4.a. 9:30 a.m. - Public Hearing: The Commissioners Court invites public input regarding the 2024 tax rate for the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health.

[4.a. 9:30 a.m. - Public Hearing: The Commissioners Court invites public input regarding the 2024 tax rate for the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health.]

SEEING THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE.

BUT TO TRULY LOOK AT THE PICTURE AND THE OVERALL COST, IT WOULD BE LOOKING AT 10.4 MILLION VERSUS THE 3.7 MILLION.

SO PROBABLY IS CLEAR AS MUD, BUT SORRY, I'M TRYING MY BEST.

FOUR VERSUS A 3.6 IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF OUR BUDGET.

YES. FOR SURE. HOW MANY YEARS? ROUGHLY OVER 15 YEARS.

IT'LL BE SPREAD OUT THOSE AMOUNTS.

SO THIS FIRST YEAR, HOW MUCH WOULD IT BE IN THE BUDGET? HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST US THIS FIRST YEAR? LET'S SEE, I KNOW I DID THESE I DID THESE NUMBERS HERE.

THE 1% ANNUALLY STARTING THIS YEAR WOULD BE 693,774.

THE 20% CPI WOULD BE THIS YEAR.

AND EACH YEAR AFTER $245,908.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THEN IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SO. OH HOLD ON.

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. ONLY PEOPLE WHO RETIRED BASICALLY IN THE LAST 12 YEARS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS.

FROM THE 20%? YES, COMMISSIONER. AND SO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT'S BENEFICIAL, BECAUSE IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD RETIRED EARLIER ARE THE OLDER PEOPLE, AND THEY NEED MORE ASSISTANCE THAN SOMEONE WHO MAYBE RETIRED IN 2022 AND THEY CAN STILL GET ANOTHER JOB OR SOMETHING.

VERY GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

IN FACT, I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED WHEN WE RAN THE NUMBERS ON THE SOMEONE THAT RETIRES TWO YEARS IS GOING TO GET MORE OF THE AT 2%.

BUT IF GOING BACK TO THAT SLIDE ON SLIDE TWO, COMMISSIONER, WHERE YOU SEE LIKE ALL THE THE PAST APPROVAL COLAS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAVE GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, IF YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE CPIS, THEY'RE PRETTY HIGH 30%, 30%, 30%, IN ADDITION TO 2% ON 2002 THAT AFFECTED MORE OF THE RETIREES THAT HAVE RETIRED A LONG TIME AGO.

[00:30:04]

SO WHEN THEY DO THE FORMULA FOR THIS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL RETIREES AND SAY, OKAY, YOU ARE OLDER RETIREES.

YOU ACTUALLY ALREADY BENEFITED FROM SEVERAL OF THESE CPI INCREASES AT COURT VERSUS SOMEONE THAT RECENTLY RETIRED HAS NOT HAD THAT BENEFIT.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THE PAST FEW YEARS INFLATION HAS REALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, SKYROCKETED.

SO THESE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS FORMULA THAT COMES UP WITH THESE NUMBERS HERE.

SO YOU'RE SAYING RETIREES FROM 2001 TO 2006, THEY EACH GOT A 30% CPI ARE STILL BENEFITING FROM THAT 30% CPI THAT WAS PASSED BACK THEN.

YES, YES. COMMISSIONER IT'S ONGOING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THANKS, JUDGE. SO I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS AROUND REPEATED RAISES WITH THE RETIREMENT PLAN. SO IF WE WERE TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS RAISE, THEN WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T MAKE THIS APPEAR AS A CONSISTENT THAT WE'D HAVE TO FACTOR INTO OUR DEBT RATIO AND EVERYTHING.

SURE. ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

SO TO ANSWER THAT, JUST IF I COULD FULL TRANSPARENCY, WE DID REACH OUT TO TCDRS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE ACTUARIES, THEY'RE ABLE TO GUIDE US AND TELL US. SO IF YOU ALL DO OPT TO DO A COLA THIS YEAR, IT WILL NOT HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR REPEATING COLA DESIGNATION LIKE SO.

[4.b. Immediately following item 4a: Discussion and appropriate action regarding a motion to set the 2024 ad valorem tax rate for the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health and approval of an order of Bexar County Commissioners Court setting the 2024 tax rate and levying the 2024 taxes for Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health.]

WE WON'T HAVE TO DO IT FOR THIS YEAR.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, THE LIKELIHOOD AND IT'S NOT A DEFINITE THE WAY I KIND OF EXPLAIN IT, IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST WITH OUR PERSONAL TYPE CREDIT SCORES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY GIVE YOU A TEMPLATE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND LIKELY HAPPEN.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT.

IN THIS CASE, OUR RATE.

BUT THEY DON'T COME OUT EXACTLY UNTIL THEY CONSIDER ALL FACTORS.

BUT TO YOUR POINT, THIS YEAR, IF YOU ALL WERE TO OPT FOR AN INCREASE, IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE COLA DESIGNATION REPEATING COLA DESIGNATION.

HOWEVER, IF WE DO DO IT THIS YEAR, IT IS REALLY HIGHLY LIKELY AND WE WON'T GET CONFIRMATION UNTIL LAST YEAR.

BUT THAT IF YOU DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR MOST LIKELY IT WOULD AFFECT OUR BOOKS.

WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN OUR LIABILITIES LONG TERM.

YEAH. APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COURT REALIZES THAT IF WE DO GO FORWARD WITH THIS, AND RETIREES NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT TOO, THAT IF WE DO GO FORWARD WITH THIS TODAY, THEN NEXT YEAR WE REALLY CAN'T TOUCH THIS BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR CREDIT RATING AND HOW THIS IS VIEWED BY THE RATINGS AGENCIES.

CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM SO THE PROPOSAL WITH THE 20% CPI IS GOING TO BE FUNDED OVER 15 YEARS, NOT JUST OUT OF POCKET.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN.

WELL, THAT'S MORE OF A BUDGET FUNCTION, BUT THAT'S.

YES, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT AMOUNT HASN'T BEEN IN THE BUDGET AS PRE-FUNDED.

SO IT WOULD BE OVER THE 15 YEAR OVER 15 YEARS.

SO JUST LOOKING BACK AT OUR LAST PRESENTATION THAT HAD ALL THESE LISTS, DID WE JUST START DOING THIS FINANCING OVER 15 YEARS? BECAUSE I JUST SAW IT ON THE LAST ONE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT PRIOR TO THAT SHOWING THE 15 YEAR, IS THAT SOMETHING NEW OR.

WELL, TYPICALLY, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE CONSIDER OR WORK WITH BUDGET AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT AND EVEN I'LL JUST SAY THE PREMISE THAT IN PRIOR YEARS, WAY BACK, WE'VE ALSO NOT 100% PRE-FUNDED BUT HAVE WORKED TO PARTIALLY FUND, WHICH OBVIOUSLY DOES HELP THROUGHOUT ALSO.

BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, AND WORKING WITH BUDGET AND GIVING THE DIFFERENT FACTORS, AND WE DID GIVE THEM OUR RECOMMENDATION EARLY OBVIOUSLY DECISION UP TO YOU, BUT THAT WE WOULD DO A 0% COLA FOR THIS YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

SO JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE US THAT HAD ALL THE PREVIOUS COLAS FLAT RATES, IT LOOKED LIKE THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS FINANCED OVER 15 YEARS WAS THE LAST ONE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THAT WAS JUST LEFT OFF THAT SLIDE AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE OR WHETHER THIS IS JUST SOMETHING NEW.

WE STARTED DOING.

OKAY. ACTUALLY.

SO I'VE GOT DIANA HERE, AND AGAIN, SHE'S OUR EXPERT.

COME OVER HERE. DIANA, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US? SO ALL PREVIOUS COLA'S HAVE BEEN FINANCED.

SO THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EVER BEEN PRE FUNDED IS IN 2018, THE 10% CPI.

[00:35:06]

THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT WE PAID UP FRONT.

OKAY. BUT ALL OTHERS HAVE BEEN FINANCED.

OKAY. THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

NOW I KIND OF WANT TO HIT ON SOMETHING.

I THINK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES MAYBE WAS WAS TRYING TO GET AT.

BUT LOOKING AT YOUR SLIDE FOUR AND I'M TRYING TO REFERENCE THIS WITH THE PRESENTATION FROM LAST WEEK.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT LAST WEEK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE THE CPI BASED COLA, WHEN YOU HAD THOSE WHO HAD RETIRED, YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, THEY WERE ACTUALLY GETTING A HIGHER ESTIMATED MONTHLY INCREASE.

AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF SENT ME A SNAPSHOT OF IT.

SO I'M LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW.

SURE, BUT LOOK LIKE 30.

THIS WAS FOR A 30% CPI BASED COLA, RIGHT? YES. BUT AT 30 YEARS RETIRED AND 94 WOULD HAVE BEEN $108, 2004 WOULD HAVE BEEN $120.

AND THEN IT STARTS TO COME DOWN.

IN 2014 IT WOULD HAVE BEEN $88.

AND IN 2019, FOR KIND OF A RECENT RETIREE WOULD HAVE BEEN $41.

SO THOSE FOLKS WHO RETIRED A LONG TIME AGO WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY HAD MORE IN A COLA BASED CPI BASED COLA AS OPPOSED TO RECENT RETIREES.

BUT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT ON SLIDE FOUR, FIRST OF ALL, THE NOT ELIGIBLE, IF RETIRED BEFORE 2011, CAN CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT? AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE REALLY ON THIS THE GREATEST COLA IS FOR THOSE WHO JUST RETIRED.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS OUR EXPECTATION IN KIND OF THIS 20% COLA.

NO, I TOTALLY AGREE, COMMISSIONER.

IN FACT, LIKE I SAID, I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THAT'S HOW THAT CAME OUT, THAT 2% FOR ANYONE THAT'S RETIRED WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS ON THERE, BECAUSE THAT ESTIMATED MONTHLY INCREASE IS $50.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, OR TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE THIS CAN GET PRETTY COMPLICATED.

AND LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO PRETEND TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW ALL THE FORMULAS WORK.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU FROM A HIGH LEVEL, I MEAN, WE HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING, BUT WHEN WE DID DO THE CPI AND TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, WE AT THAT POINT DID NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE 20%.

SO THIS IS A 30%.

AND THE COST TO THAT AND AGAIN, IS A LOT MORE THAN, THE 20% IN FACT.

DO YOU HAVE THAT OKAY.

YEAH. SO TO YOUR POINT, IT'S GOING TO THE 30% BECAUSE IT'S A HIGHER AMOUNT OF PURCHASING POWER IS GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AGAIN INDIVIDUALLY AT EACH RETIREE.

AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE, OKAY, THE 20% OBVIOUSLY IS 10% LESS.

SO A LOT OF THE OTHER COLAS COULD HAVE BEEN COVERING THAT AMOUNT THROUGHOUT THOSE PAST YEARS.

BUT NOW YOU'RE SAYING, HEY, WE WANT TO WORK THEM UP TO THAT EXTRA 10%.

SO IF YOU SEE THE COST ON THAT, I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT A COST RIGHT NOW FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, TO DO THE 20% 3.7 MILLION AND TO DO THAT 30%, THAT'S $28 MILLION.

SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THAT'S A LOT MORE COST.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBERS, OBVIOUSLY A HIGHER PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO BE MORE.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT AGAIN THAT THAT SLIDE THAT HAD THE 30%, THE 40% AND THE 50%, AND THEY'RE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THOSE WHO RETIRED EARLIER THE ESTIMATED MONTHLY INCREASE IS MORE.

AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE CASE HERE WITH THE 20%.

I'M JUST TRYING TO.

YES. AND WE EVEN RAN JUST TO CONSIDER LIKE DOING BETWEEN 10%.

AND WHEN WE DID THAT, HOW IT COMES OUT, THE RETIREES, IT ONLY AFFECTED WHAT IT ONLY WOULD AFFECT TWO YEARS.

AND ANYONE THAT RETIRED PAST THAT TWO YEARS WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING.

SO AND TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, I GUESS THAT TO I GUESS THE FACTOR IS, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF YEARS GOING BACK.

OR DO YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT DIANA I'M PROBABLY NOT EXPLAINING IT CORRECTLY, BUT GO AHEAD.

AND CAN YOU ALSO JUST CLARIFY WHY THOSE BEFORE 2011 NOT ELIGIBLE IF RETIRED BEFORE 2011? SO WE RUN PROJECTIONS AND THEY COME FROM TCDRS.

SO YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR THE 30% CPI RETIREES THAT HAVE BEEN RETIRED THE LONGEST.

THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE HIGHER INCREASE IN PERCENTAGES RATHER THAN THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN RETIRED RECENTLY.

SO THE 20% CPI IS NOT GOING TO COVER THOSE OLDER RETIREES BECAUSE THEY'VE RECEIVED PREVIOUS INCREASES THROUGH CPI.

SO THE SYSTEM FIGURES OUT THAT THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED AN INCREASE.

THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A HIGHER CPI THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY OF BEING RETIRED.

[00:40:01]

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NOT ACCOUNTED IN THE 20% CPI.

WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A HIGHER CPI TO COVER THOSE OLDER RETIREES.

BUT THE YOU KNOW, THE COST IS IS GREATLY VARIES TO COVER THOSE OLDER RETIREES.

LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN THAT PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, A RETIREE THAT HAS BEEN RETIRED FOR 30 YEARS WITH A 30% CPI WOULD GET A 7.63% INCREASE BECAUSE WE WOULD DO A HIGHER CPI.

BUT OF COURSE YOU KNOW, IT'S THE COURT'S DECISION.

OKAY. WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND YOU KNOW, AND I'LL GIVE IT ONE LAST SHOT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS SO, SO THAT IN THAT CONSIDERATION.

THAT WAS A GOOD EXPLANATION, DIANA.

BUT ALSO TOO AT THAT 20%, THEY'RE ONLY TRYING TO RESTORE THAT 20% PURCHASING POWER.

SO LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, 15% HAD BEEN RESTORED BY PRIOR COLAS VERSUS THAT SAME 15%.

NOW WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, A 30% WE WANT A 30 RESTORE 30% PURCHASING POWER LOSS DUE TO INFLATION.

SO NOW THAT 15% IS AN ADDITIONAL 15% THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO COVER, WHICH NOW WILL AFFECT PEOPLE GOING BACK ALL THE WAY THAT RETIRED 30 YEARS AGO.

OKAY, I THINK I BETTER UNDERSTAND IT.

I'D STILL LIKE TO AT SOME POINT IN THE COMING MONTHS, GET A DEEPER DIVE.

SO SURE. AND TO DIANA'S POINT, WE RUN THESE REPORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH TCDRS.

SO WE HAVE DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECKED THEM.

AND AGAIN THESE FORMULAS GET PRETTY COMPLICATED AND INVOLVE THE ACTUARIES.

BUT THAT'S THE BASIC PRINCIPLE BEHIND THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING OUT.

OKAY. I APPRECIATE IT, LEO.

THANK YOU. DIANE. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

LEO LET ME THANK YOU.

AND FIRST OF ALL, SAY, BEFORE I GET INTO MY QUESTIONS, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF TRYING TO GET THESE NUMBERS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE BOTTOM LINE OF FOLKS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THANK YOU. I DO APPRECIATE AND WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

I AGREE, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING.

I WANTED TO JUST MENTION THAT I KNOW YOU HAD KIND OF JUST SENT OUT A MESSAGE ABOUT, I GUESS, LAST WEEK ABOUT THE REPEATING COLA.

WE NEED TO BE VERY COGNIZANT OF THAT AND CAREFUL OF THAT.

AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T BIND FUTURE COURTS TO ANYTHING, BUT I THINK IT'S A CAUTIONARY TALE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP IN MIND WHAT WE DO TODAY COULD HAVE IMPACTS NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

AND I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE GASB STANDARDS ON REPEATING COLAS, AND I KNOW THESE ARE JUST GUIDELINES AND THEY'RE NOT SET IN STONE, BUT IT SAYS, AS A RULE OF THUMB, YOU CAN PASS A COLA FOR YOUR RETIREES EVERY THREE YEARS AND NOT RECEIVE A REPEATING COLA DESIGNATION.

AGAIN, I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

EVERY YEAR IS DIFFERENT. AND WE'VE SEEN THE TREND LINE OF REVENUES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, ALTHOUGH WE'RE GROWING STILL AND HEALTHY.

THAT TREND LINE IS KIND OF TRENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF LESS REVENUE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF DOING THIS.

BUT LET ME ASK, I GUESS A BROADER QUESTION, LEO, AND THIS MAY BE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FOR FOR FOLKS IN AUSTIN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WHEN IF WE DO THIS TODAY, THE 20% CPI, WE WOULD GO FROM A FUNDING RATIO OF 86.1 TO 86%.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S A HEALTHY NUMBER.

I THINK WE HAD A DISCUSSION LAST WEEK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT 86 WAS HEALTHY ENOUGH.

I THINK COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHER PENSION FUNDS, IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY HEALTHY.

BUT WE'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO GO HIGHER IF WE IF POSSIBLE.

SURE. AND TYPICALLY, AND I KNOW EVERY PENSION PLAN IS DIFFERENT, BUT TYPICALLY THE WAY YOU DO THAT, YOU INCREASE YOUR FUNDING RATIO. A NUMBER OF WAYS, BUT ONE OF THEM IS BASED ON RETURNS.

RIGHT. AND THE HEALTH OF THE FUND.

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE TCDRS IS A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE INVESTING MODEL WHERE IT'S A 7% RETURN EVERY YEAR.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY GET A BUMP THERE IF WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE MARKET GO WELL OR WE'RE TIED INTO THE S&P 500, WHICH HISTORICALLY IS A 10% RETURN. SO WE CAN'T REALLY COUNT ON INCREASED INVESTMENT RETURNS NECESSARILY TO INCREASE THAT PENSION LIABILITY.

BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE CAN BE DOING AS AN ORGANIZATION TO TRY TO INCREASE THAT FUNDING RATIO? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE THAT REALLY YOU KNOW MY INTENT HERE REALLY IS YOU KNOW, I HAVE REQUESTED IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW COLA'S

[00:45:07]

RECEIVED BY RETIREES. SO I DO HAVE A HEART.

BUT I ALSO DO WANT TO PRESERVE, YOU KNOW, OUR FINANCIAL, YOU KNOW, OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR ALL OF US, FOR CURRENT NOT ONLY PRIOR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE RETIRED.

SO GREAT QUESTIONS, EXCELLENT QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER.

SO PART OF THAT PLAN WHAT WE CAN DO IS ACTUALLY SO THIS GIVES US THE CONTRIBUTION RATE.

CORRECT. SO IF WE DIDN'T DO A COLA THEY'RE SAYING HEY, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AT THE SAME FUNDED RATIO THEN IT'S GOING TO BE 14.41 THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE THAT RATE OFF OF OUR PAYROLL, OBVIOUSLY FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

WELL, WHAT WE CAN DO IS ACTUALLY ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO THAT TO HELP KEEP OUR JUST BECAUSE THEY GIVE US THAT CONTRIBUTION RATE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN CONTRIBUTE ANOTHER 1% FOR THE YEAR OR 2%.

THAT'S THEIR CONSERVATIVE AMOUNT THAT SAYS, HEY, IF YOU WANT TO SUSTAIN THIS DECENT RATE, STAY AT THIS.

SO THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM ACTUALLY GOING AND SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTION RATE.

AND IN FACT, ON PRIOR SLIDES THAT I SHOWED AND OF COURSE WE'VE ESTIMATED AND THIS WAS LAST, LAST WEEK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT AS AN EXAMPLE, TARRANT COUNTY, WHICH, YOU KNOW, AS THE JUDGE POINTED OUT, I MEAN, THEY'VE DONE THE 1%, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, BUT THEIR FUNDED RATIO IS AT 91.5, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS AS HEAD AND SHOULDERS OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

WELL, THEIR ELECTION RATE IS ACTUALLY 11.54.

SO TPO SAYS YOUR CONTRIBUTION RATE IS 11.54, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAYING OUT 19.5 ON THEIR OWN.

SO THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HELP.

OKAY, COMMISSIONER, IN REGARDS TO OUR FUNDED RATIO.

IF WE INCREASE THAT CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT.

OKAY. AND EVEN AS MY POINT EARLIER, IF YOU OPT TO DO A COLA EVEN AMOUNT, YOU KNOW, LIKE LET'S SAY LET'S PRE-FUND HALF OF THAT AMOUNT, ALL THAT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE DETERMINING OUR FUNDED RATIO.

OKAY. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK LOST IN A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION.

OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW WE APPRECIATE OUR RETIREES.

I THINK THAT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THE JUDGE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED.

BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A PRETTY HEALTHY RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

WHEN YOU COME TO WORK AT THE COUNTY AND YOU'RE GETTING MATCHED 200%.

THAT'S A PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF IN A LOT OF PLACES, AND I THINK THAT'S HOPEFULLY A SELLING POINT.

DAVID, WHEN YOU GO TRY AND RECRUIT FOLKS BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN'T COMPETE NECESSARILY WITH THE PRIVATE MARKET WITH RESPECT TO SALARIES, BUT A 200% MATCH IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LIFETIME ANNUITY TO BOOT THERE COMMISSIONER.

SO ACTUALLY, YOU CAN OUTLIVE YOUR ACTUAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU'VE PUT IN INTO THE SYSTEM.

AND I CAN'T YOU KNOW, SAY IT ENOUGH, BUT THAT 5% YOU KNOW, THAT JUST TOOK EFFECT LAST YEAR.

THAT'S HUGE. NO OTHER COUNTY HAS EVER GIVEN THAT TO RETIREES.

I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T EVEN COME CLOSE.

SO, YEAH, THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT.

SO IF WE MOVE FORWARD TODAY, LEO, AT THE THE 20% CPI COLA, IS IT ACCURATE THEN THAT OUR CONTRIBUTION RATE THAT WE WOULD ADOPT IS 14.52.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

THAT'S CORRECT COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. THEN, JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AT THE 20% OF CPI FOR OUR RETIREES COLA, AND ADOPT THE REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION RATE OF 14.52%.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER MOODY. SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT, THIS SLIDE THREE AGAIN.

SO OUR CONTRACT REQUIRED RATE CONTRIBUTION RATE THAT'S GOING TO GO DOWN TOWARDS LIKE 14% OVER TIME. BUT THEN AS WE ADD ON ANY ADDITIONAL COLAS THEN IT BUMPS BACK UP.

IS THAT RIGHT. OKAY.

AND THEN THE OPPOSITE WAY WITH THE FUNDED RATIO RIGHT OVER TIME IT'S GOING TO CREEP UP.

AND EVERY TIME WE DO COLA INCREASE OR A FLAT RATE, THEN IT DROPS BACK DOWN.

YES, EXACTLY.

GOOD POINT. AND DAVID, CAN YOU SPEAK TO ANY KIND OF IMPACT IF WE WERE TO PAY HALF OR ALL OF THIS NOW VERSUS FUNDING OVER 15 YEARS? OBVIOUSLY THEN THE HIT ON OUR, FUNDED RATE WOULD BE LESS OR IT WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT AT ALL.

WOULD THAT BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AT THIS POINT ON OUR BUDGET? IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO PRE-FUND.

IT JUST COMES DOWN TO THAT.

[00:50:02]

I MEAN, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO THE 20% CPI WITHIN THE AMOUNT WE HAD BUILT INTO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION, SO IT WON'T COST HAVE ANY BUDGETARY IMPACT.

IF YOU WANT TO PRE-FUND THAT WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE IDENTIFYING FUNDS TO DO IT.

SO WHAT IF IT WAS AT 50%? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 1.81.9.

I'M NOT SURE 1.8.

THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE OR IT WOULDN'T.

IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE? IF YOU'RE ASKING IF WE CAN PRE-FUND $1.8 MILLION OF THIS, YES, THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

YOU WOULD NEED TO IDENTIFY THAT FUNDING.

WHY AREN'T WE MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO OUR RESERVE FUND? I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

I'M SORRY. ARE WE NOT MAKING A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESERVE FUND? THAT WOULD BE A TRADE OFF THERE.

THE RESERVE FUND? YES. YOU ARE.

YOU ARE BUILDING UP YOUR RESERVES.

AND YOU RECALL.

DEPENDING ON WHAT PROPERTY TAXES DO IN FUTURE YEARS.

ONCE ARPA FUNDING ENDS, WE ARE FORECASTING YOU'LL NEED MOST OF THOSE RESERVES JUST TO MAINTAIN EVEN KEEL.

UNDERSTAND? AND IF I WAS ADVOCATING FOR, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT AND MAKING A BIG PURCHASE, I WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE'S A CREDIT CARD PAYMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHETHER WE DO IT NOW OR LATER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST FROM THE REST OF THE COURT TO DO THAT, BUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET YOU KNOW, I'M OPEN TO IT EITHER WAY, BUT.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YES, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO ACT LIKE I UNDERSTAND BASED ON A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS, THE NUANCES THAT GO INTO THIS, OR YOU ALL HAVE STUDIED AND GOTTEN DEGREES AND HAVE BEEN CRUNCHING NUMBERS FOR MONTHS.

SO JUST THANK YOU, MISS AGUIRRE.

THANK YOU, LEO, TO YOUR TEAM.

I ALWAYS GET A SHOUT OUT TO PETER PETROFF.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WORKED ON THIS, BUT JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND WAY IN.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DID YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN? OKAY. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A VERY COMPLICATED COMPLEX.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LEO, YOU HAVE STRUGGLED TO TRY TO GET THIS SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE NOT.

I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT.

SO A LOT OF THE ACCOUNT LANGUAGE IN THE FIDUCIARY, ACTUARIAL, ALL THAT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, ALL THAT IS A BIT BEYOND MY TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

BUT LET ME SEE IF I CAN'T PUT IT IN MORE, SIMPLER TERMS. ONE YOU HAVE SAID COURT I DO NOT SUPPORT AN INCREASE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE DEBT LOAD THAT THAT INCREASE WOULD PUT ON THE COUNTY BUDGET.

IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? THAT IS A FAIR STATEMENT.

AND SO AS COUNTY AUDITOR, YOU'RE VERY YOU HAVE TO CERTIFY BY LAW THE REVENUE THAT COMES IN.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO CERTIFY THE BUDGET THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE COURT.

AND WE MUST HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, CORRECT? YES. YES, SIR.

WE DO. PART OF THE AUDITOR COUNTY AUDITOR ROLE IS TO CERTIFY THE REVENUES AND YES, A STATUTORY BUDGET, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVE TO.

IT IS SOMETHING WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO.

CORRECT. WE COULD JUST NOT PASS A TAX PAYING COLA INCREASE.

[5. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items.]

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE THE COURT, ESPECIALLY WITH TODAY'S ACTION AND A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY WANTS TO GIVE THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO THOSE RETIREES.

NOW, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS PARTICULAR RETIREMENT PLAN IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE BEST PLANS IN THE COUNTRY, IF FOR SURE, FOR OUR RETIREES.

IN REGARDS TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE COUNTY PUTS IN WHEN UPON RETIREMENT, WE DOUBLE 200% CONTRIBUTION IN ORDER SO THAT THAT ANNUITY, THE PAYOUT TO THAT RETIREE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

CORRECT? YES, SIR.

AND SO THE OTHER THING IS, AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, THAT WE ALSO HELP MAINTAIN THE COST OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE IF RETIREES CHOOSE TO MAINTAIN ON THE COUNTY INSURANCE PLAN.

[00:55:05]

AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF MAINTAINING THE ANNUAL PREMIUMS AND CO-PAYMENTS THAT WE IMPOSE NOT ONLY ON EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO OUR RETIREES.

YES. EXCELLENT POINT JUDGE.

[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

AND IN FACT, JUST REALLY QUICK ON THAT.

WHEN YOU ALL BROUGHT THAT UP LAST QUARTER, WHEN THAT CAME UP LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE WENT AND DID LIKE HIGH LEVEL.

BUT ACTUALLY WE REALLY DO HAVE A REALLY GOOD INSURANCE RATE IN OUR OPINION, DEFINITELY LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES IN REGARDS TO HEALTH BENEFITS FOR OUR RETIREES.

SO. RIGHT. AND SO WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TODAY IS ONE, WE COULD BE IN A ZERO SUM.

[4.c. 10:00 a.m. - Public Hearing: The Commissioners Court invites public input regarding the Bexar County Proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25.]

OR DO WE GIVE AN INCREASE OR WE OR WE DO.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE COURT IS MOVING FORWARD TO GIVE AN INCREASE.

OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.

AND IN FACT, FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO REPEAT THAT THE 5% INCREASE THAT WE PASSED IN OR BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT 2023 IS THE HIGHEST AMOUNT EVER GIVEN.

YES, SIR. AND I LOOK AT THE HISTORY, IT APPEARS AND I MAY NOW SHIFT TO THE BUDGET OFFICE.

COUNTY MANAGER, IN REGARDS FROM HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY CONSISTENCY IN REGARDS TO WHEN WE GIVE INCREASES.

I ASSUME THOSE ARE JUST DECISIONS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND THE COURT TAKES THEM UP AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

IN REGARDS TO THE REVENUES, TO THE EXPENSES, TO THE ECONOMIC SITUATION, THE INFLATION AND THAT DEVASTATES NOT ONLY CITIZENS BUT ALSO THE RETIREES.

SO, DAVID, GIVE ME A PERSPECTIVE OF HOW THE COURT IN THE PAST HAS COME TO THESE COLAS.

IS IT JUST REALLY BEEN AS SIMPLE AS JUST A RANDOM DISCUSSION, BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONER OR THE BUDGET OFFICE RECOMMENDS IT, OR IS THERE SOME THOUGHT PROCESS? BECAUSE I WANT TO NOT ONLY HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND ASK FOR A VOTE AND HOPEFULLY PASS THIS PAY INCREASE, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO LET THE RETIREES KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE, NOT GUARANTEEING ANYTHING BECAUSE, AS COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAS POINTED OUT, THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES ARE GOING TO INTERSECT AT SOME PARTICULAR POINT.

I THINK THIS COURT HAS, IN ESSENCE, TIGHTENED THE BELT, SO TO SPEAK, TO TRY TO EXTEND OUT THAT INTERSECTION, WHICH MEANS WE EITHER HAVE TO DO A TAX INCREASE OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CUTS TO THE BUDGET.

THOSE ARE REALLY HARD DECISIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE MADE.

SO I WANT FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER WHAT WHAT IS THE VIABILITY OF THIS COLA WITH THE CPI INDEX.

AND THEN IS IT WITHIN OUR BUDGET.

IS IT GOING TO WHAT IMPACT IS IT GOING TO COST AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE FUTURE? SO IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET I'D HAVE TO LOOK UP THE EXACT AMOUNT, BUT WE ASSUMED A CONTRIBUTION RATE THAT TCDRS THE ACTUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION RATE THAT THEY ENDED UP SENDING TO US WAS LOWER THAN WHAT WE ASSUMED.

THEREFORE, WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET CAN ABSORB THE COST THE YEAR TO YEAR COST OF A 20% OF CPI INCREASE.

SO IT WOULD HAVE NO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO FUND THAT.

WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY MONEY AWAY FROM ANYBODY ELSE.

NO, IT'S ALREADY IN THERE.

HOWEVER, WHAT THE MESSAGE I THINK AND I BELIEVE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT IF I WERE SENDING OUT A MESSAGE TO RETIREES, IT WOULD BE DON'T EXPECT THIS TO OCCUR NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST, 10-20 YEARS HAD TWO YEARS IN A ROW OF COLAS. SO FAR THAT HAS NEVER THAT HAS NOT TRIGGERED A DESIGNATION AS A SERIAL COLA ORDER.

BUT THREE YEARS WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

I AGREE 100% WITH LEO.

YOU KNOW, TWO DATA POINTS.

THREE DATA POINTS IS A TREND.

AND SO I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT IF THE COURT APPROVES THE 20% CPI THIS YEAR, DON'T EXPECT THE COURT TO APPROVE ANOTHER ONE NEXT YEAR. AND WHAT IS THE AS YOU POINTED OUT AND I'M SURE COULD BE IN RESPONSE TO, WELL, WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR LIKE TARRANT COUNTY? WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO THE BUDGET IF WE WERE TO BE A REPEATER COST OF LIVING INCREASE

[01:00:01]

AND DID THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? EITHER FROM YOU, LEO OR YOU, DAVID? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO THE COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS IN THE FUTURE? SO IF THE ACTUARIES ASSUME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE A COLA, THAT MEANS THEY ASSUME THE COST

[4.d. Immediately following item 4c: Discussion and appropriate action regarding the adoption of the proposed Bexar County FY 2024-25 Operating and Capital Budget, including the proposed changes documented in the memorandum from the Budget Officer dated September 9, 2024.]

OF THAT INTO YOUR FUTURE EXPENSES, WHICH MEANS YOUR FUNDED RATIO DROPS BECAUSE YOUR FUTURE EXPENSES ARE HIGHER.

THAT ASSUMPTION INCREASES YOUR LONG TERM DEBT, BECAUSE RETIREE OBLIGATIONS ARE A PART OF OUR LONG TERM DEBT.

AND AS WE'VE MADE THE COURT AWARE, THE THREE BOND RATING AGENCIES ARE ALREADY MONITORING OUR LEVEL OF LONG TERM DEBT.

SO, NUMBER ONE, THAT ASSUMPTION INCREASES THAT NUMBER AUTOMATICALLY.

NUMBER TWO, IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE REAL ANNUAL BUDGET IMPACTS IF YOUR CREDIT RATING IS DOWNGRADED.

THAT MAKES IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO BORROW MONEY, AND THAT EXPENSE HAS TO BE PAID FOR.

SO IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE, WHAT I GET FROM THAT CONVERSATION IS THAT ALTHOUGH THIS DEBT THAT WE MAY INCUR CAN BE ABSORBED WITH THE PRIOR DECISIONS, THE COURT HAS MADE, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS, THIS PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE IS THAT DEBT FLOATS, SO TO SPEAK, DEPENDING ON WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PAY INTO THE SYSTEM.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T JUST SAY THIS IS ONLY GOING TO COST SO MUCH FOR THE FUTURE YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE VIABILITY, DEPENDING ON THE ACTUARIAL TABLES, DEPENDING ON THE PERCENTAGES THAT DEBT COULD INCREASE AND COULD DECREASE.

THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY WHAT WE CAN DO WITH CERTAINTY.

AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY YOU'RE TAKING A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO SAY, I REALLY RECOMMEND THAT WE DON'T DO A PAY INCREASE.

PAY RAISE THIS YEAR.

ISN'T THAT. WHAT. ISN'T THAT THE DYNAMIC? I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DISCUSSION IS SO DIFFICULT AND SO COMPLEX BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SAY WE'RE BUYING SOMETHING, AND THAT'S WHAT A FIXED COST IS. AND WE CAN THEN FIGURE IT OUT OVER THE LIFETIME.

CORRECT? YEAH.

AND ALSO PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERY YEAR EMPLOYEES LEAVE AND YOU HIRE NEW EMPLOYEES.

AND THAT AFFECTS YOUR ACTUARIAL PROJECTIONS AS WELL DEPENDING ON HOW OLD THEY ARE.

AND YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT'LL BE UNTIL THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE.

ALL THAT GOES INTO.

THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

IT'S IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS I'M BUYING A CAR FOR $40,000.

HERE'S MY PAYMENT.

IT CHANGES EVERY YEAR.

AND RETIREES WHO OUTLIVE THEIR LIFE TABLE, LIFE EXPECTANCY THAT MONEY TO PAY THEM COMES OUT OF THE COUNTY POCKET.

CORRECT, CORRECT.

IT EXCEEDS OBVIOUSLY THEIR CONTRIBUTION.

IT EXCEEDS OUR DOUBLE CONTRIBUTION.

AND WE HAVE TO KEEP ADDING TO MAKE SURE THOSE RETIREES.

RETIREMENT SYSTEM IS A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THE EMPLOYEES DEPOSITING MONEY AND THE COUNTY'S DEPOSITING MONEY, AND TCDRS IS INVESTING THAT THOSE FUNDS TO ACHIEVE HOPEFULLY A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM RETURN OF 7% EVERY YEAR.

IF AN EMPLOYEE OUTLIVES THEIR CONTRIBUTION, THEY STILL GET THEIR MONTHLY BENEFIT.

THAT HAS TO COME OUT OF OUR BANK ACCOUNT AT TCDRS.

AND THAT'S THE GOLD PLAN OF OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

DEPENDING ON THE CHOICE, THEY MAKE, THE ELECTION ON THEIR RETIREMENT, IF THEY CHOOSE FOR THEIR LIFE OR THEIR SPOUSE'S LIFE, WE WILL PAY TILL THOSE LIVES END. A GREAT POINT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE RETIREE PASSES ON, IF HE MADE HIS WIFE AND ELECTED HIS HIS SPOUSE OR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LIFETIME, THEN EVEN THOUGH THE RETIREE PASSED ON, WE WOULD CONTINUE PAYING THE SPOUSE THROUGHOUT.

AND IS THERE ANY PLAN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT COMES CLOSE TO WHAT WE DO? I'LL JUST REPEAT, WE'VE GOT A VERY ROBUST AND WE'RE VERY BLESSED WITH THIS RETIREMENT PLAN.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH. I JUST HAVE A FINAL COMMENT.

SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING NEXT YEAR FOR IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR TRIPLE-A RATING.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

SO I JUST HOPE THAT THIS COURT REMEMBERS THAT, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES IT SEEMS LIKE I'M THE ONE WHO REMEMBERS CONVERSATIONS AND NOBODY ELSE DOES.

SO I HOPE WE DON'T GO INTO THE SAME THING NEXT YEAR BECAUSE SOMEONE STARTS TO ADVOCATE AND SOMEONE'S POLITICAL GAMING.

AND SO I HOPE THAT WE REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION.

I'LL REMEMBER COMMISSIONER. FOR THE RECORD.

I'LL REMEMBER AS WELL.

[01:05:01]

OKAY, GREAT. FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE IT'S GOING TO BE ON THERE.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU, MR. LEO.

PUT IT IN BUDGET.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP NOW.

ITEM THREE, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BEXAR COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 24-25 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET DOCUMENTED IN THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE BUDGET OFFICER DATED SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2024.

MISS GAITAN. GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS TANYA GAITAN, BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR.

I'LL BE PRESENTING THE DRAFT FORM OF THE CHANGE ORDER TODAY TO YOU.

THERE ARE 11 ATTACHMENTS.

I WILL GO INTO DETAIL FOR ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS A CHANGE MEMORANDUM.

AND SO THE FIRST SECTION THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE CHANGE ORDER AS WELL.

THE FIRST SECTION THAT YOU'LL SEE.

CAN I JUST INTERRUPT YOU? TANYA. YEAH. YOU KNOW YOU TALKED PEOPLE TELL ME I TALK FAST, BUT YOU TALK FAST, OKAY? SO IF YOU COULD JUST SLOW DOWN THROUGH THIS AND GO THROUGH IT EACH ONE, SO THAT WE CAN JOT DOWN QUESTIONS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE, WE CAN GO BACK AND ASK IF, IF THAT WOULD BE.

YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE EVER ASKED SOMEBODY TO SLOW DOWN A PRESENTATION.

WELL, NO, DON'T ADD ANY SLIDES.

JUST SLOW DOWN IN THE WAY YOU DO IT BECAUSE THANK YOU.

THAT'S THAT BRECKENRIDGE EAGLE IN YOU.

SO AND CAN YOU JUST BE CLEAR ABOUT WHICH ONE WE'RE GOING THROUGH SO WE CAN WHICH ONE ARE WE ON? SO IF YOU OPEN UP THE BINDER, THERE'S A SECTION, RIGHT.

IT'S THE FIRST COUPLE OF PAGES.

AND THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE CHANGE ORDER IS, DESCRIBES.

YEAH. AND IT DESCRIBES THE ACCOUNTING STRUCTURE THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THE COUNTY AUDITORS TO UPLOAD THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, AND IT ALSO HAS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

AND I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE.

THE ONLY ONE I WILL GO INTO DETAIL IS ATTACHMENT ONE, WHICH IS A CHANGE MEMORANDUM.

SO THE FIRST ATTACHMENT, AS I MENTIONED, IS A CHANGE MEMORANDUM AS PRESENTED TODAY IN THIS DRAFT FORM.

THE FIRST SECTION WILL BE THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THEN I'LL GO INTO OTHER FUNDS IN THE SECOND SECTION.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25.

PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND WAS 243,242,499.

WE ARE MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT TO OUR CURRENT YEAR'S ESTIMATE IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.2 MILLION, AND I'LL DESCRIBE WHY WE'RE DOING THAT IN THE DETAILS BELOW.

AND THEN OVERALL TO THE 24-25 GENERAL FUND PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS, WE'RE INCREASING THE BUDGET BY $5,059,106.

THIS WILL BRING THE ENDING FUND BALANCE, AS PRESENTED TODAY, TO $239,387,250.

THE FIRST OFFICE THAT WE'RE MAKING ADJUSTMENT TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ADULT PROBATION.

WE'RE INCREASING THEIR OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THEIR JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE SOUTHWEST SATELLITE LOCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 72, $72,000.

SECOND, WE'RE ALSO INCREASING OUR PRINTER NETWORK PROJECT TO IMPROVE THEIR NETWORK PRINTING OPERATIONS WITHIN THE OFFICE AND THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS BEXAR HERITAGE AND PARKS.

WE'RE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS APPROPRIATION FOR PEST CONTROL SERVICES AT WOODLAKE PARK, WITHIN THE PARKS DIVISION, IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,250.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS BIBLIOTECH.

WE'RE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS APPROPRIATIONS TO PURCHASE 3D PRINTERS AND MAKERSPACE EQUIPMENT AT THE LOCATIONS FOR BIBLIOTECH, EDU AND PRECINCT TWO.

THIS IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,000.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FEE FOR ONE OF THE LIBRARIANS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $100.

NEXT OFFICE WILL BE CENTRAL MAGISTRATION DISTRICT COURTS, WHERE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS APPROPRIATION TO REPLACE TWO NEW DESK CHAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS, WHERE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR APPROPRIATION EXPENSES FOR THE FOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS PREVIOUSLY FUNDED UNDER SAMSA GRANT, WHICH THE GRANT HAS ENDED IN THE AMOUNT OF 240,544 AND THIS WILL SUPPORT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COURTS.

JUDGE, CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO? CAN WE GO AHEAD AND JUST GET IT ON? YEAH. GOT A LONG LIST DON'T WE? YES. LET'S.

I'M GOING TO ASK IF WE COULD JUST GET THROUGH THIS.

AND THEN GO BACK AND ASK QUESTIONS.

SO CONTINUE.

MS. GAITAN CONTINUE. YES, JUDGE.

THE NEXT ARE THE CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE OFFICES.

FOR EACH PRECINCT, WE ARE FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING ONE DEPUTY CONSTABLE TO INCLUDE SALARY, BENEFITS, SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 34 FOR EACH OF THE PRECINCTS WERE ALSO REMOVING THE AUTHORIZATION AND FUNDING OF TWO LEAD DEPUTY CONSTABLES WERE REINSTATING ONE OF THOSE DEPUTY CONSTABLES THAT WE WERE DELETING.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE A DEPUTY, A DEPUTY CONSTABLE, CAPTAIN.

THE NET COST OF THAT IS SAVINGS IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,903.

[01:10:04]

EACH PRECINCT RECEIVED THAT CHANGE WITHIN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.

ADDITIONALLY, PRECINCT TWO FOR THE CONSTABLES, WE ARE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND SAFETY SUPPLIES FOR 23 SHIELDS AND HELMETS FOR THE DEPUTY CONSTABLES TO SERVICE THE WRITS OF POSSESSION.

THIS IS IN THE AMOUNT OF 47,322.

WE'RE INCREASING IN THE SAME PRECINCT THEIR OPERATIONAL COSTS TO FUND REGISTRATION FEES, TO RENEW TRAINING LICENSES AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.

AND THEN I JUST AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, PRECINCT THREE FOUR ALSO RECEIVED THE SAME POSITION AND CHANGES TO THE LEADS AND THE CAPTAINS.

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT OFFICE IS THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WE'RE INCREASING THE PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO FUND UNIFORM ALLOWANCES FOR 65 INVESTIGATORS AT AN ANNUAL COST OF $420, FOR A TOTAL COST OF $27,300.

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PAGE FOR THE SAME OFFICE.

WE'RE INCREASING PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO THE PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO ADD SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR 53 PROSECUTOR, FIVE POSITIONS, ONE DEPUTY CHIEF MISDEMEANOR POSITION, AND ONE ETHICAL DISCLOSURE UNIT DIRECTOR POSITION TO INCLUDE SALARY AND BENEFITS.

THE TOTAL COST FOR THESE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS IS 448,240.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS OCJPP CRIMINAL LABORATORY.

WE'RE INCREASING THEIR PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO INCLUDE OVERTIME FOR THE 26 FORENSIC SCIENTISTS TO ASSIST WITH THEIR BACKLOG CASES IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING THEIR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES APPROPRIATION TO THE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THEIR COMBINED DNA INDEX SYSTEM SERVER AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL COST APPROPRIATIONS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL XEROX RENTAL AGREEMENT IN THE WORKFORCE BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,300.

THE NEXT DIVISION WITHIN ECD IS CHILD WELFARE BOARD.

WE'RE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL COST TO FUND THE TDF AGREEMENT THAT WAS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, WE DECREASED THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR'S AGREEMENT, AND WE'RE SIMPLY REFUNDING IT OVER INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 25 SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THAT AGREEMENT.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION.

WE'RE INCREASING THE CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND THE CHCS WORKSTATION AT THE JUSTICE CENTER AND INTAKE ANNEX PROJECT, TO CARRY OVER THE FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.

ALSO, WITHIN THE SAME APPROPRIATION, WE'RE FUNDING THE BCSO MEMORIAL WALL PROJECT TO CARRY OVER THE FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT OF $10,000.

WE ARE ALSO CARRYING OVER A COUNTY WIDE REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 377,592.

AND WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING A PROGRAM, A PROGRAMABLE PAPER CUTTER FOR THE PRINT SHOP IN THE AMOUNT OF 29,138.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE INCREASING THE OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND VARIOUS OPERATIONAL COSTS TO INCLUDE CONSULTING SERVICES, ANNUAL BENCHMARKS TO EVALUATE MARKET COMPENSATION, LICENSE RENEWALS, FIREWALL, NETWORK SECURITY AT THE EOC AND QUARRY RUN, AND TO FUND VEHICLE REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 75,379. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT THREE.

WE'RE INCREASING THEIR SUPPLIES APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND ADDITIONAL POSTAGE FOR THE INCREASED USAGE AND PRICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000.

JUVENILE DISTRICT COURTS WERE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION BY $5,000 TO PROVIDE TONER AND OFFICE SUPPLIES.

MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE, THERE'S NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.

WE ARE SIMPLY REMOVING THE FUNDING FOR THE FORENSIC TRANSCRIBER THAT WE PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET, AND WE'RE SWITCHING IT TO AN OFFICE ASSISTANT THREE TO PROVIDE MORE COVERAGE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

THERE'S NO NET COST TO THAT CHANGE.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS A MILITARY SERVICE OFFICE TO INCREASING THEIR OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATION TO FUND OUTREACH SPONSORSHIP EVENTS WITHIN THEIR CONTRACTED SERVICES AND SPECIAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,700.

NON-DEPARTMENTAL. WE'RE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATION WITHIN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT TO FUND A PORTION OF THE SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE RADIO TOWERS, PER THE AARRS AGREEMENT, IN THE AMOUNT OF 187,532.

WE'RE INCREASING THE TRANSFERS OUT FOR SEED FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.

AND I'LL GO INTO DETAIL ON THE FUND WHEN I DESCRIBE THAT ITEM.

WE'RE REMOVING FUNDING FROM CONTINGENCIES TO REALLOCATE THE REMAINING RADIO PROJECT ITEMS TO INCLUDE CONSULTING, RADIO BACKHAUL AND DISPATCH CONSOLE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.

AND WE'RE REFUNDING THAT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.

SO WE'RE JUST REMOVING IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING CONTINGENCIES TO FUND THE CERTIFICATION PAY FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT.

[01:15:05]

FOUR COURT CLERKS WHO PLAN TO TEST OUT FOR THEIR CERTIFICATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,800.

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

CONTINUING ON WITH NON-DEPARTMENTAL, WE'RE INCREASING THE CONTINGENCY AMOUNT TO PROVIDE A 6% ADJUSTMENT TO THE ELECTED CONSTABLE SALARIES AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OR THE COMMITTEE, RATHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,888.

WE'RE INCREASING CONTINGENCIES TO FUND THE YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATORS AT A GRADE OF NE04 IN LIEU OF THE COURT CLERKS FOR THE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,421, WE ARE REALLOCATING THE 12 DEPUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THE THREE DEPUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT SERGEANTS FROM CONTINGENCIES, AND WE WILL AUTHORIZE THOSE POSITIONS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET.

THIS IS A DECREASE WITHIN THE CONTINGENCIES AND SIMPLY GETTING REALLOCATED INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF 1000 605,138.

AND I'LL GO INTO DETAIL WHEN I REACH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON THAT PROGRAM CHANGE.

WE'RE INCREASING CONTINGENCIES TO FUND ONE DEPUTY LIEUTENANT FOR THE SMART PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $154,153.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

WE'RE FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING ONE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST LOGISTICS AND REMOVING THE FUNDING OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF ONE INVENTORY CONTROL TECHNICIAN IN THE AMOUNT OF 389. WE'RE FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING OFFICE ASSISTANT THREE TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF 74,849. WE'RE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SAFETY SUPPLIES, INCREASING IT BY $11,426 TO TO BRING IT TO A TOTAL COST OF $100,000.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING THE OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION TO FUND ONE OF THE FOUR PAYMENTS FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION ACCREDITATION REPAIR SERVICES FOR A SMALL GENERATOR LOCATED AT OEM, AND TRAILER REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 60,200.

PROBATE COURTS.

WE'RE REDUCING THEIR TRAVEL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 12,500.

THIS FUNDING HAS BEEN ALLOCATED WITHIN THEIR DISCRETIONARY FUND.

WE'RE INCREASING PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VISITING JUDGE FOR THE PROBATE COURT.

NUMBER TWO, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000.

NEXT OFFICE IS PUBLIC DEFENDERS WERE INCREASING THE OPERATION APPROPRIATION TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT FOR THEIR OUTSIDE ATTORNEY THAT SUPPORTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION AND THE AMOUNT OF $3,000.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

WE'RE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATION TO ADD ADDITIONAL COPIER RENTAL EXPENSES FOR THEIR NEW LOCATION AT THE ADC.

UPDATING A QUOTE I'M SORRY EXCUSE DUE TO AN UPDATED QUOTE AND INCREASING THEIR PROFESSIONAL LICENSES ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS EMPLOYEES.

THE TOTAL COST IS 1559.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING THEIR SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION TO FUND OFFICE SUPPLIES FOR VARIOUS EVENTS AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,000.

WE'RE INCREASING THEIR SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION WITHIN THE AGRILIFE DIVISION FOR FUEL AND FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR THEIR EDUCATORS, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION DUES FOR THEIR OFFICE, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $650.

THE NEXT OFFICE IS A SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE'RE MOVING THE AUTHORIZATION AND FUNDING OF SIX DEPUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THE STOP PROGRAM, FOR A TOTAL NEW NUMBER OF SIX DEPUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THE STOP PROGRAM.

WE'RE REALLOCATING ONE DEPUTY SHERIFF SERGEANT, LAW ENFORCEMENT SERGEANT FROM THE STOP DIVISION TO THE PATROL DIVISION.

WE'RE FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL 12 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, INCLUDING SALARY BENEFITS, IN THE AMOUNT OF 1000 $163,208. EXCUSE ME.

I'M SORRY. 1 MILLION.

1 MILLION? YOU SAID 1000.

1 MILLION. 1 MILLION.

163,208. THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING THAT.

THIS IS THE REALLOCATION FROM NON-DEPARTMENTAL CONTINGENCIES INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET.

WE'RE REALLOCATING FUNDING.

ACTUALLY, THE NEXT ONE IS THE ONE REALLOCATING FROM CONTINGENCIES.

THE FIRST ONE IS TO ADD 12 ADDITIONAL ONES.

THIS IS REALLOCATION FROM CONTINGENCIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,605 $5,138.

REFUNDING AND AUTHORIZING FOR DEPUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATORS TO INCLUDE SALARY, BENEFITS AND EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $506,000 200.

AND I'M SAYING THIS ALL WRONG.

EXCUSE ME. $506,256.

WE'RE FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING TWO LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS TO SUPPORT THE EXISTING PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $183,446. THE NEXT OFFICE IS A TAX OFFICE.

[01:20:04]

WE'RE INCREASING THEIR OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR LEASING EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR CASH HANDLING, AS WELL AS OFFICE EQUIPMENT, REPAIRS AND PAMPHLETS, FOR A TOTAL COST OF $62,060, INCREASING THE SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION TO FUND ADDITIONAL POSTAGE FOR MAIL OUTS AND METAL DETECTORS IN THE AMOUNT OF 27,100. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

THAT IS A COMPLETION OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, AND I'LL MOVE ON TO EACH OF THE OTHER FUNDS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT.

THE FIRST ONE IS ATD AND TEXT FUND.

ENDING FUND BALANCE WAS AT 181 MILLION.

WE'RE INCREASING THE TRANSFERS OUT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3.7 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING THE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $80 MILLION FOR THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ATD INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR THE SILVER LINE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.

WE'RE ADDING FUNDING FOR A NEW PROJECT FOR IT CALLED SERVICENOW APPLICATION PORTFOLIO AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.

THIS IS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF OVER 200 APPLICATIONS COUNTYWIDE.

THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF $120,000, $120,300.

WE'RE ADDING FUNDING TO THE RADIO SYSTEM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.

THIS IS FOR THE RADIO BACKHAUL AND DISPATCH CONSOLES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE FUNDED IN CAPITAL $546.

WE'RE ADDING FUNDING FOR PRECINCT FOUR SOLAR LIGHTING PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000, TO INCREASE THE PROJECT TO $423,375. WE'RE ADDING FUNDING FOR EACH OF THE VEHICLES OF THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONSTABLES.

CONSTABLE POSITIONS THE AMOUNT OF 243,288.

AND WE'RE ADDING TWO VEHICLES FOR THE SHERIFF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ALLOCATED ALL THESE.

ALL THESE WILL BE ALLOCATED IN THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND FOR THE POSITIONS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE AMOUNT OF 143,748.

THE NEXT FUND IS THE SEED FUND.

WE'RE INCREASING THE TRANSFERS IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND BY $250,000, AND INCREASING THE PROJECT FOR PROJECT ICEBERG SKILLS TOYOTA AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000. THIS REFERENCES BACK TO THE TRANSFERS OUT THAT WAS SUPPORTED IN THE NON-DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET.

THE NEXT FUND WILL BE COURTHOUSE FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT FUND.

WE ARE DECREASING THE ESTIMATES FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF 447,941, AND WE'RE INCREASING THE CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HVAC UPGRADES, THE BOILER AND HVAC UPGRADES PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $856,077.

WE'RE INCREASING THE COURTHOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT TO CARRY OVER THE FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT, RATHER IN THE AMOUNT OF 447,337.

AND WE'RE INCREASING THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE JUSTICE CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT.

THE AMOUNT OF $385,000.

NEXT FUND WILL BE THE COUNTY ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND.

WE'RE REMOVING THE AUTHORIZATION AND FUNDING OF ONE OF THE OFFICE ASSISTANT THREES AND AUTHORIZING INSTEAD AN OFFICE ASSISTANT, EXCUSE ME, OFFICE ASSISTANT TWO AND WE'RE FUNDING AN OFFICE ASSISTANT THREE IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,558.

NEXT FUND IS THE COUNTY CLERK RECORDS MANAGEMENT FUND.

WE'RE INCREASING THE CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE COMMAND MOBILE UNIT STORAGE PROJECT.

THE AMOUNT OF 428,500.

NEXT FUND IS THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS TECHNOLOGY FUND, WHERE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION TO FUND $58,893 FOR TECHNOLOGY PURPOSES WITHIN THE COUNTY COURTS.

NEXT FUND IS THE PARKING FACILITIES FUND.

GOING ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

WE'RE INCREASING THE CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND THE PARKING EQUIPMENT PAY STATION AT ALL THE LOCATIONS TO INCLUDE COMAL, TODAS AND THE PARKING GARAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF 304,995. NEXT FUND IS A FLEET ACQUISITION FUND WHERE INCREASING THE TRANSFERS IN FROM THE CIP FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $385,036.

THIS IS TO FUND THE TWO ALLOCATIONS FOR THE CONSTABLES AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE AS MENTIONED IN THE CIP FUND, THE GRANTS IN AID WERE INCREASING THE TRANSFERS IN FOR TIDC MANAGERS [INAUDIBLE] COUNCIL GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,381,755 AND WE'RE ALSO INCREASING THE TIDC PUBLIC DEFENDER MENTAL HEALTH GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,207,774.

THE FINAL CHANGE FOR THE FUNDS WILL BE THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND.

THIS DECREASES IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE REVENUE BY 9524.

[4.e. Immediately following item 4d Public Hearing: The Commissioners Court invites public input regarding the 2024 Bexar County proposed property tax rate.]

AND WE'RE INCREASING THE SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION IN THE FOR A NET DECREASE OF 9524.

SO THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT ONE THAT I WENT INTO DETAIL.

AND I'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER EACH OF THE ATTACHMENTS JUST TO TELL YOU WHAT'S INCLUDED.

THE SECOND ATTACHMENT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES.

[01:25:02]

THESE ARE JUST CHANGES THAT ARE SIMPLE CHANGES TO LIKE GRADES AND WORDING.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT.

FISCAL IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.

ATTACHMENT THREE IS THE CERTIFICATION OF THE COUNTY REVENUE FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOUR IS OUR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT COMMITTEE LIST AS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE AND TO INCLUDE AND THIS IS FUNDED IN OUR CIP FUND.

ATTACHMENT FIVE IS OUR TAKE HOME VEHICLE LIST.

ATTACHMENT SIX IS OUR BEXAR COUNTY HOLIDAYS.

ATTACHMENT SEVEN IS OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY.

ATTACHMENT EIGHT IS A LIST OF OUR CONTINUED FROZEN POSITIONS.

ATTACHMENT NINE IS A SPECIAL ORDER APPROVING THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET, AS WELL AS ANY SALARY CHANGES FOR THE COURT REPORTERS.

ATTACHMENT TEN.

I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT LAST ATTACHMENT? THIS ONE IS THE ORDER APPROVED APPROVING THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET.

THANK YOU. ATTACHMENT TEN IS A PROPOSED STEP PLAN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ON CBA.

AND ATTACHMENT 11 IS THE COUNTY CLERK'S RESTORATION OR PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PLAN.

SO THAT'S THE COMPLETE DRAFT OF THE CHANGE ORDER FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'LL PRESENT TOMORROW FOR ADOPTION.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

DO WE HAVE ANY MOTION, ANY DISCUSSION FIRST? COMMISSIONER? YEAH.

TANYA. THANK YOU.

PERFECT PACE AND TONE OF THAT PRESENTATION, BY THE WAY.

SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

THANKS FOR YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT'S WORK ON THIS.

I KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, MISS MALLON CAME IN AND HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT REQUESTS.

AND I KNOW, IN FAIRNESS TO HER, IT'S HER FIRST BUDGET CYCLE, AND IT'S HER FIRST KIND OF FEW MONTHS, I THINK, REALLY, IN THE DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT, I GUESS, FUNDING ANY NEW POSITIONS THIS CYCLE.

BUT IF YOU AND YOUR OFFICE CAN WORK WITH HER, I KNOW THE COURT STILL HAS SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

THE ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, THE RESOURCES BETWEEN PD AND THE MAC AND JUST, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATE TO HER TO COME BACK, MAYBE WITH SOME PLAN, STAFFING PLAN. I THINK IT'D BE WORTH NOT JUST TO LISTEN, BUT A CONSIDERATION OF WHAT THOSE NEEDS MIGHT BE.

AGAIN, I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY CHANGES HERE.

BUT JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.

THE OTHER THING, DAVID, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE LEGISLATURE MAY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF COURTS OR THERE WILL BE A REQUEST FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE TO MAYBE ADD SOME ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURTS AND COUNTY COURTS.

I KNOW THAT IS NOT CONTEMPLATED IN THIS FUNDING.

OR IS IT? IT IS.

OKAY. WE BUDGETED FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL COURTS, ASSUMING THEY WEREN'T EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST OF NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. THAT IS UNDER IT'S IN NON-DEPARTMENTAL O NON-DEPARTMENTAL.

IT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

GOTCHA. OKAY. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT BEING MODIFIED BY THIS MEMO.

SO IS IT CATEGORIZED AS CONTINGENCY THEN? YES. OKAY. AND I WOULD ASSUME THEN THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER.

[4.f. Immediately following item 4e: Discussion and appropriate action regarding adopting the 2024 Bexar County property tax rate of $0.299999 and approval of an Order of Bexar County Commissioners Court adopting the 2024 tax rate of $0.299999 consisting of a $0.023668 road and flood control tax rate and a $0.276331 general fund tax rate and levying the 2024 taxes for Bexar County in support of its Operating and Capital Budget for FY 2024-25.]

I TRY TO ERASE THOSE YEARS OF MY LIFE, BUT IN THE LEGISLATURE, I THINK THEY MAKE THOSE EFFECTIVE.

JANUARY. I KNOW A LOT OF THE NEW LAWS ARE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST, BUT I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST.

BUT I GUESS IT'S TBD.

YEAH. SO IF IT IS, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU WON'T SPEND THAT MONEY STARTING IN SEPTEMBER AND WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS IT IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

OKAY. GOT IT.

AND THEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

TANYA, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CHANGES THERE, AND I SAW THE SHERIFF WAS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE COMPARED TO WHAT I THINK THE.

THERE IS A RANGE, RIGHT? I KNOW THEY HAD REQUESTED INITIALLY IT WAS 60 SOMETHING NEW POSITIONS.

I THINK THAT BUDGET INITIALLY WERE RECOMMENDING.

I THINK IT WAS AROUND 24 OR 30, 25.

SO WE DID KIND OF LAND SOME MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

RIGHT. SO I THINK WE LANDED SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, CLOSER TO 40 OR 41 TOTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF AND HIS TEAM WORKING ON THAT.

SHERIFF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT, BUT I KNOW WE WORKED ON TRYING TO GET TO A NUMBER AGAIN.

[01:30:05]

NOT EVERYBODY IS HAPPY ON THIS BUT I THINK WE TRIED TO WORK ON A NUMBER THAT EVERYBODY COULD LIVE WITH, ACKNOWLEDGING THE GROWTH OF THE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I THINK WE ENDED UP SOMEWHERE AROUND 40, 41 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT.

OH, NO. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. WELL, BELIEVE ME, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE 41 POSITIONS.

SUPER HAPPY THAT WE CAN EXPAND OUT INTO SOME NEW PATROL DISTRICTS AND REALLY GET THOSE FILLED OUT RIGHT NOW.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ARE BOTH ON THE UPSWING.

AND SO I HAVE ALL THE FAITH IN THE WORLD.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS VERY QUICKLY.

AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY GET THOSE PEOPLE THROUGH TRAINING AND OUT ONTO THE STREETS.

WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT PATROL CARS AT SOME POINT SOON.

WE ARE RUNNING SHORT ON PATROL CARS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE ALL THE NEW DEPUTIES HITTING THE STREETS.

AND THERE'S ALSO THE MATTER OF SOME INFORMATION WORKERS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT OVERALL, WE'RE SUPER STOKED TO HAVE THESE 41 POSITIONS FOR NOW.

GREAT. AND I'M SURE STAFF WILL LOOK AT THOSE.

I KNOW FLEET IS A IS A BIG ISSUE WITH NOT JUST YOUR OFFICE, BUT ALL OVER.

AND I WANT TO THANK CHIEF SERRATO AND CHIEF GARZA.

I KNOW WE HAD A FEW MEETINGS LAST WEEK AND APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR TIME AS WELL.

JUDGE, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES MAY, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED BEXAR COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 24-25 OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET, AS DOCUMENTED IN THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE BUDGET OFFICER DATED SEPTEMBER 9TH.

SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

LET'S CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

CLAY-FLORES. GO AHEAD. SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE JUST PASSED FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARE 41.

IS THAT JUST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR DOES THAT DOES THAT INCLUDE ALSO THE TWO LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS? NO, IT'S JUST THE UNIFORMED POSITIONS.

OKAY. SO UNIFORM POSITIONS IS 41 AND HOW MANY TOTAL FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DO WE? LIKE THE GRAND TOTAL? OF NEW STAFF.

OF NEW STAFF WILL ALSO BE 41.

THE TWO LPCS, THE FIVE DETENTION OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE IN CONTINGENCIES.

THOSE AREN'T AUTHORIZED PENDING FILLING THE POSITIONS.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE SMART LIEUTENANT THAT WE'RE FUNDING IN CONTINGENCIES.

AND THEN I THINK THERE'S HOW MANY OFFICERS? TWO FOR SMART, TWO FOR SMART AS WELL.

SO DID SOMEONE ADD THAT UP? WHAT'S THE NUMBER? 4143, 445, 44 UNIFORMED OFFICERS.

BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE'RE APPROVING.

IF YOU GIVE US A MOMENT, I CAN GET THE TOTAL AMOUNT BECAUSE I CAN'T THINK OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR.

SO YOU CAN GIVE ME THAT NUMBER.

YEAH. SO FOR THE RECORD, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIKE TO TAKE TWO SECOND SOUND BITES OUT OF WHAT I SAY, FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE JUST PASSED 41 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE TWO LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS.

I JUST THINK THAT'S SO VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOUR STAFF, WHETHER THEY'RE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR AT THE JAIL OR CLERKS OR WHOEVER, TO REALLY USE THEM IN WORKING WITH THE PSYCHOLOGIST.

YOU HAVE PSYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST.

PSYCHOLOGIST. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HOPE THAT YOUR STAFF DO THAT AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

DID I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THE BUDGET? DO WE WANT TO FINISH WITH THE SHERIFF? WELL, YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.

I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FOR TONYA.

BUT SINCE THE SHERIFF IS HERE, DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE SHERIFF BEFORE THEY COME BACK TO ME FOR THE REST OF THE BUDGET? COMMISSIONER MOODY. YEAH.

I'M JUST. SO, I DON'T I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

THE ONLY THING HERE THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK, WAS AROUND THE STOP PROGRAM VERSUS THE PATROL NUMBERS.

AND I KNOW AS IT'S WRITTEN IN HERE, I THINK IT'S 24 AND THEN SIX.

BECAUSE AGAIN, IN MY MIND AND SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD, IT SEEMS LIKE STOP WOULD BE A MORE PRODUCTIVE USE OF THOSE FIRST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF 12, IN ORDER TO GET THOSE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND STUFF OFF THE STREET.

SURE. WELL, THE INITIAL PROPOSAL WAS TO ADD 12 TO THE STOP TEAM, BUT WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE SIX WANTING TO PUT MORE AND MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ON PATROL.

[01:35:01]

WE SHRUNK THAT ASK DOWN TO SIX.

REASON BEING IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO COMBINE THOSE WITH OUR CURRENT FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT THAT'S THERE, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S A TOTAL OF 12 BODIES.

SO BETWEEN THOSE 18.

THAT SHOULD GIVE US TWO TEAMS OF, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY 8 TO 9 WITH, WITH AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS IN THERE.

AND THAT'S WHO WE'LL BE GOING AFTER ALL OUR VIOLENT FUGITIVES.

NOW, WE HAVE AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING FROM THE HIP ON, ON THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW.

BUT AT LAST COUNT, THE NUMBER OF WANTED FOLKS IN BEXAR COUNTY, OUTSTANDING WARRANTS WAS ABOUT 30,000.

BUT ADDITIONALLY, WE SINCE WE HAVE A POLICY HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES FROM OVERNIGHT, WE ACTUALLY WALK WARRANTS ON THOSE.

SO EVERY MORNING WE'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 10, SOMETIMES EVEN 12 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT.

NOW THE FUGITIVE APPREHENSION PENSION UNIT, SOON TO BE THE STOP TEAM WILL BE OUT LOOKING FOR LAST NIGHT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS, IN ADDITION TO THE 30,000 WORKING, CHIPPING, CHIPPING AWAY THE 30,000 WARRANTS THAT WE HAVE OUTSTANDING AT ANY GIVEN TIME, CERTAINLY GIVING PREFERENCE TO THOSE THAT ARE VIOLENT FELONS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

BUT THEN ADDITIONALLY, ON TOP OF THAT, ALWAYS KEEPING A RUNNING LIST OF THE SHERIFF'S TOP OFFENDERS.

HENCE THE WORDS SHERIFF'S TOP OFFENDER PROGRAM.

AGAIN, THAT WILL BE A THE TOP WANTED FELONS.

AND THAT THAT LIST I'M GUESSING WILL GO ANYWHERE FROM TEN TO UPWARDS OF 20 PEOPLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

AND AS SOMEBODY GETS ARRESTED, THEY DROP OFF THE LIST AND WE ADD ANOTHER ONE TO THE MIX.

SO THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF THEM, PLENTY FOR THE FOR THEM TO DO.

OUR ASK AND I'M TELEGRAPHING THE MOVE.

SO NEXT YEAR WE'LL MOST LIKELY LOOK TO EXPAND THAT UNIT EVEN FURTHER.

BUT FOR NOW, WITH THAT CURRENT FAU MORPHING INTO WITH THOSE SIX NEW POSITIONS MORPHING INTO THE STOP TEAM, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY

[12. Approval of FY 2025 per diem rates, effective October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, for all business travel. In addition, the approval of the mileage reimbursement rate, of 65.5 cents, for business miles driven, effective for October 1, 2024.]

IMPACTFUL AS FAR AS REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME.

GOOD. I MEAN, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE.

SURE. AND THAT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSOLIDATING WITH THE FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT.

THE WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO CONTINUE TO GET UPDATES ON THAT.

YES. AS FAR AS HOW THAT NEW TEAM IS DOING AND, YOU KNOW, DATA AND REPORTS, YOU KNOW, FROM TIME TO TIME ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE SOME GOOD RESULTS HERE AND GET SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS OFF THE STREET.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE ON ON THE SHERIFF'S.

ASK ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WITH THE SHERIFF? YEAH, I'VE GOT SOME. COMMISSIONER CALVERT THANK YOU JUDGE.

I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK.

IS THE WEEKEND APPROPRIATION OF STAFF THERE FOR YOUR SMART MENTAL HEALTH GROUP? IS THAT FULLY COVERED NOW SO THAT WE'LL HAVE WEEKEND SHIFTS AVAILABLE? YES, SIR. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TWO POSITIONS FOR SMART.

THE INTENTION IS TO MAKE IT SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK.

OKAY. ONCE APPROVED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE HIRES AS SOON AS OCTOBER 1ST.

[35. Execution of the Statement of Grant Award by the Authorizing Official for Bexar County and adoption of the Texas Defense Commission's Improvement Grant Program Resolution for Year Two, FY 24-25 for the Bexar County Public Defender's Office Non-Citizen Unit. Year Two funding was awarded $340,326.13 from TIDC and $145,854.06 in County match funds, for a total project cost of $486,180.19 for a term beginning October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.]

GREAT. OKAY.

YOU STILL HAVING HIRING ISSUES THERE FOR THE SMART OR FOR THE SMART? THERE WERE SOME VACANCIES IN THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH THEM LAST WEEK.

STRAC IS READY ON THEIR SIDE WITH THE CLINICIANS AND THE PARAMEDICS.

THEY'RE WAITING FOR US TO COME UP WITH THE NEXT POSITION, SO WE'LL BE READY TO GO FAIRLY QUICK.

VERY GOOD. OKAY.

GOING BACK TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, IS ANYONE FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE HERE? THEY'RE NOT HERE. OKAY, WELL, SURE, SURE.

COME ON BACK.

I GOT A QUESTION OR A COMMENT.

IS THERE. DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? FOR THE SHERIFF? NO. GO AHEAD.

AND THEN I'LL LIKE TO ASK SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

SO, SHERIFF OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE MAKING THE COURT IS MAKING ANOTHER BIG COMMITMENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.

IT APPEARS THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT CATCHING THE BAD GUYS, SO TO SPEAK, AND ESPECIALLY VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND OBVIOUSLY THE STOP PROGRAM.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS STOP WHAT IS STOP STAND FOR? THE STOP PROGRAM JUDGE WAS BORN OF THE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE WERE HAVING JOINTLY THAT YOU AND MAYOR NIRENBERG CO-CHAIRED THAT THAT COMMITTEE, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THAT WE BROUGHT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.

YES. WE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A GAP, SO TO SPEAK.

YOU. ABSOLUTELY. YOU ASKED ME TO ADDRESS IT, AND YOU ASKED ME TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW AND INNOVATIVE.

AND SO TOGETHER, YOU AND I CAME UP WITH THE STOP TEAM, THE SHERIFF'S TOP OFFENDER PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE A UNIT THAT THEIR SOLE PURPOSE IS TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME BY TARGETING THAT SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CRIMINALS THAT COMMITS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR CRIME AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

THEY'RE GOING TO OPERATE JOINTLY, UNIFORM, UTILIZING, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONAL UNIFORM TACTICS, BUT ALSO PLAINCLOTHES.

THERE'LL BE A SIZABLE PLAINCLOTHES CONTINGENT TO THE GROUP.

[01:40:01]

AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THAT, THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT WITH ALL WITH NEW POSITIONS.

SO THE GOAL IS TO COMBINE THEM WITH OUR EXISTING FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT.

THAT DOES WORK ALONG THOSE LINES.

THIS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO EXPAND IT, AND IT'LL BE REBRANDED AS A NEW EXPANDED UNIT CALLED THE STOP TEAM.

BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKING FOR THOSE VIOLENT OFFENDERS.

YES. PUTS A FOCUS AND A SPECIALIZED UNIT THAT WILL REALLY THEN HOPEFULLY BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

ABSOLUTELY. IT'LL BE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET.

IT'LL BE SOMETHING NEW, INNOVATIVE AND DEFINITELY EFFECTIVE.

AND THEN IN REGARDS TO THE SMART.

WHAT DOES SMART STAND FOR? THE SMART STANDS FOR SPECIALIZED MULTIDISCIPLINARY ALTERNATE RESPONSE TEAM.

IT IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM COMPRISED OF DEPUTIES FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT ARE ALREADY THERE, MENTAL HEALTH DEPUTIES.

SO THEY'RE ALREADY AHEAD OF THE AHEAD OF THE CURVE AS OPPOSED TO THE AVERAGE DEPUTY.

THEY'VE GOT MORE ROBUST TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.

DID YOU KNOW TO DEAL WITH MENTAL WITH PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS? IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THROUGH STRAC OPERATED THROUGH STRAC.

BUT WE PARTNER THAT THOSE MENTAL HEALTH DEPUTIES WITH PARAMEDICS FROM ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS FROM CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, SO THAT IT TRULY IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF AT LEAST SOMETIMES FOUR PEOPLE.

THE TEAM OPERATES YOU KNOW, PROACTIVELY.

MANY TIMES THEY'RE OUT JUMPING CALLS.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, A CALL THAT MAY COME IN TO PATROL, WHERE WE'D TYPICALLY BE SENDING A PATROL OFFICER, A PATROL DEPUTY.

IF WE SUSPECT THAT IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CALL, THE SMART TEAM WILL JUMP THAT CALL, TAKE OVER IT, AND TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

THE HENCE THE ALTERNATE RESPONSE.

THEY'LL TAKE A SOFTER APPROACH.

SO, ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THE SMART TEAM IS THAT THEY DON'T WEAR A UNIFORM.

WELL, THEY DON'T WEAR A POLICE UNIFORM.

THEY WEAR A VERY SOFT UNIFORM.

SO KHAKI PANTS AND A GREEN TYPE SHIRT THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY POLICE LOGOS ON IT.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE TO THE UNTRAINED EYE, THE PARAMEDIC LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE COP'S.

LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE [INAUDIBLE] FROM CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

AND THEY ALL GO BY FIRST NAME, SO IT'S NOT.

HELLO. MY DEPUTY MY NAME IS DEPUTY SMITH.

I'M HERE TO HELP. IT'S HI, MY NAME IS RON, HOW CAN I HELP YOU OUT WITH WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY? BETWEEN THE THREE OF THEM, THE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE THERE, THEY WILL ASSESS WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS.

IF IT'S A TRUE MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE, OBVIOUSLY THE CLINICIAN AND THE DEPUTY MAY TAKE THE OR THE CLINICIAN MAY TAKE THE LEAD, WITH THE DEPUTY THERE PROVIDING COVER IN THE EVENT THAT IT DOES GO SOUTH.

IF IT'S A MEDICAL EPISODE, SUCH AS A DIABETIC EPISODE, THEN OF COURSE THE PARAMEDIC WILL TAKE THE MORE ACTIVE ROLE.

BUT THEY THE TEAM WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.

IT'S A REALLY SEAMLESS TRANSITION AND IT'S DONE WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING USES OF FORCE, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE DIVERTED. PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE WOULD HAVE TYPICALLY ENDED UP IN THE JAIL SYSTEM, WHEREAS WE KNOW THEY GET CAUGHT UP IN THE IN THE WASH IN THE JAIL SYSTEM DIVERT THEM TO SERVICES IN ORDER TO, TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT OVER RELYING ON OUR JAIL SYSTEM.

SO YOUR DEPARTMENT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN DIFFUSING THESE VERY EXPLOSIVE SITUATIONS THAT OFTEN RESULT IN POLICE SHOOTINGS.

CORRECT? YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY.

I'M PLEASED THAT WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING THE FOUNDERS OF THE OF THE PROGRAM.

AND YES, IT'S BEEN DOING QUITE WELL SINCE THEN.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HELP US EXPAND IT EVEN MORE WITH THE ADDITION OF A LIEUTENANT DEDICATED JUST TO THAT.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS.

AND AS I RECALL, AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION OF BUDGET.

THE CITY CUT THE BUDGET TO THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAD TO STEP UP TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM, AT LEAST THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SO THAT WAS I THINK THAT WAS THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.

OH, THAT WAS THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO SHERIFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.

AND I HOPE TODAY'S VOTE WILL REFLECT THIS COURT'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

I'M SORRY, BEFORE YOU GO.

CHIEF GARZA, SO I KNOW THE NEW DISTRICTS THAT YOU WANT TO CREATE NOW, WITH THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE JUST APPROVED FOR THE 41 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES.

SO, WHAT'S THE BREAKDOWN PER DISTRICT AND HOW MANY ARE THERE GOING TO BE PER SHIFT? SO WITH THE ADDITION OF THESE NEW STAFF, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT EVERY PATROL DISTRICT NOW GOING INCREASING FROM 30 TO ROUGHLY 40 DEPUTIES PER SHIFT.

WHICH MEANS WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADD TWO MORE DISTRICTS TO WHAT WE WERE ALREADY PLANNING TO ADD THIS YEAR.

OKAY, SO THE DISTRICTS IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF PRECINCT ONE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE SMALLER.

THE ONES YOU HAD PRESENTED TO MY OFFICE.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SHERIFF. THANK YOU SIR.

SO I'M GOING TO GO ON TO SOME OTHER QUESTIONS NOW.

SO THANK YOU.

SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY CONSTABLE.

[01:45:01]

CONSTABLE TEJEDA AND HIS CHIEF SAL ARE HERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS IS CLEAR TO THEM.

BECAUSE CONSTABLE TEJEDA SAID THAT HE DIDN'T GET ANY KIND OF COMMUNICATION BASED ON WHAT BUDGET WAS GOING TO DO.

SO, THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT CAN BE CONFUSING.

SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS CLEAR.

IF WE GO BACK BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT YOU'RE REMOVING.

BUT I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REMOVING.

IT'S JUST MAKING THE POSITION INTO CAPTAIN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY REQUESTED.

CORRECT. SO IF YOU CAN GO THROUGH AND EXPLAIN THAT FOR, FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY CONSTABLE AND HIS CHIEF WERE HERE, PLEASE.

ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER.

SO WHAT WE DID IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS WE PROPOSED TO DELETE TWO DEPUTY CONSTABLES TO CREATE TWO LEAD DEPUTY CONSTABLES.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE REMOVING THAT PROGRAM CHANGE.

WE'RE REAUTHORIZING ONE OF THOSE TWO DEPUTY CONSTABLES.

AND THEN WE'RE CHANGING ONE OF THOSE SECOND DEPUTY CONSTABLE TO A CAPTAIN.

OKAY. AND THEN WITH THE CAPTAIN, THE CAPTAIN'S ALSO RECEIVING A HIGHER SALARY.

IT WILL BE AT A GRADE OF E7.

SO YES, IT WILL BE HIGHER SALARY THAN THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE'S.

OKAY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS AT LEAST CLEAR FOR TO RESPECT THEIR TIME THAT THEY CAME HERE.

SO. OKAY. THANK YOU, CONSTABLE TEJEDA AND SAL, FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.

MY NEXT QUESTION GOING DOWN TO CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO WE AUTHORIZED THE UNIFORM AUTO ALLOWANCES FOR 65 INVESTIGATORS AT $420 ANNUALLY. AND THE SECOND CHANGE IS WE'RE DOING A SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR 53 FIRST CHAIR POSITIONS, ALSO KNOWN AS PROSECUTOR FIVE AND ALSO AS A DEPUTY CHIEF MISDEMEANOR POSITION AND AN ETHICAL DISCLOSURE UNIT DIRECTOR POSITION.

SO, IT'S JUST DOING SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THOSE LISTED POSITIONS.

SO IT'S JUST SALARY ADJUSTMENTS.

CORRECT. OKAY. SO IT'S NOT ADDING MORE POSITIONS.

THAT'S CORRECT COMMISSIONER. WE'RE NOT ADDING MORE.

OKAY. AND THEN ON THE NEXT PAGE IS THAT THE SAME THING? YES. THAT'S WHAT THE SECOND ONE THAT I MENTIONED FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE FUNDING UNDER THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD? YES. SO THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE ALLOCATED $1.1 MILLION.

ONE MORE, $1.2 MILLION.

AND WE ESTIMATED THAT IN THE FISCAL YEAR, 24 CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO EXECUTE THAT.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SIMPLY DOING IS JUST REDUCING THAT ESTIMATE AND CARRYING IT OVER TO NEXT YEAR SO THEY CAN MAKE THE PAYMENTS.

SO THE MONEY WAS THERE AND THEY JUST DIDN'T USE IT.

SO YOU'RE CORRECT. WE'RE CARRYING IT OVER INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO USE IT.

I WOULD HAVE TO ASK [INAUDIBLE] ON THAT MATTER, I'M NOT SURE.

OKAY. AND THEN UNDER FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ADDING SOME FUNDING FOR THE PRINT SHOP IS DOWN HERE.

I THINK I SAW HIM IN THE.

YEAH, I'M. SO, DAN, I KNOW WE'RE ADDING SOME MONEY FOR THE PRINT SHOP, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE OUT A SHOUT OUT TO THE PRINT SHOP FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND THE GOOD PRINTING THEY DO FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTY.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH MACHINES THESE ARE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE ARE LIKE SPIRAL NOTEBOOKS AND THINGS.

AND I'VE GONE THERE A FEW TIMES AND WAS TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THINGS, AND THEY LITERALLY DID IT MANUALLY WITH THEIR HANDS.

SO DO THEY HAVE THAT MACHINE WORKING OR IS THAT.

YEAH. SO SOMETIMES IT'S FASTER TO HAND COIL THOSE BOOKS ACTUALLY IN A PRESS THAN ACTUALLY USING A MACHINE.

BUT THEY DO HAVE A MACHINE TO DO THAT, AND IT'S WORKING AND FUNDED? YES. SO THE ONLY MACHINE THAT WASN'T WORKING FOR US WHEN YOU VISITED WAS OUR PLOTTER.

OKAY. THAT'S BEEN DELIVERED AND INSTALLED.

SO THAT'S UP AND RUNNING AND THEN THIS OTHER PROGRAMABLE PAPER CUTTER WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING OUR PRODUCTIVITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, TANYA.

TALK ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

OKAY. NO.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND FOR YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR BEING HERE THROUGH NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, AND THEN I'LL MAKE SOME MORE COMMENTS HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M.

I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE CRIME LAB CHANGE MEMO AND THE FUNDING THERE.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD CHANGE TO SEE.

I'M ALSO GLAD THAT WE GOT THE YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATORS FOR OUR JP'S UP TO THE ANY FOUR LEVEL.

[01:50:07]

I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS, THE 240,000.

SO THAT WAS PART OF A GRANT PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY.

WHERE DOES THAT SIT TODAY? HAVE WE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING OR IS THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT A POSSIBILITY GOING FORWARD? FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S THE END OF THE GRANT FUNDING.

SO THEY NEED TO CARRY IT OVER INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM.

I UNDERSTAND. I GUESS I'M JUST TAKING THAT A LITTLE FURTHER TO SAY, YOU KNOW, AS A, AS A COUNTY AND I'M SURE THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PLACE.

BUT AS THESE GRANTS EXPIRE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE ACTIVELY PURSUING ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING AND OTHER GRANTS? TYPICALLY, YES.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE SPECIALTY COURTS, THERE'S THEY TYPICALLY REAPPLY FOR GRANTS.

I THINK THIS ONE, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO RECEIVE IT.

I DON'T KNOW THE, THE HOW THE SAMHSA GRANT WORKS.

SPECIFICALLY TYPICALLY THE CHILDREN'S COURT MANAGES THAT GRANT DIRECTLY, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY RAN OUT OF FUNDING.

THEY HAD SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

OKAY. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TODAY IN COURT THAT REPRESENTS THOSE COURTS? NO, I DON'T SEE ANYONE.

WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO CONTINUE TO KIND OF LEAN ON THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GRANTS IN THE PAST AND OBVIOUSLY A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY IF WE CAN TAKE THAT OFF OF OUR BOOKS AND UTILIZE GRANT FUNDING.

SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT ON EVERYONE'S RADAR.

THE FIRST ITEM UNDER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THE UNIFORM ALLOWANCE, THAT'S EVERY YEAR.

CORRECT. OKAY.

I WAS JUST SURPRISED BY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE MILITARY, YOU KIND OF GET A ONE-TIME PAY ALLOWANCE.

UNIFORM ALLOWANCE, BUT IT'S NOT A RECURRING ANNUAL FEE.

HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY? TYPICALLY, YES. ONCE THEY AUTHORIZE THE UNIFORM ALLOWANCE COUNTY WIDE, THEY'LL RECEIVE THAT ANNUALLY.

OKAY. APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THE AREA I'D LIKE TO FOCUS A LITTLE MORE TIME ON HERE, THOUGH, IS ON THE CONSTABLES.

I KNOW I THINK WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE CONSTABLES AND SOME REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE, BUT I KNOW THERE HAD BEEN DIFFERENT REQUESTS THAT CAME FROM THE DIFFERENT PRECINCTS.

CORRECT? DO YOU KNOW THE TOTAL NUMBER THAT WERE ORIGINALLY REQUESTED? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEPUTIES, BUT IT VARIED ACROSS SOME.

SOME WERE ASKING FOR TEN.

OTHERS WERE ASKING FOR FIVE.

SO IT VARIED BY PRECINCT.

ALL 4 OR 5.

AT THE WORK SESSION? YEAH.

AT THE WORK SESSION, THEY WERE ASKING FOR FIVE MORE.

THAT'S CORRECT. BUT INITIALLY IT WAS A DIFFERENT AMOUNT.

OKAY. AND WE'RE IN THIS PROPOSAL ONLY ADDING ONE ADDITIONAL DEPUTY PER PRECINCT.

CORRECT. SO IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF THREE THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THE BUDGET FOR TOMORROW.

YEAH. SO IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT THAT I HAD AND FROM COURT LAST WEEK I THINK THERE'S SERIOUS OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE PRECINCTS AND A NEED WITHIN THE PRECINCTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THESE WARRANT OFFICERS AND I DON'T KNOW, I COULD MAYBE DEFER TO ONE OF OUR CONSTABLES OR BOTH OF OUR CONSTABLES IN THE BACK, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK FORWARD.

AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED IN THE PAST ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE NET IMPACT ON BUDGET FROM DIFFERENT OFFICER POSITIONS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET BACK INTO THAT.

BUT I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A SMALL NET IMPACT VERSUS THE OVERALL COST OF THE, THE PERSONNEL.

BUT CAN WE ALSO CIRCLE BACK ON THE WARRANTS? BECAUSE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HEARS IT AGAIN ABOUT HOW MANY WARRANTS ARE OUTSTANDING A B WARRANTS.

IS THAT CORRECT THAT THAT THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT SITTING OUT THERE AND NO ONE'S TOUCHING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEY'RE SITTING OUT THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO COURT.

YES. YEARS, YEARS AGO, I HAD CREATED TWO OFFICERS IN THE AFTERNOON, TWO AND DURING THE DAY, AND WE WERE PROVIDED TWO CLERKS, ONE FULL TIME, ONE PART TIME.

AT THAT TIME, WE HAD TO SCAN ALL THE WARRANTS BECAUSE THEY WERE REAL OLD WARRANTS.

SO, THEY HAD TO SCAN THEM, ISSUE THEM OUT, AND WE WOULD WORK THOSE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE JP COURTS CONTINUE TO ISSUE OUT WARRANTS ALSO.

SO I DEVELOPED SENDING CARDS, MAKING PHONE CALLS, GOING DOOR TO DOOR.

[01:55:01]

AND THEN AT THE END WE WOULD HAVE ROUND UPS AND WE WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 60 INDIVIDUALS TO THE COURT, AND THE JUDGE COULD DECIDE ON WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THE FINES AND ALL THAT.

BUT. THERE WAS A ISSUE WHERE THERE WERE SOME, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD MENTIONED THAT THE LINEBERGER LETTER WAS MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE THEY WERE CONTACTING SUPPOSEDLY THE OLD WARRANTS.

BUT SEE, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, EVERY TEN YEARS, THEY CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES.

SO YOU STILL HAVE LIKE IN I HAVE PRECINCT ONE WARRANTS AND PRECINCT TWO, PRECINCT TWO HAS WARRANTS IN PRECINCT ONE. SO, THEY OVERLAP, BUT WE CAN WORK ON THEM.

BUT AT ONE TIME THEY STOPPED TAKING ALL CLASS C MISDEMEANORS AT THE JAIL.

SO, WE HAD TO DEVELOP SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE STARTED TAKING THEM TO THE JP COURT.

BUT THE VOLUME OF WORK IS THERE.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY CONSTABLE'S OFFICE PAYS FOR THEIR OWN BUDGET AND IN ADDITION TO THAT BRINGS EXTRA REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY. SO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF YOU PROVIDE US EXTRA OFFICERS, THEY WILL PAY FOR THEMSELVES.

THE AMOUNT OF WORK IS THERE, BUT IT'S ALL WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE.

WHAT Y'ALL DECIDE WHAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTY.

SO, LIKE YOU SAY, THERE'S MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT HAVE EXISTING WARRANTS, AND THEN THEY SOMETIMES THEY ALSO HAVE CLASS A AND B, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE FELONY WARRANTS AND TRAFFIC WARRANTS.

SO THERE'S A MIXTURE THERE.

SO IF THEY DO HAVE I THINK IF THE COUNTY WOULD DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO WHERE YOU COULD TAKE THE CLASS C MISDEMEANORS AND EXPEDITE EVERYTHING, IT WOULD BE GOOD.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF THEY HAVE A FELONY, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A MISDEMEANOR AT A JP COURT? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO RESOLVE THAT? THIS GUY IS GOING TO BE AT THE JAIL, OR IS THAT INDIVIDUAL GOING TO BE TAKEN TO THE JP COURT, TRANSPORTED OVER THERE SO HE CAN PLEA? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE.

THERE'S THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF WARRANTS THAT ARE JUST SITTING THERE.

YEAH. SO, AND MARK CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE TRAFFIC SIDE AND ALL THAT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE WARRANTS THAT ARE COMING IN ARE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY ONCE AGAIN, THEY DECIDED NOT TO TAKE IN CLASS C MISDEMEANORS TO EXPEDITE OR COLLECT OR WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO DO FOR THOSE FINES THAT THEY'RE GETTING.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF SYSTEM CREATED FOR ALL THAT.

UNDERSTAND? CONSTABLE VOJVODICH.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK YOUR QUESTIONING WAS ON THE CLASS A AND B WARRANTS, THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 16,000 OF THOSE WARRANTS.

THEY ARE NOT HIGH PRIORITIES FOR OTHER ENTITIES.

THEY'RE SWAMPED WITH THE FELONIES OR THE HIGH PROFILE FELONY CASES, REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO THESE A B WARRANTS ARE TYPICALLY VERY MUCH CONSIDERED MOSTLY OF FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE STRANGULATION.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A FELONY. BUT IT'S NOT, IT'S A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR.

IT'S THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS THAT THOUGH.

SO, WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES THAT ARE LANGUISHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME THROUGH.

FINALLY MADE A COMPLAINT.

THE INDIVIDUAL HAD A COURT DATE, DIDN'T APPLY BY IT.

AND THEN THEY'RE STILL OUT RUNNING AROUND LOOSE.

THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT ON THOSE VICTIMS. FOR THOSE CASES. THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS WE LIKE SPECIALIZING IN WAS THOSE FAMILY VIOLENCE CASES.

THAT ALSO, THOUGH, GOES BACK TO ABOUT 50% OF ALL THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW CASES ARE IN FUGITIVE STATUS, WHICH MEANS UNTIL WE BRING THEM BACK BEFORE THE COURT.

THE COURTS CAN'T EXERCISE JURISDICTION, BRING JUSTICE, RESTITUTION AND OTHER AREAS.

THE A B WARRANTS IS AN AREA THAT IS UNDER WORKED.

IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ABOUT $120 MILLION WORTH OF JP WARRANTS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING THAT ARE OUT THERE.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

WELL, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A COMPELLING CASE.

BOTH IN KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE WITH TRAFFIC OR THESE WARRANTS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS BACKLOG OF WARRANTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY CONCERNING, THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED BY OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT THERE

[02:00:03]

16,000. YOU SAID ABOUT 16,000 IS OUR AVERAGE, RIGHT.

WOW. WELL, YOU KNOW, AND JUST BRINGING THIS BACK TO I KNOW LAST WEEK POST THE PROPOSED BUDGET, YOU'D COME BACK AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FIVE PER PRECINCT OR.

NO, SIR. WE IN TOTAL EACH WERE ASKING FOR FIVE OFFICERS.

WE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS FROM LIKE MYSELF FROM 10 TO 5 TO BE, YOU KNOW SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO GET THE FIVE.

YEAH. WELL, AND, AND I KNOW THAT THAT THERE'S A DESIRE FOR MORE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE A A VERY MODERATE, MODEST AMENDMENT HERE.

JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO AMEND MAKE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE ADD AN ADDITIONAL ONE DEPUTY CONSTABLE PER PRECINCT ON TOP OF THE ONE THAT'S IN THE CHANGE MEMO, AND THAT WE ALLOW THE CONSTABLES THE DECISION AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO UTILIZE THOSE DEPUTIES WHERE THEY SEE FIT. ALL RIGHT, IT'S A POINT OF ORDER.

I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT IN REGARDS TO ANY AMENDMENTS ON A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, THEN THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY A MOTION.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

IS THERE A SECOND? JUST, I JUST HAVE A POINT OF INQUIRY.

WILL THE, WILL THEY BE GIVEN VEHICLE AND ALL THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, COST OF THEIR OPERATION IN YOUR AMENDMENT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S COVERED.

SURE. I'D DEFER TO COUNTY STAFF AS FAR AS WHETHER THAT'S NECESSARY OR WHETHER THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR TYPICAL ASK OR NOT.

CORRECT. SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE UTILIZED, HOWEVER THE CONSTABLE WANTS TO, THEN I THINK YOU WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE THE COST OF A VEHICLE.

OKAY. THEN I WOULD INCLUDE THAT IN MY MOTION.

GREAT. I'LL SECOND THAT.

A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU CLARIFY THE MOTION AGAIN? I'M SORRY. SO, WITHIN THE CHANGE MEMO, THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL DEPUTY CONSTABLE THAT'S BEING ADDED FOR EACH PRECINCT.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE ADD ONE ADDITIONAL CONSTABLE PER PRECINCT IN ORDER TO AGAIN, TRY TO CONTINUE TO WORK AT THESE WARRANTS AND OR TRAFFIC AND WHEREVER THE NEED IS WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL PRECINCTS, PROVIDING THESE CONSTABLES THE FLEXIBILITY TO CHOOSE, LIKE HOW THEY WANT TO UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES AND WHATEVER ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS REQUIRED IN TERMS OF VEHICLE FOR THOSE CONSTABLES.

OKAY. AND LAST WEEK THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CONSTABLES PER PRECINCT.

THE NUMBERS I WERE PRESENTED WERE THAT PRECINCT TWO HAD A LOWER NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAN THE OTHER PRECINCTS.

IS THAT, CAN SOMEONE CONFIRM THAT FOR ME, TINA?

[45. Approval and Execution of the Public Service Agreement between Bexar County and Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. for a one-year period beginning October 1, 2023, and ending on September 30, 2024, in the amount of $347,497.39 from the General Fund.]

AND WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, I MEAN, I LOOK, I, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FIX THAT TODAY.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD DO THINGS.

TRY AND REMEDY THINGS LAST MINUTE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD POLICY.

SO I'M, YOU KNOW, NOT GOING TO ASK FOR TEN FOR PRECINCT TWO AS OPPOSED TO FOUR FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT I THINK IF THE NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE AND IT'S JUSTIFIED IN TERMS OF WORKLOAD, WE NEED TO WORK ON FIXING THAT AT SOME POINT.

SO, TINA, DO YOU HAVE THAT? YES. SO, IN CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO, THERE ARE 21 DEPUTY CONSTABLES.

IN PRECINCT ONE, THERE ARE 26 AND ONE SECOND, LET ME JUST GET TO THE OTHER TWO IN PRECINCT THREE, THERE ARE 23, AND THEN IN PRECINCT FOUR THERE ARE 23.

OKAY, SO I GUESS IN A IN A BEST CASE SCENARIO WHERE TWO PRECINCT TWO HAS TWO FEWER THAN THE NEXT CLOSEST PRECINCT.

[6. Commissioners Court minutes for Thursday, August 29, 2024, Tuesday, September 3, 2024, and Wednesday, September 4, 2024.]

OKAY. AGAIN I, I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF THAT WE WORK ON THIS IN THE BUDGET.

NOT EVEN NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, BUT IN THE INTERIM TO TRY AND ADDRESS THAT AGAIN.