER DILIGENCE, WE HAVE CLOSED 6654 OF THOSE CASES.

WE NOW HAVE A PENDING LOG OF NEW CASES RATHER OF 9139 CASES.

OF THOSE, 9139 CASES, 1000, 1034 OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY EVICTIONS.

AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, TEXAS INCREASED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR SMALL CLAIMS IN JP FOUR COURTS FROM 10,000 TO 20,000.

AS OF NINE ONE 2023. THEREFORE, THE REQUEST FOR PART TIME POSITIONS IS NOT JUST A TEMPORARY NEED FOR BACKLOG, BUT IT ALSO ADDRESSES THE INCOMING VOLUME, WHICH CONTINUES TO INCREASE DAILY.

ADDITIONALLY WE HELD THE FIRST JURY TRIAL IN THE JP FOUR COURT AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS. SO THAT GIVES YOU ALL AN IDEA AS TO WHY WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE BACKLOG AND WHY WHY WE ARE REQUESTING THESE TWO POSITIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? SO. NOPE.

SO ONE, YOU'VE CLEARED 6000 CASES IN SEVEN MONTHS.

EIGHT MONTHS? ALMOST. YES.

SO, WOW, HATS OFF TO Y'ALL.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT 9000 NEW CASES TO REWARD YOU FOR THAT.

EXACTLY. THAT THAT CLEARANCE RATE.

ONE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE DOING GREAT WORK.

I WILL SAY THAT I RETRACTED MY EFFORT TO EXPLORE FURTHER CREATION OF ANOTHER JP COURT IN PRECINCT FOUR, WHICH I THINK THE NUMBERS WOULD BEAR OUT AS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

AND THE COMPLAINTS FROM OUR RESIDENTS IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING WOULD BE A HELPFUL TRADE OFF FOR THAT TO MANAGE SOME OF THAT

[04:45:03]

THE VOLUME OF WHICH IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER OF OUR OTHER PRECINCTS IN THE COUNTY, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

SO I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK Y'ALL ARE ASKING FOR TOO MUCH.

I THINK THESE PART TIME POSITIONS CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL HELP.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. MEDICAL EXAMINER IS NEXT.

THE OTHER JP. JP TWO TWO.

THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA.

SHE HAS PULLED HER REQUEST.

YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR PERSONNEL REQUESTS FOR ONE DEPUTY MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE SERGEANTS FOR THE INVESTIGATORS.

WE RECENTLY ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO.

I THINK I'VE SPOKEN WITH ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THIS. HAD OUR FIRST NATIONAL ACCREDITATION INSPECTION AND THE ACCREDITATION AND GOES INTO THE FACILITIES, THE PROCEDURES, THE QUALITY OF OUR REPORTS, OUR DIAGNOSES AND ALL THAT SORTS OF STUFF, AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE OFFICE.

EVERYTHING PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS.

THERE WAS ONE. WE WERE GIVEN PROVISIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR ONE REASON, WHICH IS FOR TWO REASONS, BUT IT'S IT'S REMEDIED BY ONE ONE PERSONNEL IS OUR CASE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR OUR DOCTOR'S NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, SO WE NEED AN EXTRA DOCTOR FOR THAT AS WELL AS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 90% OF OUR CASES SIGNED OUT AND FINALIZED IN 90 DAYS, AND WE ARE AT 88% 90 DAY FINALIZATION.

SO ONE EXTRA DOCTOR TAKES CARE OF BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THEN WE SUBMIT THAT TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS FOR AND THEY GIVE US A FIVE YEAR FULL ACCREDITATION.

IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS, IS IT'S IT'S QUALITY FOR THE CITIZENS, EQUALITY FOR THE POLICE AND FOR THE COURT SYSTEM AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.

BUT IT'S ALSO A WAY TO SELL OUR SERVICES TO OTHER COUNTIES THAT WE ARE A FULL, FULLY ACCREDITED MEDICAL EXAMINER OFFICE.

SO WE CAN PICK UP COUNTIES THAT WOULD BE LOOKING TO GET AWAY FROM THEIR OWN LOCAL PRIVATE PRACTITIONER AND GET SOMEBODY WITH NATIONAL ACCREDITATION.

ON TOP OF ALL THAT WHICH IS NOT NECESSARY FOR ACCREDITATION, IS ALL THE DOCTORS ARE ALSO ON STAFF AT THREE OF THE UNIVERSITY.

THREE. WE ALL HAVE ADJUNCT PROFESSOR APPOINTMENTS TO ACADEMIC UNIVERSITY.

SO IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD ON PAPER, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN COURT. SO THAT ONE EXTRA POSITION WILL TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND POTENTIALLY ALLOW US TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE. SPEAKING OF WHICH, RIGHT NOW, FROM JULY TO OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, WHERE WE STAND, WE ARE AT 794 795,000.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE AT 722,000.

SO DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES, I THINK, AS SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION. AND WE'RE LOOKED AT AS IN MY PROFESSION, WHERE I LOOKED AT AS SORT OF A MODEL FOR HOW TO ORGANIZE MY OFFICE.

AND THAT'S ALL TAKING PLACE IN THE LAST CONVERSION FROM A FROM A JP SYSTEM TO THE MD SYSTEM AND JUST JUST UNDER FIVE YEARS.

SO THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG BONUS FOR FORT BEND COUNTY.

THE SERGEANTS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ARE FOR WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY THAT RUNS A 24 HOUR INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY, AND THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SUPERVISORS PER SHIFT. THOSE SUPERVISORS WOULD BE OVERLOOKING ALL OUR REPORTS BEFORE ANYBODY LEAVES THEIR SHIFT TO GET FOLLOW UP POLICE REPORTS, TALK TO FAMILIES, GET STUFF READY FOR THAT.

WHEN THE NEXT SHIFT COMES IN, THEY CAN FOLLOW UP AND ESPECIALLY THE MORNING SHIFT. WHEN THE DOCTORS ARE IN TO DO AUTOPSIES, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO SEARCHING AROUND FOR MEDICAL RECORDS OR X RAYS OR ANY OF THAT SORT OF STUFF, OR CALLING THE GPS FROM THE SUBMITTING COUNTIES.

WE CAN MOVE BODIES THROUGH VERY EFFICIENTLY.

SO WE'RE THE SERGEANTS ARE ALSO NEW POSITIONS.

SO THEY'D ALSO BE TAKING CALL, GOING OUT TO SCENES COVERING FOR WHEN PEOPLE ARE SICK OR ON LEAVE OR OUT OF OR OUT OF THE OUT OF POCKET FOR CONFERENCES, FOR THEIR MANDATORY SEES AND THAT SORT OF STUFF.

THERE IS ONE OTHER THING WHICH IS NOT UP THERE, WHICH WAS I SUBMITTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO A SALARY SURVEY OF ALL THE OFFICES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND WE ARE NOT ON PARITY WITH THEM.

SO THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO RETAIN AS WELL AS RECRUIT NEW STAFF.

SO THERE WAS A THERE WAS A SALARY SURVEY DONE WHICH SHOWS TO BE JUST AVERAGE.

[04:50:02]

THE SERGEANT POSITIONS.

WHO HOLDS THAT COMMISSION? WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF CIVILIAN AS WELL AS TCOLE.

SO THE PRECINCT ONE OF THE CONSTABLES DOES PRECINCT ONE, I THINK WHERE'S WHERE'S NORVELL? WHAT? CONSTANT ONE. HE HE HOLDS HE HE HOLDS THEIR COMMISSIONS FOR THE FOR THE TCOLE INVESTIGATORS THAT WE HAVE.

SO THESE TWO SERGEANTS WOULD WOULD THEY, HE WOULD HOLD THEIR COMMISSION.

YEAH, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO THE SERGEANT WOULD JUST BE A PROMOTION.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROMOTION. BUT THESE ARE TWO NEW POSITIONS, RIGHT? CORRECT. AND SO THESE TWO NEW POSITIONS WOULD BE COMMISSIONER BE HELD WITH PRECINCT ONE. CONSTABLE.

IS THAT THE ANSWER? CORRECT.

OKAY, SO IF THIS IS THE COST 467,000 FOR TWO SERGEANTS.

CORRECT. AND SO WHAT IS THEIR ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION OTHER THAN LAW ENFORCEMENT? THEY'LL HAVE TO BECOME CERTIFIED BY AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL LEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATORS.

AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. YOU ALREADY MAY BE MENTIONED.

CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT ONE MORE TIME? WHAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES? THERE'LL BE A THERE'LL BE AN INVESTIGATOR.

SO THEY'LL GO OUT TO SCENES, TAKE CALLS, TRACK DOWN RECORDS, SERVE OUR RECORDS REQUESTS, WHICH ARE SUBPOENAS.

THEY'D ALSO BE GOING OUT TO HOSPITALS, GATHERING UP X-RAYS AND BRING THEM BACK FOR US. THEY'D BE ALSO AS A REGULAR INVESTIGATOR.

THEY'D ALSO BE INTERFACING WITH THE OUT OF COUNTY GPS AND POLICE AGENCIES FOR THEIR RECORDS AND FOLLOW UPS, AS WELL WITH WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. THEY WOULD THEN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SUPERVISE, THEY WOULD BE REVIEWING ALL THEIR REPORTS BEFORE THEY GO OFF SHIFT.

SO NOT LEAVING SOMETHING HALF DONE OR MAKING SURE THAT PROSPECTIVELY THEY TALK TO CERTAIN PEOPLE, GET MORE RECORDS, GET MORE STATEMENTS FROM FAMILIES AND OTHER INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES, AND THEY WOULD ALSO COVER WHEN THERE'S A SHORTFALL IN PERSONNEL FOR ILLNESS OR PEOPLE OUT ON VACATION OR OFF AT GETTING THEIR, THEIR CL, THEIR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR THEIR CERTIFICATIONS.

PAM, DO YOU HAVE THE BREAKDOWN? BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY HIGH PRICE. SERGEANT'S RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING.

EQUIPMENT IN HERE. VEHICLES AND WHAT'S WHAT'S ALL THERE.

THERE'S VEHICLE. THERE WOULD BE VEHICLES IN THERE AS WELL FOR THEM.

YEAH. THE BREAKDOWN WOULD BE AND AND AND PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT AS WELL. YEAH. YEAH. I BREAK, YOU KNOW? YEAH. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. ALSO, DOCTOR PUSTILNIK.

IF WE CANNOT ADD TO SERGEANTS, WOULD YOU CONSIDER RECLASSIFYING A A CURRENT INVESTIGATOR? THERE IS ONE RECLASSIFICATION THAT WAS APPROVED FOR ONE INVESTIGATOR TO A SERGEANT. AND IF NEED BE, TO MAKE TO MAKE NICE, NICE. WITH THE BUDGET, WE COULD WE COULD LIMP ALONG WITH THAT AS WELL. WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHATEVER YOU GIVE US. THE PRIORITY WOULD BE THE DEPUTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, THOUGH, RIGHT? CORRECT. BECAUSE THAT THAT GETS US ACCREDITATION ACCREDITED.

THE PERSONNEL COST FOR EACH SERGEANT IS 137,877.

IS THAT THE TOTAL? THAT'S JUST SALARY AND PERSONNEL.

THE VEHICLE IS 77,000 OR 2 OR ONE FOR FOR ONE, BUT EACH FOR EACH ONE.

SO IT WOULD BE WHAT, 166,000? WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE THERE. WHY? THAT'S WHY IT'S SO HIGH THERE.

TRUCKS. IT'S A HEARSE.

WHAT IS IT? NO NO NO NO, IT'S A IT COULD BE BECAUSE THEY'RE PICKUP TRUCKS. ACTUALLY, GENTLEMEN, THAT IS HOW MUCH OUR VEHICLES ARE.

BECAUSE IT'S THE VEHICLE PLUS ALL THE EQUIPMENT ON IT.

YOU KNOW, THE RADIOS AND THE COMPUTERS AND THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING TO UPFIT THAT THAT VEHICLE, THOSE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES ARE.

IS THAT A NORMAL TAHOE KIND OF THING? YES. IT IS MORE EQUIPPED.

YES, SIR. IT'S WITH ALL ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT TAKES IT UP TO THAT 77,000. OKAY. THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION MADE MEDICAL EXAMINERS THEIR VEHICLES EQUIVALENT WITH LIGHTS AND SIRENS AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF TO GET CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE IS 95,000 A PIECE.

OKAY. 95 PER VEHICLE. 95 PER VEHICLE FOR SUMMARY SHEETS OR 73.

[04:55:07]

SO THAT'S 12,000. ON TOP OF THAT, THAT'S NECESSARY EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING ALMOST HALF THE PRICE OF AN AMBULANCE.

IT LOOK LIKE WE'VE GOT OUR EYE ON SOME AMBULANCES TOO THAT ARE BEING DECOMMISSIONED.

AN AMBULANCE IS ABOUT 400.

OH, MAYBE 500. NO, NO, THERE IS SOME USED ONES SITTING OVER BY THE THE THE OVER BY ROAD AND BRIDGE.

IT'S LIKE WE'LL TAKE ONE OF THOSE. OKAY. YEAH.

I AGREE WITH THE YOU KNOW, NOW IT MAKES MORE SENSE.

AND SO THAT IS ALMOST 95,000 PER VEHICLE.

SO. WOW. AND THAT MEANS WHEN IT COMES TO NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE WHAT, MAYBE LESS THAN HALF OF IT.

NEXT BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ALL THIS EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN.

NOW, IF WE ADD THESE AND DECIDE THAT, YES, WE WANT TO ADD SERGEANTS AND VEHICLES WE COULD IF IT'S NOT TOO LATE, ADD THE VEHICLES TO OUR LIST OF ITEMS TO BE FINANCED. C I. R CAPITAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. I HAVE EYES ON TWO MORE COUNTIES THAT MAY WANT TO USE OUR SERVICES AS WELL.

OKAY. SO SO I MEAN THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK.

SO WHAT IS IT LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW I KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY ADDING MORE COUNTIES AND PROVIDING SERVICES.

AND SO WHAT KIND OF REVENUE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS YEAR? IT LOOKS LIKE PERHAPS ANOTHER 150, 170,000.

WHAT IS IT? WHERE ARE WE NOW? OH, YOU WON'T SAY RIGHT NOW.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW, DO I? YEAH. WE CAN TALK PRIVATELY.

THIS IS LIVE STREAM, SO.

RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY. SO.

BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS BRINGING.

BRINGING. YEAH. BUT I'M SAYING. BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO. YEAH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT EXACT NUMBER, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW.

YOU DO A DEAL. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. RISK MANAGEMENT IS NEXT.

DENIED. ALWAYS, ALWAYS.

AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN. LADIES, EVERYBODY.

SO WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO POSITIONS BUILDING AND SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS POSITION.

THIS POSITION IS. WE'VE REQUESTED IT SEVERAL TIMES.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD A CONSULTANT COME IN AND HELP US IDENTIFY CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES WITH THE COUNTY. WE IDENTIFIED 387 STRUCTURES.

126 OF THEM ARE UNIQUE.

76 OF THEM WERE IDENTIFIED AS CRITICAL.

52 OF THOSE FACILITIES ARE PUBLIC FACING.

THIS POSITION WOULD IDENTIFY SAFETY MEASURES.

I'VE TOLD MOST OF YOU FOLKS HERE IF YOU PICK UP A PHONE TODAY AND CALL ANYBODY IN A COUNTY BUILDING AND SAY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN A TIME OF AN EMERGENCY? SOMEBODY'S PROBABLY GOING TO TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW. AND THEY'D HAVE TO GO FIND SOMEBODY TO GIVE THEM THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED.

THIS POSITION WOULD DEVELOP THOSE PLANS WITHIN THE COUNTY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO GIVE THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO GATHER AND EVACUATE OR DO WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE TIME OF EMERGENCY.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE FOUR EMERGENCY OPERATION PLANS IN PLACE.

THIS POSITION WOULD ALSO COORDINATE WHENEVER WE'RE ACTIVATED WITH THE EOC.

WHEN WE'RE DOING RECOVERIES ON ALL THE COUNTY FACILITIES WORK WITH FACILITIES, WORK WITH THE FIRE MARSHALS, GATHER TEAMS TO DEPLOY OUT, TO DO INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THE BUILDINGS ARE SAFE TO ENTER WORK WITH, MAKE SURE ALL THE TOOLS THAT THE EMPLOYEES NEED ARE THERE.

AND PRETTY MUCH JUST, YOU KNOW, WORK ON THE EMPLOYEES AND THE AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES.

THE TRAINING COORDINATOR IS BASICALLY GOING TO TAKE OVER SOME OF THE TRAINING THAT WE CURRENTLY DO. WE OFFER ABOUT 80 TRAINING CLASSES THAT ARE DEFENSIVE DRIVING, FIRST AID, CPR, A LOT OF OTHER DIFFERENT CLASSES.

WE DO. ERGONOMICS, YOU KNOW, UPON REQUEST OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHEN WE DEVELOP THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR THE BUILDINGS, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TRAINING THAT NEEDS TO GO IN SOME ADDITIONAL FIRE DRILLS THAT WE

[05:00:01]

SO THIS WILL PROBABLY DOUBLE FROM THE 80 TO 160 TRAINING.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A TRAINING CALENDAR FOR SAFETY ASPECTS ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTY FROM, YOU KNOW, ROAD AND BRIDGE DRAINAGE PARKS TO OUR BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURES AS WELL TO GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT.

IF YOU WERE TO RANK THESE POSITIONS, WHICH ONE IS MORE MISSION CRITICAL TO YOUR OPERATION? MORE MISSION CRITICAL WOULD BE THE THE BUILDING OF SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. TALKED WITH MY TEAM CURRENTLY.

IF IF YOU GUYS DO GIVE US THE BUILDING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, WE CAN SPREAD SOME OF THE TRAINING OUT THROUGH SOME OF THE STAFF THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ALREADY. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK WE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO BROUGHT IT UP NOT TOO LONG AGO ABOUT.

OR MAYBE IT WAS LAST BUDGET HEARING CYCLE.

ACTUALLY, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT ABOUT THAT NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING TO EDUCATE OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN A TIME OF EMERGENCY.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT SORT OF DRILL IN MY IN MY BUILDING.

AT LEAST I KNOW. AND I CAN'T RECALL EVER HAVING THOSE SORTS OF DESIGNATIONS AS FLOOR CAPTAINS OR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE COUNTY.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT AT ANY MOMENT WE COULD HAVE AN INCIDENT.

SO I CONCUR WITH YOU THAT THAT'S A NEEDED ROLE.

I ALSO JUST KNOW THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE HELP.

WE ARE STILL WAITING TO GET A BENEFITS COORDINATOR ON UNDER CONTRACT TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR BENEFITS PROGRAM HERE IN THE COUNTY.

AND SO WILL THIS. WILL ADDING ONE OF THESE POSITIONS HELP TO MOVE SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE BENEFIT SIDE ALONG MORE QUICKLY? I THINK THAT'S CURRENTLY MOVING ALREADY. I THINK THERE'S A CONTRACT UNDER REVIEW FOR THE CONSULTANT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT STANDS, BUT WE CAN FIND OUT FOR SURE.

OKAY. I JUST KNOW WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

I KNOW THERE'S A CONTRACT UNDER REVIEW.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT AND WHO'S IT'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO.

BUT I KNOW WE DO HAVE ONE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL.

I HAVE NOT YET HEARD ANY EMPLOYEES RAVING ABOUT ANY MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR OUR, OUR THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR OR JUST IN GENERAL, THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR BENEFITS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY PEOPLE A WHOLE LOT MORE WITH THE MARKET SAYS THAT WE, WE SHOULD BE PAYING BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF TAX DOLLARS.

THE WAY WE MAKE UP FOR THAT IS IN OUR BENEFITS.

AND WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THAT SO THAT THAT'S ONE LESS PAIN POINT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IN ACCESSING THEIR THEIR NEEDED HEALTH CARE AND OTHER BENEFITS.

SO JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TO KNOW SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS IS THIS NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY OF YOUR DEPARTMENT.

BUT BUT I DEFINITELY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF IMPROVING SAFETY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AND VISITORS TO OUR COUNTY FACILITIES.

THANKS FOR THE QUICK QUESTION.

I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS ENGAGED WHEN WE ARE ACTIVATED BECAUSE YOU ARE A CRITICAL PART. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THAT LAST TIME WHEN WE HAD THE SNOWSTORM AND STUFF LIKE THAT FREEZING BUILDING SAFETY IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

AND SO CURRENTLY, WHO IS DOING THAT? ARE YOU? YES, SIR. MYSELF AND YVETTE WE KIND OF PUT TOGETHER A TEAM WHEN WE, WHEN THE STORM STORMS COME IN, WE IDENTIFY A CERTAIN GROUP.

WE PUT OUT NOTIFICATIONS AND THAT GROUP GETS READY THAT ONCE THE STORM HAS PASSED, THEN WE START AND IT'S USUALLY JUST A SMALL GROUP OF 1 OR 2 PEOPLE.

I THINK WITH THIS POSITION, THEN WE CAN WE CAN POTENTIALLY DOUBLE THAT, HAVE 2 OR 3 GROUPS GOING OUT IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF THOSE PARTICULAR BUILDINGS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YOU ALREADY STARTED TALKING ABOUT HEALTH AND TRAINING COORDINATOR.

YES, SIR. OKAY. SO. WHAT DO WE NEED? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO OR HOW DO WE MAKE SURE? FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THIS COORDINATOR WILL BE.

SO THE HEALTH AND TRAINING COORDINATOR THERE'S A WHOLE LIBRARY OF TRAINING THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

FROM HEAVY EQUIPMENT TO JUST GENERAL OFFICE SAFETY THAT WE CAN PUT OUT THERE.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE ONLY HAVE A PART TIME.

I SAY PART TIME TRAINER.

SHE'S A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, BUT SHE'S ALSO THE WELLNESS COORDINATOR, SO SHE'S DOING DOUBLE DUTY.

SO SHE ALSO INSTRUCTS AND TEACHES SAFETY COURSES AS WELL.

THIS PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE RIGHT HERE WOULD JUST BE SPECIFICALLY TO SAFETY.

SO EVERYTHING INVOLVING SAFETY, ALL THE OSHA COURSES, EVERYTHING FOR EVERY COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

[05:05:01]

APPRECIATE IT. TAX ASSESSOR.

COLLECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET SOME OF THOSE CAR DEALERS TO COME DOWN HERE AND SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF? NO, I PROBABLY COULDN'T.

HELLO, EVERYBODY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF DIFFERENT FOR ME THIS YEAR, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL GOT HAVE A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE.

WE MET THIS MORNING WITH THE DEALERS.

A LOT OF THINGS CHANGED FOR US IN AUSTIN.

OF COURSE, YOU ALL KNOW US NOW.

WEB DEALER IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS. AND WE'RE BACKED UP IN WEB DEALER.

1500 DEALS OR MORE. AND IT'S GETTING BAD AND BAD EVERY DAY.

WE HAVE THREE PART TIME.

WE HAVE THREE FULL TIMERS AND ONE PART TIMER.

RIGHT NOW ON OUR COUNTERS, WE HAVE 32 EMPLOYEES WORKING ON OUR COUNTER.

THAT'S ACROSS ALL SIX LOCATIONS, 32 EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE 13 STATIONS THAT ARE STILL OPEN.

AND OUR REVENUE OR A LOT OF OUR MONEY COME IN FROM THE DEALERSHIPS.

OF COURSE, YOU ALL KNOW THAT, AND WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF SLACK FROM IT.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF SLACK FROM IT BECAUSE WE HAVE 325 DEALERS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE 275, ABOUT 275 SIGNED UP AND THE REST OF THEM HAVEN'T GOT ON YET, SO THEY HAVE TO COME TO THE OFFICE.

AND WE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD MOVE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC OUT, BUT IT DIDN'T. WE CUT OUR HOURS, THEIR LUNCH BREAKS NOW ONLY 30 MINUTES, WHICH IS NOT FAIR. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC THAT WE HAVE COMING IN. WE HAVE OUR 15 MINUTE BREAKS.

WE NO LONGER HAVE 15 MINUTE BREAKS.

WE CAN'T TAKE 15 MINUTE BREAKS WITH 32 EMPLOYEES ON THE COUNTER.

THE TIME, THE WAIT TIME WENT FROM AN HOUR TO IT'S STILL AN HOUR.

IT DIDN'T CUT DOWN AT ALL.

IT JUST CUT DOWN A LITTLE FROM ACTUALLY, IT WAS TWO HOURS.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT? TWO HOURS TO CLOSE TO AN HOUR.

THIS IS EVERY DAY. NO MATTER WHETHER IT RAIN, SLEET OR SNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

AND THESE ARE JUST OUR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

THESE ARE NOT THE DEALERSHIPS AT ALL THAT ARE THERE.

SO. CAN WE CONSIDER THIS ONE OF THE WONDERFUL UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM THE STATE? YES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

AND WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE.

SO WE HAD TO TAKE PEOPLE OFF THE COUNTER, BASICALLY PASS A COST DOWN TO US WITHOUT ANY REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

EXACTLY. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE NEXT SESSION.

PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT ONE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO THROW ROCKS AT ME FOR REAL. CAN I I WANT TO TRY TO FINISH THIS AS FAST AS I CAN, BECAUSE I'M THE LAST ONE, AND THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR ME TO DO IT.

AND THESE PEOPLE THAT CAME WITH ME TODAY, BESIDES THOSE OTHER 100 PEOPLE THAT I HAD WITH ME. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS ASK ALMA TO COME UP REAL QUICK.

SHE'S OUR CHIEF OF OTTO.

ALMA'S COMING UP RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT SHE'S BRINGING TO YOU GUYS ARE THE BOOKS THAT OUR STAFF HAVE TO LEARN BEFORE THEY CAN GET IN ON THE COUNTER.

IT TAKES THEM EIGHT WEEKS TO LEARN THOSE.

THAT'S THE TRAINING. DO YOU ALSO HAVE PARKS AND RECREATION IN THEIR ALBUM? IT'S THE FIRST ONE. PARKS AND WILDLIFE. IT'S UP THERE TOO.

BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH THAT.

IT TAKES US EIGHT WEEKS TO GET THEM THERE, TO GET THEM TO THE COUNTER.

FIRST, SHE HAS TO DO 75 MODULES BEFORE WE CAN EVEN GET TO THOSE BOOKS.

AFTER THAT, WE GO TO THE BOOKS.

EVERYTHING IS IN THE NOTES.

CARMEN. HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH DO WE GENERATE IN REVENUE? I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT ONE, TOO. I GOT ABOUT EVERYTHING FOR YOU TODAY.

IT'S DONE A LOT OF THAT GO TO THE STATE, A LOT OF IT GO TO THE STATE.

BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WE GET BACK.

LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN WE GET BACK. 63, 360,000 COMES BACK TO US EVERY YEAR, PLUS ANOTHER $6 MILLION COMES BACK TO US EVERY YEAR TO THE COUNTY.

SO WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT JUST JUST TRYING TO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE THAT'S JUST AUTOMOBILE TAX. THAT'S JUST FROM AUTO.

OKAY. THAT'S THE ONLY THING FROM AUTO. OKAY.

SO RIGHT NOW WITH THE AUTO DEPARTMENT MEN LIKE IT IS THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. AND THE REASON THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, WHICH IS A BIT. I'M GLAD YOU CAME.

[05:10:01]

FROM THE COUNTY. I MEAN, FROM THE STATE.

AND SO THEY'RE PENALIZED LIKE 5% OR MORE.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE COMPLAINING WHEN THEY DON'T GET IT BACK.

AND IF WE IF THEY HAVE A MISTAKE IN THERE AND WE HAVE TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW WE'RE 12 DAYS BEHIND. THOSE ARE BUSINESS DAYS BEHIND.

LIKE HE SAID EARLIER, 12 DAYS BEHIND.

EVERY SINGLE DAY I GET A COUNT FROM OUR DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE IT HERE SOMEWHERE.

I KNOW I DO. OH, HERE IT IS TODAY.

JUST TODAY, WE HAVE 1037 WEBB DEALERS.

FRIDAY WE HAD 1526. WE HAD 400 AND 414 DROPS, DEALER DROPS WHERE THE DEALERS DROPPED OFF THEIR PAPERWORK.

AND WE HAVE TO GET IT FIXED IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

FRIDAY IT WAS 385. WE HAVE MAIL WHERE THEY MAILED IT IN.

WE HAVE 100. AND FRIDAY IT WAS 150.

TODAY IT'S 72. SO IT'LL GO DOWN TODAY BECAUSE THE DAY IS MONDAY.

AND THEN TUESDAY COME AROUND.

AND WE BACK WHERE WE WERE WERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AFTER MONDAY IS 1500.

AND WE ONLY HAVE THOSE FOUR PEOPLE UP THERE.

IT'S THREE FULL TIMERS, ONE PART TIME UP THERE.

WE ASKED FOR FOUR EMPLOYEES, BUT THE FOUR EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THREE PART TIMERS UP THERE AND ONE AND WE HAD TO CREATE THAT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE ALREADY HAD THAT Y'ALL GAVE ME.

SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I'VE ONLY GOTTEN TEN EMPLOYEES, TEN EMPLOYEES, SEVEN THAT WE GOT IN THE BEGINNING, AND I GOT THREE LAST YEAR AND TWO PART TIMERS, SO THAT MAKES 12. AND THIS DEPARTMENT IS VERY, VERY CRUCIAL. OUR WHOLE OFFICE TAX OFFICE IS VERY CRUCIAL FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY BECAUSE WE DO WE BRING A LOT OF REVENUE IN, BUT WE WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DO IT.

WE JUST DON'T. AND IT'S GETTING BAD, BAD AND BAD EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF COURSE, Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE IN THE LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW EVERY YEAR WITH EITHER AUTO OR PROPERTY, ONE OR THE OTHER.

THIS YEAR, OUR PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE BEHIND BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THEM TO VOTE.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WHEN THEY VOTE ON WHATEVER THEY'RE VOTING FOR, I THINK THIS YEAR WE'RE VOTING ON THE.

EXEMPTIONS. WHAT IS IT? YEAH. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT IS WE'RE BACKED UP.

SO WE HAVE TO GO TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, WAIT TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, COME BACK WITH THEIR NUMBERS. THEIR NUMBERS COME WHEN THEIR NUMBERS COME IT ALSO WE HAVE TO GET PALM NUMBERS COME FROM THERE.

AND IF THAT CHANGES, THAT MEANS I HAVE TO SEND OUT TWO BILLS.

SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO AVOID SENDING OUT TWO BILLS BECAUSE Y'ALL BARELY WANT TO GIVE ME AN EMPLOYEE. SO IF I SEND OUT TWO BILLS, I'M REALLY IN TROUBLE.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WE ASK FOR FOUR EMPLOYEES, WE REALLY DO NEED MORE THAN FOUR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE 13 SEATS, BUT I'M HOPING THAT YOU ALL SEE IT SOMEWHERE IN YOUR HEART, OR SEE THAT THIS COUNTY IS GROWING, AND WE NEED THE MANPOWER IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS UP. WE CAN'T KEEP RUNNING LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH 30 MINUTE LUNCHES AND NO BREAKS AT ALL. AND THEY HAVE BEEN BEGGING ME AND BEGGING ME.

BUT HOW DO I STOP IT? UNLESS YOU ALL CAN GIVE ME SOME IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN SPEED THE PROCESS UP. WE BROUGHT IN TWO NEW MACHINES.

THE TWO MACHINES. NEW MACHINES JUST OPENED UP.

WAS IT TODAY? TODAY. THE TWO MACHINES.

MACHINES WHERE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ON THE OUTSIDE.

JUST CAME OPEN TODAY. WE'LL BE HAVING A GRAND OPEN FOR THAT.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THE TRAFFIC. THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THE PEOPLE THAT'S COMING IN. THOSE MACHINES DON'T TAKE CASH THAT ONLY TAKE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS AND THAT'S IT. WE HAVE PROPERTY.

IT'S THE SAME. 32 PEOPLE WORK AUTO AND PROPERTY AND BOATS.

I HEAR Y'ALL BACK THERE ON BOATS.

WE BRING IN A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE COUNTY.

I'M GONNA LET YOU ALL HEAR JENNIFER, BECAUSE SHE'S IN ACCOUNTING ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE BRING IN. SO RIGHT NOW WITH PROPERTY, WE HAVE REFUNDS. WE HAVE TO ANSWER BACK TO REFUND REFUND CHECKS WHERE WE HAVE TO REFUND BACK THE CHECKS WE HAVE TO PAY.

THEY HAVE TO PAY 12. WE HAVE TO PAY 12%, RIGHT? ACCORDING TO THE STATE, 12%.

IF WE'RE 60 DAYS LATE AND THAT GOES THROUGH YOUR DEPARTMENT.

JENNIFER. RIGHT. GOES THROUGH JENNIFER DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS ACCOUNTING. WE HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE IN ACCOUNTING.

AND SO WE'RE UP AGAINST THE WALL TRYING TO GET THAT DONE, BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS COME WITH THAT.

IN ORDER FOR US TO KNOW WE CAN DO THE REFUND BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ONCE AGAIN TO LET US KNOW WHAT WE DO HAVE TO REFUND ON IT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO REFUND.

PRETTY MUCH ALL OF OUR WORK GOES THROUGH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, AND WE WORK GOOD AS A TEAM, AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO TALK TO THEM RIGHT

[05:15:03]

WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT BEFORE JANUARY BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, THEN WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR ALL THIS STUFF TO ADJUST.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT ALL WE HAVE TO WAIT TO ADJUST.

BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE A MEETING BECAUSE OF THEIR SYSTEM IS BEHIND OUR SYSTEM, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THEM IN ORDER TO GET OUR NUMBERS.

SO I'M REALLY UPSET BECAUSE IT'S JUST A LOT FOR US TO DEAL WITH.

BUT LET ME FINISH ON WHERE ARE YOU AT? THERE YOU ARE, SANDY. SANDY IS THE.

CHIEF OF PROPERTY. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO TEACH THEM BEFORE THEY CAN GET ON THE COUNTER, BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING.

AND THEN THESE TWO BOOKS THAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT THAT I HAVE RIGHT HERE ARE THE BOOKS THAT WE LIVE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY THROUGH THE STATE.

IF YOU NOTICE, THEY ALL MARK BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE BOOKS IF WE WANT TO DO OR APPROVE ANYTHING IN THE COUNTY OR ANY REFUNDS OR ANYTHING THAT WE WANT TO GET DONE, IT COMES FROM AUSTIN, AND WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE BOOKS IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE. AND THEY WANTED YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

SO THEY WORKING ON SATURDAYS, THEY WORKING ON SUNDAYS SOMETIME.

I HATE TO SAY A NAME, BUT CONNIE JUST TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY, WHICH WAS VERY HEARTBREAKING.

I'M THROUGH WITH YOU. THANKS THAT MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES DOES NOT HAVE FAMILY TIME.

MEANING THAT THIS SUMMER I'M GONNA SAY BOTH OF Y'ALL.

ANNA HAD TO TAKE TWO DAYS OFF JUST TO BE ABLE TO SPEND AT LEAST TWO DAYS WITH HER KIDS FOR THE SUMMER BECAUSE THEY'RE CHIEFS AND THEY GOTTA DO IT.

CONNIE DAUGHTER, LIKE SHE SAID.

AND IT ALMOST MADE ME CRY WHEN SHE SAID IT.

HER HUSBAND, WHICH WORKS FOR THE COUNTY SOMEWHERE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE. HE'S BASICALLY HELPING HER RAISE HER CHILD BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT FAMILY TIME. THIS IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN YOU ALL HAVE.

ANY IDEA THESE PEOPLE ARE WORKING DAY AND NIGHT.

AND THEN THE WORST PART OF IT ALL IS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE TRIPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, GO TO CONVENTIONS TO KEEP UP ON ALL THE DATA THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WHEN WE GO ON THOSE TRIPS, THEY SEE PEOPLE THAT DO THE SAME JOB THEY DO, AND WE STARTED OUR PEOPLE OFF AT 17, $18 AN HOUR.

THEY'RE MAKING 19 AND $20 AN HOUR.

AND IF WE GET $17, YOU GOT TO HAVE SO MUCH EXPERIENCE, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. MOST OF OUR PEOPLE COME IN HERE, DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. AND THE IDEA THAT WE'RE THE LARGEST COUNTY.

WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY, AND WE'RE BRINGING IN REVENUE.

MORE REVENUE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

JUST IN MY DEPARTMENT ALONE.

AND I'M HERE TODAY ASKING Y'ALL.

IT HAS TO STOP. IT HAS TO STOP TODAY.

IT NEEDS TO STOP. AND I HOPE YOU ALL REALLY FEEL WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.

SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE WHERE I'M GOING.

CONNIE IS RESEARCH DEPARTMENT.

SHE'S OUR RESEARCH DEPARTMENT.

SO SHE HAS EIGHT PEOPLE IN HER RESEARCH DEPARTMENT.

THEY COME IN EVERY DAY AND THEY TRY TO GET THIS STUFF DONE EVERY DAY.

THEY HAVE TO DO REFUNDS.

YOU NAME IT, THEY HAVE TO DO IT.

THEY THOSE BOOKS THAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT ARE NOT THOSE ARE THERE MANUALS? THEN CONNIE ALSO WORK WITH THESE TWO BOOKS THAT I WORK WITH, BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO NOTHING WITH ANY OF THE LAW FIRMS OR ANYTHING, UNLESS WE GO THROUGH HERE AND MAKE SURE WE ABIDE BY THE LAW, BECAUSE ANYTHING GO WRONG, IT'S BACK ON OUR BACKS AGAIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE. IT'S A LOT OF IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK. DON'T GO NOWHERE.

COME BACK. SO, PAM, PAM WAS WAS THE REQUEST FOR A THREE.

IT WAS FOR SHE REQUESTED THREE.

I WAS FOR I THOUGHT IT WAS FOUR. YEAH, FOUR CLERKS AND 1 TO 3 CLERKS AND ONE DIVISION. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. ONE WHAT? ONE DIVISION. SUPERVISOR.

OKAY, BUT NOT FOR CLERKS.

YEAH, WE WE LET IT GO TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER. OH OKAY.

SO THAT'S NOT SHOWN ON THE ON THE REQUEST LIST OKAY.

SO WHAT ARE WE ASKING IS AND AND JENNIFER'S GOING TO GO OVER SOME OF THE NUMBERS WITH YOU GUYS. THAT'S OUR ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT HEAD OF DEPARTMENT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS SHE'S REALLY, REALLY HERE WAS SHE WON'T SAY IT, I'LL SAY IT FOR IS BECAUSE CAN YOU BRING THOSE PAPERS UP? THE ONE OF THE REASONS SHE'S REALLY HERE IS BECAUSE IN OUR OFFICE RIGHT NOW, WHICH YOU ALL PROBABLY HAVE HEARD BEFORE, WE'RE BACKED UP AGAINST THE WALL.

JENNIFER, HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE THAT'S WORKING IN HER OFFICE AND IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

IT'S THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT. IN ORDER FOR US TO DO NUMBERS, YOU REALLY DO NEED THE QUIETNESS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, EDITOR AND EVERYBODY KNOW, WE MESS WITH LARGE NUMBERS EVERY DAY.

AND SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT, THE FIRST ONE YOU SEE IS THE CALL CENTER.

WE'RE TRYING TO KNOCK OUT WALLS IN THE CALL CENTER AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT OFFICE BIG ENOUGH, WHERE JENNIFER CAN HAVE MORE ROOM IN THE CALL CENTER, WHICH WE DO HAVE A BUILDING UPSTAIRS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW.

[05:20:01]

IT'S EIGHT PEOPLE TRYING.

IS IT EIGHT JENNIFER? EIGHT PEOPLE THAT'S TRYING TO DO NUMBERS EVERY DAY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, AND THEY'RE ALL SITTING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

WE DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF EVEN MOVING AROUND GOOD IN THAT ROOM.

THE REASON THEY SHOWED YOU ALL THE BACKSTAIRS IS BECAUSE THE BACK STAIRS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, ANYBODY CAN COME IN OUR OFFICES IF THEY COME THROUGH FROM THE COURT SYSTEM OVER THERE AND THEY COME OVER HERE, WHICH THE JUDGES DO, SEND THEM OVER THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY PAY CHILD SUPPORT.

THEY CAN GO DOWN THE BACK STAIRS OR THE FRONT STAIRS AND WE NOT EVEN KNOW THEY'RE THERE.

THEY HAVE CAME INTO OUR OFFICES A COUPLE OF TIMES, NOT EVEN KNOWING THEY WERE THERE, BECAUSE THEY GOT IN FROM UPSTAIRS IN THE ELEVATOR, AND THEY JUST CAME THROUGH THE BACKSIDE OF THE RIGHT SIDE, RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE. THAT. SO THAT'S WHY WE ASKED HIM TO DO THE BILL OUT, BECAUSE WE TRY TO GET A MORE SAFER PLACE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE KEYS TO ALLOW US TO GET IN AND OUT OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

WITH US HAVING SO MANY NEW EMPLOYEES, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A NEW EMPLOYEE OR IF IT'S AN OLD EMPLOYEE.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY GAVE YOU ALL THE PICTURES OF THAT.

BUT WE BRING IN THE MONEY.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE HELP.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE, HOW MANY MORE TIMES I HAVE TO COME UP HERE. I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.

THIS WILL BE MY FIFTH YEAR COMING HERE ASKING FOR EMPLOYEES.

WE TRY TO ASK FOR THE MINIMUM.

MINIMUM PEOPLE. WE DON'T EVEN GET THAT.

WE BARELY GET THREE AND FOUR.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE Y'ALL ARE ON THE BUDGET, BUT WE NEED HELP HERE.

THIS IS ALL OUR PROBLEM, NOT JUST MY PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

AS YOU KNOW, I'M QUITE SURE THEY CALLED YOU.

THE NEEDVILLE OFFICE HAS BEEN CLOSED.

WE JUST OPEN IT UP. OPEN IT UP TODAY, WHICH I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO OPEN UP.

THERE'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE THERE.

BUT THOSE TWO PEOPLE DOES DOES MAKE A LITTLE DIFFERENCE WHEN WE NEED HELP.

A LITTLE DIFFERENCE. AND NOW THAT WE CUT LUNCHES DOWN TO 30 MINUTES.

SO THEY ASKED ME TODAY WHEN I GOT READY TO COME HERE.

WHEN YOU GO TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, ARE WE GOING TO GET A RAISE AND ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR LUNCH AGAIN? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION UNLESS YOU ALL TELL ME THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT'S GOING TO GO. YOU KNOW EVERY DAY OUR PHONES RING OFF THE HOOK, AND I EVEN TALK ABOUT THE CALL CENTER.

WE ONLY HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE CALL CENTER, WHICH OUR CALL CENTER IS NORMALLY AN HOUR AND A HALF OR TWO HOUR WAIT.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET CHAT IS A CHAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET CHAT BOX.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET CHAT BOX. BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THE CALLS FROM COMING. NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP ANYTHING OTHER THAN MANPOWER AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER.

I'M GOING TO LET JENNIFER GO OVER THE NUMBERS WITH YOU GUYS REAL QUICK OF WHAT WE BROUGHT IN WITH PROPERTY AND AUTO, AND MAYBE YOU ALL CAN THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT LONGER. I'M HOPING THAT WE JUST DON'T GET STUCK ON THAT NUMBER THREE, BECAUSE THAT NUMBER THREE IS THERE.

AND WE DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE COUNTY NEED THE MANPOWER AND THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE THAT Y'ALL SEEN TODAY, Y'ALL ONLY SEE IN A FEW OF THEM.

WE WERE OVER IN THE JUSTICE BUILDING. IT WAS OVER 100 SOMETHING DEALERS OVER THERE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

AND WHEN WE START COSTING THE DEALERS MONEY, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US.

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY. WE HAD ONE OF OUR LARGEST DEALERS, WHICH I KNOW Y'ALL REMEMBER, TEXAS DIRECT.

THEY CHANGED NAMES A COUPLE OF TIMES. I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT OTHER NAME. THEY LEFT, THEY WALKED AWAY. AND IT'S SO EASY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AN UNWILLING COUNTY.

AND THE REASON THAT WE'RE NOT IS BECAUSE IF WE TAKE MONEY FROM OTHER COUNTIES AND OTHER, OTHER COUNTIES, WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO SEND THE MONEY BACK.

SO WE WE STOPPED THAT DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.

AND WE DON'T WE HAVE TO DO ONLY WE'RE ONLY DOING FORT BEND COUNTY EMPLOY PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU COME OVER THERE AND YOU SEE ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN LINE, THE AVERAGE HOUSE, THE AVERAGE HOUSE HAS AT LEAST 2 OR 3 CARS IN THAT HOUSE, HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE? HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE AT YOUR HOUSE? I HAVE TWO IN MY HOUSE AND I'M QUITE SURE YOU HAVE KIDS NOW, SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE 3 OR 4 IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOU HAVE TO COME TO ME.

YOU ASKED ME ABOUT GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP, TO THE GROCERY STORES.

WE CAN'T GO TO THE THEY CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORES BECAUSE IF IT'S ONE THING WRONG ON THEIR PAPERWORK, IF IT'S ONE, IF THEY'RE A DAY LATE, THEY HAVE TO COME TO OUR OFFICE AND THEY HAVE TO GET IT DONE OVER THERE.

HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE AT YOUR HOUSE? THREE OR 4 OR 5.

YOU PROBABLY GOT FIVE.

I FIGURED THAT HOW MANY CARS DO YOU HAVE? YES. AND SO IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB FOR US.

AND IT'S NOT A JOB THAT WE TAKE LIGHTLY.

AND IT'S. AND THEY HAVE TO STAY IN CLASS CE HOURS.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER.

IN FACT, I'M SORRY, IRENE.

YOU HAVE HOW MANY OF MY EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW FOR TNT? FOUR. SHE HAS FOUR OF THESE 32 EMPLOYEES DOING TNT.

DO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT TNT IS? NO YOU DON'T DO YOU. WHAT TAX ENTITLE EXACTLY.

[05:25:07]

SO WE HAVE TO PULL THE PEOPLE OFF THE COUNTER AND WE HAVE TO GO WORK ON YOUR NUMBERS.

OUR NUMBERS UPDATED THE NUMBERS WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE.

THANK YOU IRENE. YES. WELL, CARMEN, I THINK WE GOT GOT THE GOT THE POINT.

OKAY. SO NO NO NO NO NO.

BECAUSE EVERY YEAR YOU GET THE POINT.

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT BUT BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE POINT THIS YEAR. YOU CAN'T JUST ONE MEMBER OF COMMISSIONERS.

BUT I GOT THE POINT. OKAY.

GOT YOU. OKAY, I THINK WE GOT.

I THINK WE ALL RIGHT? YEAH.

ANY ANY OTHER. WELL, I MEAN, I JUST I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING.

IT SOUNDS LIKE 5% IS A LOT.

YEAH. COSTING OUR DEALERS.

AND TO HEAR THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME FOLKS WHO'VE LEFT.

THAT'S A PROBLEM WORTH LOOKING AT.

NOT TO MENTION JUST I MEAN, THE WAIT TIME AT THE TAX OFFICE IS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE WANTS TO WAIT THROUGH.

AND OFTEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WORK HOURLY JOBS, HAVING TO SIT AT A WINDOW AND MISS HAVING LUNCH BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET PAPERWORK DONE. I HEAR YOU QUESTION FOR YOU MISS GOOGLE'S WHEN WITH.

AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TOMORROW IN TERMS OF COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, DO YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE HOURLY WAGES, TOO? BECAUSE SHE MENTIONED PEOPLE WHO MAKE $17 AN HOUR IN HER OFFICE, DO YOU TAKE INTO DO YOU ARE YOU TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OUR PART TIME EMPLOYEES AS WELL, OR THOSE WHO ARE PAID HOURLY? SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IS WHEN WE HAVE A COST OF LIVING, IT INCLUDES PART TIME AND FULL TIME.

OKAY, GOOD, GOOD. THAT'S IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU. ONE OTHER THING.

I KNOW YOU SAID THANK YOU.

YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE AND YOU WAITED THREE DAYS TO GET YOUR TAGS.

AM I RIGHT? I KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

AND CAN WE DO SO? JUDGE MCCULLUM CAME IN.

IT'S ON HERE. AND IT'S PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S.

IT'S NUMBER 17. OKAY, SO IF WE WANTED TO GO BACK, LET ME LAY IT OUT FOR RIGHT QUICK, I'LL SAY.

OKAY, SO THE STATE RAISED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAN BE PART OF THE SUPPLEMENT FROM 18,000 TO 25,000. SO $7,000 MORE.

BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, THE COST OF EVERYTHING IS GOING UP.

AND SO THAT INCLUDES THE COUNTY JUDGE, TOO.

OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONER, WHAT I WAS SAYING IS WE HAVE TO TALK ANYWAY.

WE HAVE TO COME BACK TOMORROW, RIGHT? WE WILL TALK ALL THAT TOGETHER.

AND ALSO JUDGES ARE GOING TO COME BACK FOR THE ITEM.

AND ALSO, I THOUGHT WE COULD JUST DO IT ALL TOGETHER TOMORROW.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I AM SAYING.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL CONCLUDE.

SO WHO IS HERE? JUDGE MCCULLUM.

SHE'S ONE OF THE. AND JUDGE.

JUDGE WALLACE. THEY'RE BOTH HERE.

THEY'RE WITH THE CSLS.

THEY'RE NOT WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS.

YEAH. SO WHAT? WHAT THEY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO LAY OUT.

HE WAS SAYING. YEAH. SO WHAT HE'S ALREADY MENTIONED HERE THE SALARY INCREASE.

SO WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND TALK COLLECTIVELY.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. IT'S NOT.

NO. IT'S A SUPPLEMENT. IT'S JUVENILE BOARD.

OKAY. SO PLEASE COME UP.

PLEASE COME UP. JUDGES.

THANK YOU. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO ADJOURN.

AND SO WE'LL KEEP IT BRIEF.

I WANT TO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE LANGUAGE ON THE REQUEST IS INCORRECT.

AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SALARY.

WE KNOW WHERE YOU ALL YOUR POSITION IS AS IT RELATES TO SALARY REQUEST.

AND SO THIS IS THE JUDICIAL SUPPLEMENT.

THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE JUVENILE BOARD RECEIVES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE COUNTY COURT JUDGES OR DISTRICT JUDGES.

SO THAT STATUTE THAT YOU LIKE TO CITE WITH REGARD TO THE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN $1,000 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COUNTY COURT JUDGES AND THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS. WE ARE STRICTLY TALKING ABOUT THE JUDICIAL SUPPLEMENT.

THAT IS ACTUALLY YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS CONFUSING BECAUSE ALSO THE JUDICIAL SALARY FROM THE FROM AUSTIN.

SO I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING. NO IT'S SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I DIDN'T I MISUNDERSTOOD.

IT'S OKAY. IT'S ALL RIGHT. WE WANTED TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SALARY AND THE SUPPLEMENT.

AND SO, COMMISSIONER PRESTAGE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO.

I WAS TRYING TO I MISUNDERSTOOD, USE MY POWERS OF PERSUASION.

BUT ANYWAY IT'S $7,000 MORE THAN THE CAP WENT UP BY $7,000.

AND THE REQUEST IS THAT YOU KNOW, WE PAID UP TO THAT AMOUNT TO $18,000 FOR YEARS, AND NOW IT'S GOING TO 25,000 THAT WE PAY THE ADDITIONAL $7,000,

[05:30:05]

AND SO I PUT ON THERE THAT IT WAS FOR 15 BOARD MEMBERS.

I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE TWO NEW JUDGES THAT WOULD BE COMING ON.

AND AND YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE THE COUNTY JUDGE EITHER? I DON'T THINK I DID. YOU DID.

OKAY, I DID. SO IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE NOT 128.

IT WOULD BE 146,132. THAT'S WITH BENEFITS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

I THINK IT'S REASONABLE.

AND WE WENT UP TO THE MAX BEFORE AND THE MAX HAS GONE UP.

CORRECT. WE WERE ALREADY AT THE MAX.

YEAH. AND SO IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. STURDEVANT, HE HAS ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS INCREASE, THE $7,000 INCREASE TO THE SUPPLEMENT WOULD BE AT NO IMPACT.

AND THOSE WERE HIS WORDS.

EXACTLY THAT IT WOULD HAVE NO IMPACT.

ANY QUESTIONS? PROBABLY SAID NO.

MATERIAL IMPACT. MATERIAL IMPACT.

OKAY. NO MATERIAL IMPACT.

EXCUSE ME. BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS AN IMPACT, RIGHT? CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE LISTENING.

WHY WHY DID THE STATE INCREASE THE SUPPLEMENT? WAS THERE ANY RATIONALE GIVEN IN.

AND WHAT HAVE WE SEEN HERE LOCALLY IN TERMS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY WITH OUR THOSE WITH, WITH OUR JUVENILES IN, IN, IN SUPPORTING THE JUVENILE BOARD WORK.

WELL, THE SUPPLEMENT ACTUALLY REFLECTS ADDITIONAL DUTIES THAT AT EVERY MEMBER OF THE JUVENILE BOARD PARTICIPATES IN THAT ARE IN ADDITION TO OUR JUDICIAL DUTIES.

AND SO WE HAVE SUPPORT FOR THIS FROM THE CHIEF, THE JUVENILE DIVISION. KYLE DOBBS IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS.

THE MAJORITY OF THE JUDGES ON THE JUVENILE BOARD ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.

THE INCREASE AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL WAS BASED UPON THE SAME THINGS, KNOWING THAT THERE IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FACTOR OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN ANY JUVENILE BOARD FOR ANY COUNTY. AND SO THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE INCREASE THAT WE ARE REQUESTING. JUDGE MCCOLLUM I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE, ONE STATUTORY CLARIFICATION, WHICH IS THE INCREASE CAP WAS FOR A TOTAL SUPPLEMENT. IT DID NOT INDICATE WHERE THAT SUPPLEMENT HAD TO COME FROM.

SO THAT SUPPLEMENT COULD HAVE BEEN JUST BY WAY OF COUNTY SALARIES.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN WHERE THE WAY WE SEE IT IS FOR OUR SERVICE ON THE JUDICIAL, ON THE JUVENILE BOARD.

AND I THINK THAT'S RELEVANT JUST BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC SEES AND NOT PARTICULARLY FOR THE JUDGES.

SO OF THE WE SIT ON THERE AND THAT ACTUALLY TAKES US KIND OF OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN JUDICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE THAT BOARD IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD.

SO ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT WE CARRY ALL OF THE DISCIPLINES AND FOR THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW JUDGES, IT'S SIX DISCIPLINES AND A SPECIALTY COURT ON TOP OF THAT.

THOSE ARE THESE ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINES.

BUT IT ALSO OPENS US POTENTIALLY TO A LIABILITY THAT WE COULD SIT IN OUR BUBBLE AND PROTECT OURSELVES FROM IN OUR JUDICIAL IMMUNITY.

AND WE DON'T BECAUSE FOR, YOU KNOW, ACTS OF INATTENTION OR NEGLECT, WE REALLY TAKE OURSELVES OUTSIDE OF THAT IN OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE JUVENILE BOARD, AND WE DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT OUR JUVENILE DEPARTMENT HERE AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO OUR YOUTH ARE AMONGST THEIR PREMIER IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. AND NOT THAT ANY CHILD WANTS TO BE DETAINED, BUT IF YOU WANT, IF YOU GET DETAINED, FORT BEND COUNTY IS THE PLACE TO BE.

BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF CARE AND SUPPORT AND RESPECT THAT WE BRING TO THE WAY WE HAVE TREAT OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE HERE.

AND THAT'S THE HEAVY LIFTING.

AND WE WE WHOLLY BRING ABOARD OUR DISTRICT COURT COUNTERPARTS BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT THE WORK THAT WE DO. THEY YIELD AND DEFER OFTEN TO OUR EXPERTISE SUBSTANTIVELY.

AND THERE'S VALUE IN THAT THAT WE RECOGNIZE.

AND I'LL JUST ADD AS, AS A TO TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MCCOY IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES CODE, 1.152.007, THE DUTIES OF THE JUVENILE BOARD INCLUDE ESTABLISHING THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, EMPLOYING THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER, ADOPTING A BUDGET, AND ESTABLISHING POLICIES.

FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR OUR JUVENILE SERVICES, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

AND SO WE MEET QUARTERLY.

I AM THE CHAIR OF THE JUVENILE BOARD.

WE MEET QUARTERLY. AND AT EVERY MEETING WE ARE APPROVING BUDGETS, WE'RE APPROVING SALARIES, WE ARE APPROVING ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND THE RESOURCES THAT THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT RELIES UPON IN ORDER TO

[05:35:02]

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. JUDGES. APPRECIATE IT.

ASSUMING NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. I WILL SAY JUST BEFORE WE END, BECAUSE IT'S RELEVANT TO THIS AGENDA. NOT NOT Y'ALL.

THANK YOU. I THINK COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP TO MY QUESTIONS FROM EARLIER. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS ON.

YES WE DO. WE WERE ASKED TO GET SOME NUMBERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND WE HAVE SOME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER QUICKLY.

I DO WANT TO ADD I'LL GIVE YOU THE I WANT TO ADD TWO THINGS.

FIRST, I DID MENTAL HEALTH WHEN WE FIRST GOT HIM.

AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE DEALING WITH MILD DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.

I HAD A LAWYER SHOW UP IN OUR OFFICE AND ASK TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A LAWYER WHO WANTED TO GET CASES APPOINTED, AND HE HE WASN'T. HE ACTUALLY HAD AN ADULT SON THAT NEEDED SOME HELP.

AND SO I WENT TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND I TALKED TO HIM AND I SAID, HEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY WEAPONS IN THE HOUSE? AND HE SAID, I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT THAT. THAT BOY GREW UP WITH GUNS IN THE HOUSE ALL THE TIME. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THAT. I JUST DON'T WANT A SITUATION TO HAPPEN AND THINGS TO GET OUT OF HAND. WELL, HE CAME BACK TWO WEEKS LATER AND HIS SON SWALLOWED A PISTOL.

THAT'S THE KIND OF CASES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND THAT IS WHAT KATRINA AND THAT NOT NECESSARILY THAT EXTREME, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY JUST NEEDING SOME COUNSELING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT THE CASE PROBABLY STARTED WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE. AND THAT'S KATRINA'S WHOLE DAY, EVERY DAY.

SHE PROVIDES SOME OTHER SUPPORT, SUCH AS DEALING WITH FILING FEES.

LAURA'S GOT IT. BUT SOMETIMES THE FACILITIES WANT TO ARGUE ABOUT IT.

AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF FEES ARE CHARGED.

SHE WORKS WITH A LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH TDC.

SHE TRAINS WITH THE JAIL AND ALSO THE CIT TEAM.

AND IF YOU HADN'T KNOWN IT, THE STATE HOSPITALS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ENOUGH BEDS. THE AMOUNT OF JUGGLING THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO FIND BEDS IS PHENOMENAL.

AND I MEAN THAT IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY.

AND SO I SAY THAT KEEP ALL THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.

AND WHEN SHE'S GONE, WE DO HAVE OTHER LAWYERS, BUT Y'ALL GET A LITTLE SENSITIVE WHEN YOU'RE WAITING ON THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE NORMALLY ON TO PULL OFF TO DO THAT.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, ALSO WE HAVE 23 LAWYERS.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN I TELL YOU WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU. OKAY.

SO TARRANT COUNTY HAS TWO LAWYERS AND FOUR ADMINS, AND THEY HAVE A TOTAL OF 26, 2640 PER YEAR.

SO THAT TRACKS BUT THEY HAVE DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.

THEY ALSO HAVE A 300 MEMBER STAFF.

THAT'S A CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

ABOUT 135 OF THEM ARE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

THAT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN 23 LAWYERS.

SO I'M WILLING TO BET THEY GOT MORE PEOPLE TO FILL IN THAN WE DO.

COLLIN COUNTY, THEY HAVE 2800.

THAT'S THREE LAWYERS AND TWO CLERKS.

THEY ALSO HAVE 11 DIVISIONS.

YOUR FORT BEND COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WE HAVE THREE KAUFMAN COUNTY.

THEY HAVE ONE LAWYER AND THREE ADMIN, AND THEY HAD ABOUT 500 TO 600 CASES.

AND THEY ARE ABOUT 13 MILES FROM THE STATE HOSPITAL.

SO THEY HAVE A NETWORK THAT THEY CAN WORK WITH.

THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DEVELOPED THAN WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE ANY NUMBERS FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU NOW THEY HAVE 60 LAWYERS AND THAT'S HUGE, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN ROTATE IN AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.

WE GOT A LEAN TEAM AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT.

AND SO WE WOULD JUST URGE THAT REQUEST.

AS BRIDGET SAID, IT'S THE FOURTH YEAR THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

IMAGINE AGAIN YOUR WHOLE DAY IS IS SPENT WITH TRYING TO KEEP FAMILIES AT EASE AND GET THEIR LOVED ONE WHO IS REFUSING TO GO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.

RIGHT WE ARE. SHE IS IN THE TRENCHES TAKING CARE OF THAT, AND WE PULL A LAWYER OFF TO GO HANDLE IT.

BUT THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT SPECIALIZED LEVEL OF TRAINING.

WE DESPERATELY NEED SOME BACKUP IN THAT AREA.

IF NOT, THEN, I MEAN, A FAMILY CAN FILE THESE ON THEIR OWN.

BY STATUTE. THEY CAN. BUT I THINK YOU'RE DOING THEM A DISSERVICE.

AND WHEN THESE FAMILIES ARE IN ACUTE CRISIS, WHEN THEY'RE COMING TO OUR OUR OFFICE, EVEN A LAWYER SAYING HE NEEDS HELP AND HE'S A LAWYER, RIGHT. AND HE NEEDS OUR HELP TO GET IT DONE.

AND SO WE WE PLEAD WITH YOU, PLEASE HELP US.

HELP THEM. AND IF YOU NEED MORE NUMBERS, WE'LL KEEP DIGGING.

BUT I THINK IT'S. I THINK IT SELLS ITSELF.

PLEASE HELP US. HELP THEM.

OKAY. WITH THAT. THANK YOU.

AND IT IS 414. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

WAIT. NO. NO RECESS. NO.

ACTUALLY WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE ARE GOING TO.

WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN AND COME BACK TOMORROW BECAUSE.

I'M SORRY. WHAT? WHAT I'VE LOST BECAUSE OF.

IF WE ADJOURN, IT'S POSSIBLE WE CAN VIOLATE OPEN MEETING ACT.

[05:40:03]

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.

THE STATUTE ALLOWS YOU TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE BUSINESS OF THE COURT, AND YOU HAVE THAT POSTED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR AGENDA, BUT THAT THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT WHAT I.

WHAT WHAT DID YOU HAVE A SEPARATE NOTICE POSTED? SO WE POSTED THREE MEETINGS.

AND SO WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN THAT.

SO IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT THEN WE WEREN'T WE WEREN'T.

NO. BECAUSE BECAUSE YOU GUYS SAID YOU CANNOT RECESS.

NO, WE DID NOT. OLGA, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME? SO THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONING REGARDING THE POSTING, AND SO YOU CAN RECESS TODAY, BUT IF WE WERE TO PASS TOMORROW, THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION CAME IN.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE POSTED THREE DIFFERENT LEGAL NOTICES OR THE AGENDAS IN THE LEGAL NOTICES SECTION, SO YOU CAN RECESS TODAY.

OKAY. AND THEN IF FOR WHATEVER REASON TOMORROW YOU NEED TO AGAIN TAKE WEDNESDAY FOR ANOTHER DAY, THEN YOU CAN CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

OKAY. SO YOU FEEL MICHEL, YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT.

WE ARE RECESSING AND COMING BACK TOMORROW.

SO AS OF COMING BACK TOMORROW, I BELIEVE THAT THE STATUTE ALLOWS YOU TO CONTINUE YOUR BUSINESS THAT YOU DIDN'T COMPLETE TODAY? TOMORROW.

OKAY. I WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IF THERE WAS A QUESTION.

BUT AS TO CONTINUING IT TILL TOMORROW, PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE AND WHAT YOU POSTED, I HAVE NO CONCERN ABOUT THAT. OKAY.

SO THAT MEANS WE WILL RESIST THIS SPECIAL BUDGET HEARING MEETING.

WE WILL RECONVENE AT 9:00 TOMORROW MORNING.

THANK YOU. CHAIR.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND IT IS TIME.

901I CALL, NOT CALL TO ORDER.

WE RECONVENE AFTER LAST EVENING RECESS TO CONTINUE THE SPECIAL MEETING.

AND ALSO BUDGET WORKSHOP OF FORT BEND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT AT THIS TIME.

I WILL PASS IT ON TO PAMELA.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. YES. YES, SIR.

YESTERDAY WE LEFT OFF ON FIVE D.

AND WE FINISHED THROUGH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

SO THE NEXT ITEM IS FIVE B, WHICH I BELIEVE IS CIP.

I DON'T HAVE MY AGENDA.

NO, NO COST OF LIVING.

CAN YOU PLEASE CHANGE TO SLIDE 16 OF THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET SLIDE AND JUDGE JUST BEFORE WE START? WE DO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER RIGHT NOW.