Aug 18, 2026 Commissioners Court

LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME FORWARD? Y'ALL COME FORWARD, TAKE A PICTURE.

HERE'S YOUR PROCLAMATION.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[00:10:05]

MICHAEL FOYAR, OUR OTHER CHIEF DEPUTY.

MAREN GONZALEZ, OUR MOTOR VEHICLE DIRECTOR. STEVEN MARTINEZ, OUR ASSISTANT MOTOR VEHICLE DIRECTOR. OUR MANAGERS, BONNIE WONG, ANDREW NERIO, MELISSA ARELLANO, JERRY GONZALEZ, AND JANIE RAMOS. AND OUR SUPERVISOR, RACHEL URRUTIA. I WANT TO THANK FELICIA CARRIZALES, JERRY RESPONDENT, JEFFREY ALCEVEDO, AND JOSHUA OLIVARES FOR HELPING US PUT THE APPLICATION TOGETHER. I ALSO, WANT TO THANK SHERIFF JAVIER SALAZAR AND HIS OFFICE FOR THEIR ROLE IN PUTTING FORTH THIS APPLICATION. AND OF COURSE, I WANT TO THANK OUR ENTIRE MOTOR VEHICLE STAFF WHO PROVIDE DAY IN AND DAY OUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPERTISE AND PROCESS MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE AND REGISTRATION TRANSACTIONS THAT HELPED US RECEIVE THIS GOLD AWARD. THE GOLD LEVEL DESIGNATION REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN THE PERFORMANCE QUALITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM, AND TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF ONLY 12 COUNTIES IN TEXAS WITH A GOLD PERFORMANCE AWARD FROM THE TEXAS DMV IS TRULY AN HONOR AND A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY. FINALLY, I WANT TO THANK MR. DANIEL AVITIA.

I KEEP SAYING THE WRONG, RIGHT? GOT IT.

[00:15:01]

OKAY, MR. DANIEL AVITIA AND HIS STAFF FOR MAKING THE DRIVE DOWN FROM AUSTIN THIS MORNING TO SAN ANTONIO TO PRESENT US THIS AWARD.

I KNOW THAT'S A BIG THING.

THAT'S A THANK YOU.

AND THEN THEY GOT TO GO BACK.

OH WELL, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN ON THAT.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL TO THEM FOR RECOGNIZING OUR COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE STAFF.

I'D LIKE NOW TO INTRODUCE MR. DANIEL AVITIA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, TO GIVE SOME REMARKS AND INTRODUCE HIS TEAM.

GOOD MORNING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BREAK BEFORE WE AWARD IT. JUDGE TAKAI, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS DANIEL LEVITHIA. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS DMV, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY. THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO TEXANS ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTORS, COUNTIES AND THE TEXAS DMV EACH SERVE ON THE FRONT LINE OF SERVICE DELIVERY WITH DISTINCT BUT COMPLEMENTARY ROLES.

TOGETHER, MR. URESTI'S TEAM AND THE DMV ENSURE THAT VEHICLE TITLE AND REGISTRATION SERVICES ARE DELIVERED WITH CONSISTENCY, INTEGRITY, AND EFFICIENCY ACROSS THE COUNTY. THE TXDMV PERFORMANCE QUALITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM IS ONE WAY WE RECOGNIZE THAT PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION.

IT HIGHLIGHTS COUNTIES THAT GO BEYOND MEETING REQUIREMENTS.

IT ALSO, MEANS THEY ARE DEMONSTRATING EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE, OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE, AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE SYSTEM WE COLLECTIVELY MANAGE. OUT OF MORE THAN 250 COUNTIES, ONLY A FEW ARE RECOGNIZED EACH YEAR.

THAT DISTINCTION REFLECTS AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF COMMITMENT PUBLIC SERVICE.

BEXAR COUNTY IS ONLY ONE OF 3 COUNTIES IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS THAT EXEMPLIFIES THIS PARTNERSHIP.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR MR. ALBERT URESTI, THE OFFICE HAS DEMONSTRATED STRONG COLLABORATION WITH THE DMV AND A CONTINUED FOCUS ON DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY.

AT THIS TIME, JUDGE TAKAI, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE DIRECTOR OF VEHICLE TITLE AND REGISTRATION FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, MS. ANNETTE QUINTERO, TO SHARE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RECOGNITION AND CERTAINLY PRESENT THE MUCH-DESERVED GOLD LEVEL PERFORMANCE QUALITY RECOGNITION AWARD.

PROCEED.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE TAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A FEW MINUTES.

MY NAME IS ANNETTE QUINTERO. I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF VEHICLE TITLES AND REGISTRATION AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

IT IS MY PLEASURE THIS MORNING TO BE HERE AND RECOGNIZE BEXAR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR ALBERT URESTI AND HIS TEAM FOR AN IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT.

EACH YEAR, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES OFFERS ELECTED COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PERFORMANCE QUALITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM, OR PQRP.

THIS YEAR, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES RECOGNIZED ONLY 5 COUNTIES STATEWIDE WITH A PQRP AWARD FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK IN 2025. OF THOSE 5 RECIPIENTS, 1 EARNED A BRONZE-LEVEL RECOGNITION, 1 EARNED SILVER, AND ONLY 3 ACHIEVED THE PROGRAM'S HIGHEST DISTINCTION, THE GOLD-LEVEL AWARD. I AM VERY PLEASED TO SHARE THAT BEXAR COUNTY IS ONE OF THOSE 3 GOLD-LEVEL RECIPIENTS. SINCE BEGINNING HIS SERVICE AS BEXAR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR IN 2012, ALBERT URESTI AND HIS TEAM HAVE DEMONSTRATED A STRONG COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. THAT COMMITMENT IS EVIDENT NOT ONLY IN THE TAX OFFICE'S PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO, IN ITS WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE, ADAPT, AND TAKE ON SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN OUR STATE. THE BEXAR COUNTY TAX OFFICE HAS ALSO, BEEN AN OUTSTANDING PARTNER TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. MR. URESTI AND HIS STAFF HAVE CONSISTENTLY STEPPED FORWARD TO SUPPORT MAJOR STATEWIDE INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, INCLUDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSE BILL 718 AND TEXAS'S TRANSITION FROM TEMPORARY TAGS TO METAL LICENSE PLATES AT THE TIME OF SALE. THEY HAVE APPROACHED THESE CHANGES WITH A FOCUS NOT SIMPLY ON IMPLEMENTATION BUT ON THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY MR. URESTI AND HIS TEAM HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT TIME AND EFFORT IN EDUCATING THEIR CONSTITUENTS, ENGAGING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND PREPARE FOR CHANGES IN MOTOR VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS.

THESE EFFORTS DEMONSTRATE THAT WHAT A PERFORMANCE QUALITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE STRONG PERFORMANCE,

[00:20:02]

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE, MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIP, AND A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ALBERT URESTI AND THE ENTIRE BEXAR COUNTY TAX OFFICE TEAM WITH THE 2025 DRIVEN TO SERVE GOLD LEVEL PERFORMANCE QUALITY RECOGNITION AWARD.

MR. URESTI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND FOR THE DEDICATION YOU AND YOUR STAFF DEMONSTRATE EVERY DAY IN SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF AND BUSINESSES OF BEXAR COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

BROTHER URESTI, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY HOW SPECIAL YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE.

YOU'RE ONE OF THE MOST FORWARD-FACING DEPARTMENTS FOR THE COUNTY. WELL, GOOD MAJORITY OF PEOPLE COME AND INTERFACE WITH YOUR OFFICE, AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM WORK SO, HARD, AND I'M SO, GRATEFUL THAT IT'S BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE STATE AND IT'S BEEN NOTED. AND YOU'RE ALWAYS WORKING ON CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT, AND WE SEE THAT. AND I THINK THERE ARE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE WITNESSED THAT AS WELL, WHETHER IT'S THE PAYMENT PLANS THAT YOU HELPED TO INNOVATE, ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC PAYMENT PLANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, OR WHETHER IT'S EVEN THE WAY THE WAITING ROOM WAS DESIGNED. YOU MADE IMPROVEMENTS THAT I NOTICED AS A CONSUMER OF THE DEPARTMENT MOVE THE LINES ALONG IN A WAY THAT IS SO, MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE YOUR TIME. TODAY YOUR TEAM WORKS IN ONE OF THE MANY OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTY IN THE SATELLITE OFFICE AT 1604 IN CONVERSE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING A PIONEER IN THE DRIVE-THROUGH LANES UP THERE, WHICH ALSO, BY THE WAY, GOT A NACO AWARD. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD A CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE, BUT IN NEW ORLEANS, THE DRIVE-THROUGH LANE GOT A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

SO, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, MAYBE THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING TODAY, DON'T ALWAYS SEE.

BUT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE GONE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU AS THE GOLDEN TEAM IN TEXAS. SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

SO, THIS IS OUR MOTOR VEHICLE STAFF. IT'S OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DO OUR SUBSTATIONS. WE HAVE 5 LOCATIONS HERE IN WORKOUT.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD, RIGHT, ALBERT? EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT. AND, AND CAN I ASK THE, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN, ARE Y'ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ONLINE PORTAL FOR REGISTRATION? REGISTRATION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES? TEXAS BY TEXAS, YES, SIR.

IS THAT Y'ALL? YES, SIR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

I'LL GIVE YOU A GOLD AWARD BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY ONLINE PORTAL I CAN HANDLE. THAT TELLS YOU HOW SIMPLE IT IS.

OTHERWISE, I HAVE TO GIVE MY KIDS THE CREDIT CARD AND SAY, HEY, FIGURE THIS ALL OUT. IT IS VERY SIMPLE, AND I THANK Y'ALL. SO, THIS IS A WONDERFUL COLLABORATION, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND BEXAR COUNTY, TO MAKE THINGS JUST MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT.

AND ESPECIALLY TODAY, IT'S PROVIDENTIAL YOU'RE HERE ON SENIORS DAY AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR US SENIORS. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD LUCK.

GOD BLESS ON YOUR TRIP BACK TO AUSTIN. IT CAN BE TORTURE THERE. SO, LET'S GIVE THEM AND THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AND HIS STAFF A WONDERFUL ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WOULD Y'ALL COME FORWARD? THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, OUR FINAL PRESENTATION FOR THE MOMENT MORNING IS A HIDALGO, A VERY BESTOWED AWARD ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER COURT RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT AND 40-PLUS YEARS

[00:25:02]

OF SERVICE OF MARICELA MORALES OF THE BEXAR COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. MARI, JILL MATA, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? PLEASE COME FORWARD. NOW, I GOT TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD, COURT. WE OFTEN NOT OFTEN, BUT WE GIVE OUT HIDALGOS, AND WE'RE VERY JUDICIOUS ABOUT RARELY. AND WE RECOGNIZE, OBVIOUSLY, OUTSTANDING PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY. I JUST FELT COMPELLED COME ON FORWARD, JILL.

MARI? THAT MARISELA WAS JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY EMPLOYEE. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE OTHERS, AND I HOPE THAT ALL EMPLOYEES OF BEXAR COUNTY WOULD LIVE TO THE STANDARDS AND TO THE QUALITY OF SERVICE AND THE COMPASSION THAT MARISELA HAS BROUGHT TO HER JOB OVER IN THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. SHE HAS GIVEN HER LIFE, SO, TO SPEAK, TO THE KIDS MOST IN NEED, OUR JUVENILE CHILDREN OVER IN JUVENILE COURT. AND JILL MONTES, THE CHIEF PROBATION OFFICER, AND WE RECOGNIZED HER WITH HER 40-YEAR SERVICE IN JAIL. I THINK Y'ALL HAD A BUNCH OF PARTIES FOR HER. AND SORRY FOR I DIDN'T MAKE YOUR RETIREMENT PARTY.

BUT I FELT COMPELLED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS TRUE OR NOT, BUT I ASKED IF THIS WAS THE FIRST LATINA TO GET A HIDALGO. I KNOW IN MY TERM OF OFFICE WE HAVEN'T GIVEN ONE.

SO, I AM HONORED TO RECOGNIZE MARISELA MORALES. AND SO, LET ME BE ALLOWED TO READ ON THE RECORD. IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY, TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETINGS. KNOW YE THAT MARISELA MORALES IS HEREBY APPOINTED HIDALGO DE SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR. UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COUNTY OF BEXAR, WITH ALL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND EMOLUMENTS APPERTAINING TO SAID OFFICE.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I HEREBY SIGN MY NAME AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE COUNTY TO BE AFFIXED AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, STATE OF TEXAS, THIS 18TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026. AND IT'S BEEN SIGNED BY ME IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND I NOTE THAT I NEED THE SIGNATURE OF THE COUNTY CLERK TO PLEASE ATTEST IT. SO, PLEASE LET US RECOGNIZE MARISELA MORALES AND HER BESTOWED AWARD AS HIDALGO DEL BER COUNTY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR BESTOWING THIS HONOR ON OUR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND MARISELA MORALES. MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM KNOW HER BECAUSE OF HER DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE COUNTY FOR SO, MANY YEARS. EVEN BEFORE COMING TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, SHE WAS SERVING THE COUNTY, AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US UNTIL LAST MONTH. WE'RE STILL DRYING OUR TEARS.

SINCE LAST MONTH, 40 YEARS.

AND YES, JUDGE, AT HER FINAL RETIREMENT PARTY, 300 PEOPLE FILLED A ROOM WITH MARIACHI. SO, YES, IT'S AND THAT WAS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN, EVEN.

SO, YES. AS YOU ALL KNOW, MARI JOINED THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IN 1986 AS A PROBATION OFFICER 1, AND THEN SHE MOVED UP THE RANKS QUICKLY THROUGH ALL THE RANKS OF 2, 03, ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR, SUPERVISOR, FINALLY AS A DEPUTY CHIEF BACK IN 2008. SO, SHE WAS A LEADER AS A DEPUTY CHIEF FOR QUITE A LONG TIME WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

AFTER EARNING HER BA IN PUBLIC JUSTICE AT ST.

MARY'S UNIVERSITY, SHE'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR COLLABORATION WITH NUMEROUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS, REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT WITH ENERGY AND OPTIMISM.

MAUDIE WAS ALWAYS THE GO-TO, EVERY CHIEF, AND SHE'S WORKED FOR, I THINK IT'S 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT CHIEFS, PROBATION CHIEFS, WHICH IS NOT EASY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL A LITTLE NUT.

SHE WORKED WHEN I WAS THERE, SO, THAT TELLS YOU I WASN'T GOING TO SAY HOW OLD, NO, HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN THERE.

WELL, WE WERE WONDERING WHERE OUR YELLOW RIBBONS WERE TOO, BUT FOR SURE. AND DURING ALL OF THAT TIME, SHE WAS THE PROJECT LIKE, YOU COULDN'T GET MADI ANYTHING AND SHE WOULD SAY, YES, YES, YES. NOT YES ONCE, IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE, YES, YES, YES. AND SHE WOULD DO THAT JOB AND ALWAYS WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

ANYWHERE SHE GOES, PEOPLE KNOW HER AND, AND SHE KNOWS THEM. IF YOU ACCOMPANY HER ON ANY OUTING, YOU'LL RUN INTO HER MANY FANS. A LOT OF TIMES THE JUDGES WOULD TAKE HER, THE JUVENILE JUDGES WOULD TAKE HER TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS BECAUSE SHE WOULD WALK IN THE DOOR AND KNOW HALF THE PEOPLE THERE. AND IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE, WHAT PART OF THE CITY, THE COUNTY YOU WERE IN, SHE KNEW THEM OR HAD CONTACTS OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME UP TO HER WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. SO, SHE HAS HELPED SO, MANY PEOPLE. AND SHE'S A PROUD ST. MARY'S RATTLER. SHE'S VERY REALLY SUPPORTS HER COMMUNITY IN SO, MANY WAYS. THE INITIATIVES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT SHE'S WORKED SO, HARD FOR, THAT SHE'S VERY PROUD OF AND THAT HAVE HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON THIS COUNTY.

IN THE EARLY '80S, SHE IMPLEMENTED A GRANT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DAVID

[00:30:01]

RILEY TO CREATE THE PRE-ADJUDICATION AND FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS. SHE BROUGHT TOGETHER A TEAM, VISITED WITH AN OUTSIDE JURISDICTION, HELPED CREATE OUR VERY FIRST JUVENILE DRUG COURT. WE BEXAR COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THE MOST SPECIALTY COURTS, JUVENILE SPECIALTY COURTS IN THE STATE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW IN THE NATION THAT HAVE AS MANY AS WE DO. AND THE VERY FIRST ONE WAS A DRUG COURT, WHICH IS A REGISTERED DRUG COURT. SHE HELPED CREATE THAT INITIATIVE, AND MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU HAD TO WRANGLE AND CREATE BUY-IN, AND MADI WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.

THE FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM WAS THE FIRST TIME THE DEPARTMENT WORKED WITH EXPERIENTIAL AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND WE KNOW TODAY THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WORK, THAT EXPERIENTIAL POSITIVE LEARNING FOR KIDS. AND SHE WAS AN EARLY ADVOCATE FOR THAT WORK. IN 2013, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF JUDGE LAURA PARKER, SHE PUT A TEAM TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE RESTORE COURT. AND THE RESTORE COURT UNIT WORKED WITH GIRLS WHO WERE CHRONICALLY RUNNING AWAY AND AT RISK FOR TRAFFICKING OR ENGAGING IN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. IT WAS A VERY NEW AND HOT TOPIC THAT PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AT THAT TIME. AND AGAIN, SHE HAD NO DOUBTS. SHE TOOK THAT ON. SHE BUILT A COALITION.

THE COALITION IS STILL GOING STRONG AND IT HAS DOZENS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR DEPARTMENT WHO STILL VALUE THAT WORK AND PRIORITIZE IT. AND SHE IS, I BELIEVE, AND HOPEFULLY WILL REMAIN INVOLVED IN THAT WORK AS WELL. SO, AT THAT TIME, WE HAD MANY GIRLS WHO WERE PREGNANT. AND FROM HER WORK, SHE WORKED TO GET CARE COORDINATION FOR THOSE KIDS. AND WE'VE SEEN BIG REDUCTIONS IN THE YOUTH THAT ARE BEING TRAFFICKED AND CAUGHT UP IN THAT. HORRIBLE OFFENSE. ALSO, IN 2013, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF CHIEF LYNN WILKERSON, SHE BROUGHT TOGETHER A TEAM TO COLLABORATE WITH CPS, WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TO CREATE THE CROSSOVER YOUTH PRACTICE MODEL FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE BOTH IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM AND IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

AGAIN, ONE OF THE FEW NATIONAL MODELS OF COURTS OUT THERE, AND WE HAVE ONE OF THEM, AND IT'S THANKS TO THE WORK THAT MARISELA DID.

THOSE CPS CHILDREN WERE OVERREPRESENTED IN THE JUVENILE COURTS AND SO, THE CROSSOVER COURT HAS WORKED TO CREATE BETTER ALTERNATIVES, BETTER CARE, AND IT SERVES AS A NATIONAL MODEL AS WE COLLABORATE WITH OUR CPS PARTNERS. AND IN 2017, WITH JUDGE CARLOS QUESADA, SHE WORKED TO ESTABLISH OUR SPECIALTY COURT THAT ADDRESSES CHILDREN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN GANG MEMBERSHIP.

HER TEAM WAS ABLE TO SECURE A 3-YEAR FEDERAL GRANT TO IMPLEMENT THAT TO REDUCE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AMONG THOSE YOUTH, WHICH REALLY MEANT ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY THOSE CHILDREN WERE NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED, AND SO, WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON THAT.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT SHE WAS THAT SHE SAID YES TO. AGAIN, ALWAYS SAYING YES TO WORK. SHE'S KNOWN FOR HER ABILITY TO CONNECT TO COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, THAT SHE'S DEVELOPED A STRONG NETWORK FOR PROFESSIONALS AND LAYPEOPLE WHO MAKE THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN THEIR TOP PRIORITY.

SHE IS A PERSON OF FAITH.

SHE'S ROOTED IN COMMUNITY ACTION. YOU WILL SEE THAT MADI IS NOT REALLY RETIRING, AND I BET SHE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. AND SHE'S NOW FOCUSED ON A PASSION PROJECT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF HOLISTIC CARE FOR JUSTICE-IMPACTED PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THIS STATE. I PERSONALLY THANK HER FOR HER TIRELESS WORK, FOR HELPING ME DO MY JOB BETTER, FOR TEACHING ME THE ROPES WHEN I DIDN'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO DO THE WORK, AND, AND I CREDIT HER WITH THE EFFECTIVE CULTURE THAT WE HAVE AT BCJPD. SO, THANK YOU, AND WE HONOR HER. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID THAT I'VE DONE IN THE DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO WORK WITH THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY, THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES. MY JOB WAS TO IN MY MIND, THIS IS WHAT I ALWAYS KNEW I WAS TO DO. NUMBER ONE, TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE, AND NUMBER TWO, TO HELP REDIRECT CHILDREN WHO BECAME INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. I DON'T BELIEVE SOMEONE GETS UP ONE MORNING AND SAYS, TODAY I'M GOING TO BREAK THE LAW. I THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE THAT LED UP TO THIS BEHAVIOR, AND MY JOB AS A PO AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PO. I'VE HAD A LOT OF TITLES, BUT THE ONE THAT WAS IN MY HEART ALWAYS WHEN I WAS DOING MY JOB IS I WAS A PROBATION OFFICER. IT WAS TO ASSESS AND UNDERSTAND THE CHILD IN FRONT OF ME AND TO PROVIDE REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. AND BECAUSE OF YOU ALL, AND BECAUSE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ALL THE AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A STRONG COMMUNITY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. WE HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT,

[00:35:01]

WE HAVE VOCATIONAL SERVICES, WE HAVE MENTORING, WE HAVE HOUSING, WE HAVE FOOD, WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF SERVICES. NO INDIVIDUAL, NO AGENCY CAN DO THIS JOB ALONE. SO, I APPRECIATE THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES, AND THAT COMMUNITY HAS ALSO, SUPPORTED THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER, AS A COMMUNITY, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN UNDER OUR CARE. SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS. THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES IN BEXAR COUNTY ARE IN GOOD HANDS.

THANK YOU, MARISELA, FOR BEING A GREAT PARTNER.

WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE COME FORWARD, AND MARISELA, WOULD YOU PLEASE ACCEPT YOUR HIDALGO AWARD? COME ON UP, GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS, BUDDY.

I'LL TAKE PICTURES. I'M GOING TO I'LL TAKE PICTURES.

OKAY. CAN WE, CAN WE CURVE AROUND? CAN Y'ALL CURVE AROUND? YEAH, CURVE AROUND.

YEAH, YOU GET IN.

THIS WAY.

YEAH, COME THIS WAY. CURVE.

CURVE.

HERE YOU GO.

OH BOY, WHAT A DAY. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE ON TIME. WELL, A LITTLE

[5.a. 9:30 a.m.: Discussion and appropriate action related to a two-year Economic Development Grant Agreement not to exceed $1,406,526 with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (d/b/a greater:SATX) and authorization for the County Judge to execute the final agreement once approved by the attorney representing Bexar County.]

BIT. WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND. WE'LL START WITH 5A.

TIME CERTAIN, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO THE 2-YEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT NOT TO EXCEED $1,406,526 WITH THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, DBA GREATER SATX, AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE FINAL AGREEMENT ONCE APPROVED BY THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING BEXAR COUNTY. MR. THOMAS GUEVARA.

THANKS, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

I'M GOING TO ASK SARAH RUSH FROM GREATER SATX, OUR PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TO COME UP FOR THE PRESENTATION.

BUT JUST A QUICK PART, JUST TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.

AGAIN, THIS IS TO REQUEST THIS REQUEST IS TO ASSIST BEXAR COUNTY WITH SUPPORT OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THOSE TARGETED INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE COUNTY TO BUILD OUR TAX BASE. SO, I'M GOING TO ASK SARAH TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND PREVIEW OF WHAT THE PROPOSAL GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU SO, MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU AND FOR ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE PARTNER TO DRIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND TO REPRESENT THIS ORGANIZATION, GREATER SATC. AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR TEAM DOES ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNTY EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE ARE SO, INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLABORATION AND THE PARTNERSHIP. SO, AS I BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY STAFF AND EACH OF YOUR TEAMS. WE WORK INCREDIBLY CLOSELY TOGETHER EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND WE COULD NOT ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK WITHOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP. SO, THANK YOU TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM, TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS HERE, EACH OF YOUR TEAMS THAT WE WORK WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO, TODAY, LET'S SEE HERE. CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME ADVANCE THE SLIDES? OKAY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND ACTUALLY, LET'S GO AHEAD TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO, GREATER SATX AS AN ORGANIZATION SERVES REPRESENTING THE 10-COUNTY SAN ANTONIO REGION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES, AND AGAIN, WE PARTNER INCREDIBLY CLOSELY

[00:40:03]

WITH BEXAR COUNTY TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES.

THE PROPOSAL AND AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE WORKING TO HAVE APPROVED TODAY IS A SHIFT IN HOW WE HAVE HISTORICALLY PARTNERED IN THAT WE ARE SHIFTING AS AN ORGANIZATION TO AN EQUALIZED FUNDING MODEL THAT IS BASED ON A PER CAPITA FUNDING AGREEMENT.

EACH OF OUR PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNER ENTITIES WILL PARTNER WITH US AND ARE PARTNERING WITH US IN THIS NEW FORMAT, WHICH EQUALIZES THE RATE OF INVESTMENT FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.

BEXAR COUNTY'S AGREEMENT WILL ALIGN WITH THIS MODEL AND WILL BE BASED AT ABOUT $700,000 ANNUALLY, AND THIS IS A 2-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR A TOTAL OF $1.4 MILLION.

BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BY THE NATURE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP DOES HAVE AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF DELIVERABLES BEYOND WHAT OUR REGIONAL PARTNER ENTITIES DO RECEIVE IN TERMS OF WORK FROM OUR ORGANIZATION. WE WORK ON YOUR BEHALF PROVIDING THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP AND DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT FOR ALL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE BEXAR COUNTY, AND WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENSURE THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD. ONCE THE REAL ESTATE DECISION IS MADE, WE ARE ALSO, WORKING IN VERY CLOSE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY STAFF TO ENSURE THAT THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS FOR INCENTIVES AND OTHER AGREEMENTS IN PLACE WITH THE COUNTY ARE MOVING ALONG SMOOTHLY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OBJECTIVES THAT WE WILL BE WORKING TOWARD ACHIEVING UNDER THIS 2-YEAR AGREEMENT.

YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT THOSE OBJECTIVES ARE IN TERMS OF PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY WITH INCENTIVE PARTICIPATION FOR BEXAR COUNTY. A TOTAL OF 05,000 JOBS THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD, $250 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, WHAT WE CALL BUSINESS RETENTION AND GROWTH MEETINGS. SO, ENGAGING WITH LOCAL COMPANIES, ENSURING THAT WE'RE HELPING THEM TO DELIVER ON GROWTH IN THIS COUNTY AND RETAINING THEIR GROWTH IN THIS COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT NEW RECRUITMENT PROSPECTS INTO THIS REGION THAT ALIGN WITH OUR TARGET INDUSTRIES AND COLLABORATING WITH THE AREA CITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO ENSURE STRONG REPRESENTATION ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY. WE ARE ALWAYS EDUCATING OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS ON THE WORK OF TEXAS FAST TRACK AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING HERE AT THE COUNTY. AND WE'RE ALSO, BUILDING A STATE OF INNOVATION REPORT WITH SEVERAL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THIS AREA TO BETTER HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS REGION IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE GROWTH. WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW OUR PERFORMANCE HAS ALIGNED OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS OF OUR ALL-IN REGIONAL STRATEGY, WHICH WAS OUR PREVIOUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT JUST CLOSED OUT LAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN A NUMBER OF KEY AREAS. WE ARE ALWAYS TRACKING OUR COMPETITIVENESS AND OUR PERFORMANCE AGAINST 9 PEER METROS, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE WHEN WE WORK AND FOCUS AS ONE REGION WITH ONE ALIGNED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, WE WILL SEE MOVEMENT AND PROGRESS. ON THE JOBS FRONT, YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE 5 YEARS, WE HIT A COUPLE OF KEY GROWTH PROJECTIONS THAT WERE REALLY IMPRESSIVE, MOVING FROM NUMBER 8 TO NUMBER 4, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE ANNOUNCED WITHIN THIS REGION COMPARED TO OUR PEERS THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE. WORKFORCE IS AN AREA THAT WE CAN WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME TREMENDOUS MOMENTUM IN THE PACE OF CHANGE. SO, THAT PERCENT CHANGE IN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, WE MOVED FROM 10TH AMONGST OUR PEER METROS TO NUMBER 2. AND WE SAW THE RATE OF CHANGE IN POVERTY MOVE FROM NUMBER 10 TO NUMBER 2. THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND THAT OUR SHEER VOLUME OF NUMBERS, WE STILL SIT AT NUMBER 10, RIGHT, AMONGST OUR PEERS. SO, THAT MEANS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LEAN IN TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO BEGIN TO MOVE AND ADVANCE THESE RATES FURTHER, FASTER.

LOOKING AT THE PLACE-BASED MEASURES AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU NEED PEOPLE, YOU NEED A WORKFORCE, THAT CAN DELIVER THE NEEDS OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE CREATING THOSE JOBS, AND YOU NEED A PLACE THAT CAN SUSTAIN THOSE CORPORATE INVESTMENTS AND

[00:45:01]

ENSURE THAT THE PLACE IS NOT ONLY ATTRACTING TALENT, BUT IT IS SUPPORTING THE CORPORATE GROWTH IN THE AREA. SO, WE ARE SEEING SOME REALLY STRONG MOVEMENT AS WELL ON THE PLACE-BASED INITIATIVES.

ONE THING THAT ISN'T MEASURED HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS AIR SERVICE AND THAT'S A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN AN AREA THAT WE HAVE LEANED IN SIGNIFICANTLY AS AN ORGANIZATION TO BEGIN TO CONTINUE TO MOVE AND ADVANCE DIRECT FLIGHTS INTO THIS REGION. SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INDUSTRY SECTORS THAT WE TARGET, REALLY SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM IN PARTICULAR IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. AND I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR WITH EACH OF YOU BECAUSE THIS IS AN AREA THAT THE COURT HAS DETERMINED IS A CRITICAL TARGET SECTOR FOR BEXAR COUNTY. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A RIGHT TO WIN IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND SITE SELECTORS AND COMPANIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD ARE SEEING THAT TO BE TRUE AS WELL. SO, MOVING FROM NUMBER 20 IN TERMS OF JOBS CREATED IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS TO NUMBER 2 OVER THE 5-YEAR PERIOD OF OUR ALL IN STRATEGY. WE ALSO, SAW A REALLY STRONG MOVEMENT IN LIFE SCIENCES AND CYBERSECURITY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED, AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR STRATEGY, OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRENGTHENING OUR GROWTH IN HEADQUARTER RECRUITMENT, IN LIFE SCIENCES, DEFENSE, CYBER AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES AS AREAS WHERE WE DIDN'T SEE THE PACE OF PROGRESS THAT WE WOULD LIKE.

AND SO, WE'RE LEANING IN HARD IN OUR NEW STRATEGY. SO, LOOKING AT THAT 5-YEAR STRATEGY AND THE RESULTS OF THAT STRATEGY, BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS, WE HAD A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $38.5 MILLION THAT CAME INTO THE ORGANIZATION OVER THE 5-YEAR PERIOD. AND OUT OF THAT, WE HAD AN IMPACT OF $3 MILLION IN DIRECT YOUTH SALARIES THROUGH OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. WE LANDED 120 PROJECTS THAT GENERATED $7.1 BILLION IN NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND ALMOST 20,000 DIRECT JOBS CREATED.

WITH AN AVERAGE WAGE OF OVER $80,000 PER YEAR. THE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF, OF ALL OF THAT WORK WAS $29.1 BILLION IN IMPACT, WHICH WAS A 755X RETURN ON EACH DOLLAR INVESTED.

FOR THE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, OF THOSE 120 PROJECTS, 100 LANDED IN BEXAR COUNTY. $5.3 BILLION OF CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WITH 13,000 JOBS CREATED AND ALMOST $17 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT CAME DIRECTLY TO BEXAR COUNTY AS A RESULT OF THIS WORK. LOOKING BY PRECINCT, WE WANTED TO SHOWCASE THAT WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THE WORK THAT OUR ORGANIZATION HAS DELIVERED HAS TOUCHED EVERY PRECINCT WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY AND HAS HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT ACROSS THE BOARD. WHEN YOU LOOK BY PRECINCT, PRECINCT 1, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES HAS HAD SOME TREMENDOUS WINS WITH COMPANIES LIKE JCB. WE HAVE SEEN GUIDEHOUSE AND TOYOTA ALL LAND INVESTMENTS.

THESE NUMBERS DO NOT CAPTURE THE RECENT TOYOTA ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR NEW STRATEGY, SO, WE'LL SEE THAT AGAIN IN A MOMENT. BUT OVER 5,000 JOBS IN PRECINCT 1, 28 PROJECTS WON. PRECINCT 2, WITH $41 MILLION OF INVESTMENT, 1,300 JOBS, 11 PROJECTS ANNOUNCED.

PRECINCT 3, $488 MILLION, 02,000 JOBS, 17 PROJECTS. AND PRECINCT 4, ALMOST $1 BILLION IN INVESTMENT, JUST UNDER 05,000 JOBS AND 44 PROJECTS ANNOUNCED. SO, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THESE SPAN ALL INDUSTRIES, NOT ONLY MANUFACTURING, BUT WE SAW SIGNIFICANT WORK IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND CYBERSECURITY. WE SAW AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF. SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WORK THAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, FOR 50 YEARS THIS ORGANIZATION HAS EXISTED TO DRIVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, TO SHOWCASE THE SAN ANTONIO REGION AS A DESTINATION FOR CORPORATE INVESTMENT, AND TO GROW THOSE JOBS HERE LOCALLY. THAT MISSION HAS NOT

[00:50:01]

CHANGED IN 50 YEARS. WHAT OUR NEW STRATEGY IS FOCUSED ON IS HOW WE DELIVER ON THAT WORK AND HOW THE WORK IS ENGAGING WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND MOVING THIS FORWARD. SO, WE WILL ALWAYS BE LEADING IN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE OUR EXPERTISE IS REQUIRED, DRIVING THAT JOB CREATION, MARKETING OUR REGION, ENSURING THAT WE ARE ACCELERATING JOB GROWTH FOR THIS REGION. WE WILL BE SUPPORTING IN THOSE AREAS WHERE, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE AREN'T THE CORE DECISION MAKER. MAYBE IT'S AN EFFORT THAT COMES OUT OF THIS COURT, BUT LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PLACE-BASED INITIATIVES WHERE WE CAN HELP MOVE THE NEEDLE BUT AREN'T NECESSARILY IN THE CORE DRIVER'S SEAT. AND THEN WE INFLUENCE ON ISSUES WHERE ALIGNMENT AND MOMENTUM MATTER MOST, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE THINKING NOT JUST ABOUT TODAY BUT 5 YEARS FROM NOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW TO MAKE SURE THIS SAN ANTONIO REGION IS POSITIONED TO WIN FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE CHANGING OUR FOCUS WITH THIS NEW STRATEGY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON WELL, SHARPENING OUR FOCUS TO DRIVE FURTHER IMPACT. AND THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING THOSE SECTORS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT WAGE, SCALE, AND GROWTH POTENTIAL. WE'RE SHIFTING OUR WORKFORCE STRATEGY TOWARDS GRADUATE RETENTION AND DIRECT CAREER CONNECTIVITY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS THAT OUR AMAZING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HERE ARE GRADUATING CHOOSE TO STAY AND BUILD CAREERS HERE, AND THAT OUR COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT TALENT TO FUEL THEIR GROWTH AND, AND RETENTION IN THIS REGION.

WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE'RE TURNING DATA INTO ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE, NOT JUST REPORTS THAT WE GIVE TO OUR CLIENTS THAT ARE OUT OF MARKET, BUT HOW CAN WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO DRIVE DECISION-MAKING FROM, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU ALL PERHAPS FROM THE DAIS. AND THEN GETTING REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT OUR WORK IN SITE READINESS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS HOLDING US BACK FROM WINNING MAJOR DEALS, IT IS OUR ABILITY TO BE READY QUICKLY WITH SITES THAT, THAT CAN SERVE THE NEEDS OF THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT THIS REGION AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. SO, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED FOR THOSE WINS. ESSENTIALLY, THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING ARE ABOUT WINNING IN A MORE COMPETITIVE GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS CONTINUING, WE WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON THOSE AREAS THAT YOU HAVE COME TO KNOW US BEST FOR. OUR TARGETED CORPORATE RECRUITMENT WORK, ENSURING THAT OUR PROJECTS ARE DELIVERING MORE JOBS AND THAT ARE ALIGNED TO A HIGHER THRESHOLD OF WAGES FOR THOSE INDUSTRIES. I MENTIONED ALREADY HEADQUARTERS, LIFE SCIENCES, DEFENSE, CYBERSECURITY, AND NEW TECH AS AREAS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LEANING HEAVILY INTO.

WE WANT TO DEEPEN OUR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS TODAY, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST COLLABORATING WHEN IT COMES TO MARKETING, BUT THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THOSE LONG-TERM INITIATIVES THAT WILL DRIVE OUR SUCCESS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR 10-COUNTY REGION, BUT ALSO, MORE BROADLY THROUGHOUT WHAT WE CALL OUR MEGA REGION UP TO AUSTIN AND DOWN INTO NORTHERN MEXICO. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR WORKFORCE IS READY, THAT WE ARE EVOLVING STRONGER TALENT PATHWAYS TIED DIRECTLY TO EMPLOYERS, I LIKE TO SAY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE EMPLOYER VOICE IS LOUDEST IN EVERY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATION BECAUSE EVERY JOB STARTS WITH AN EMPLOYER.

RIGHT? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT IS BEING DELIVERED OUT OF OUR COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS ARE MEETING THOSE NEEDS SO, THAT THE JOBS WILL BE THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT DESERVE THEM SO, MUCH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE AIRPORT AND ENSURING DIRECT. FLIGHT ACCESS INTO THIS REGION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR MORE COMPETITIVENESS FOR COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT THIS MARKET AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THEIR CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS ALL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND THEN WE WANT TO TAKE OUR MARKETING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH STORYTELLING AND ACTIONABLE DATA THAT HELPS US INFORM OUR CORPORATE CLIENTS AROUND THE WORLD.

MORE EFFECTIVELY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR 5-YEAR GOALS FOR THE ORGANIZATION, WE ARE FOCUSED ON THOSE KEY AREAS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PROJECTS WON AND TOTAL JOB CREATION. WE'LL BE FOCUSED ON HIGHER AVERAGE WAGES AS OUR TARGET AT $100,000, AND WE'RE

[00:55:01]

LOOKING TO GET TO $5 BILLION OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT, WITH 25,000 STUDENTS GOING THROUGH OUR WORK BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE RESULTS OF ALL OF THAT EFFORT, THOSE DIRECT WINS, WILL REGIONALLY IMPACT 150,000 NEW JOBS, 150,000 CERTIFICATES AND DEGREES AWARDED, AND OUR GOAL OF ACHIEVING 45% EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT FOR THIS REGION.

THAT'S THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS THAT WILL MOVE INTO AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE OR HIGHER THROUGH THE PROGRAMMING AND WORK THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS AN ORGANIZATION. WE'VE ALREADY MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN THE FIRST 8 MONTHS OF THIS NEW STRATEGY, AND SO, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE HAD WINS ACROSS ALMOST EVERY PRECINCT SO, FAR WITH THE 5 PROJECTS THAT WE'VE ANNOUNCED. YOU CAN SEE HERE 3 OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS.

TOUCHING, OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES WITH TOYOTA. WE'VE ALMOST HIT ACTUALLY OUR TARGET CAPITAL INVESTMENT GOAL HERE IN YEAR ONE JUST WITH THAT SINGULAR ANNOUNCEMENT OF $3.6 BILLION IN INVESTMENT. 2,000 JOBS TIED TO THAT TOYOTA ANNOUNCEMENT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT PROJECT. YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TOYOTA AS A COMPANY ALLOWED THAT PROJECT TO BE COMPETITIVE AND ALLOWED US ULTIMATELY TO ANNOUNCE AND WIN THAT DEAL.

BLACKWAVE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A COMPANY. THIS IS AN AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. THEY DID NOT COME FORWARD FOR INCENTIVES, BUT WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME THEM HOME TO PORT SAN ANTONIO. THIS 250-JOB PROJECT WILL BE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING SPACE INDUSTRY, WHICH WE'RE WELL POSITIONED AS A COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO LEAD IN. AND XPEL IS A REMARKABLE COMPANY FOUNDED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, GROWING RAPIDLY IN COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S DISTRICT. WE WERE EXCITED TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR CURRENT GROWTH PROJECT FOR $60 MILLION OF INVESTMENT AND CONTINUING TO GROW THEIR WORKFORCE. NOT PICTURED HERE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, CONECTA WAS 300 JOBS GOING INTO YOUR DISTRICT.

IN THE OFFICE SECTOR. AND COMMISSIONER MOODY, WE'RE PROUD OF ALL OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR MILITARY INITIATIVES ARE GROWING AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RETAIN AND CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH OF THAT SECTOR. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP ON THOSE INITIATIVES. SO, WITH THAT, I'LL JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS ONGOING PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN NOW FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BODY, I CAN'T OVERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COURT. THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE HAD SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT DEALS, AND JUDGE SAKAI, YOUR LEADERSHIP ON ENSURING THAT WE ARE COMING TOGETHER AS ONE REGION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE COMPANIES HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. SO, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, CAN YOU GO BACK? I THINK IT WAS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FIVE OR SIX WHERE IT SHOWED THE IMPACT PER COUNTY. I'M SORRY, PER PRECINCT. YEAH, THAT ONE.

YES. SO, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS. OBVIOUSLY, I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU ALL AND THE NEW COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN. SO, I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DEVELOPMENT. AND THE REASON I PUSH SO, MUCH FOR THAT, THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF BEXAR COUNTY KNOW THAT WE LACK A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, REALLY OLD INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMES MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH BRINGS MORE RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I KNOW THIS GOES HAND IN HAND WITH SOMETIMES INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. SOMETIMES WE DO TO HELP BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND COURT COMPANIES TO COME HERE.

AND SO, I KNOW THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT AND IT HAS GONE UP $1.4 MILLION. I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THAT'S FOR 2 YEARS.

AND IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC RENEWAL, CORRECT? CORRECT.

THOMAS, DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? SO, IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC RENEWAL.

SO, THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S GONE. THE FEE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS HAS INCREASED, SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT. OBVIOUSLY, THIS DOES IN MY PRECINCT, BUT FOR TRANSPARENCY WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND DIFFERENT TRIPS WE TAKE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS UNDERSTAND THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SO, THOMAS, DID

[01:00:01]

YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? YES, GREAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT 223 THOUSAND. AN INCREASE OF $223,000 PER YEAR.

ON THIS RECOMMENDATION, TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS A 2-YEAR AGREEMENT.

IT COVERS THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN, AND IT WOULD COVER NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

WE WILL HAVE A 1-YEAR RENEWAL OPTION, AND AGAIN, WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE COURT FOR CONSIDERATION AT THAT POINT.

SO, IT'S A 2-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH A 1-YEAR RENEWAL OPTION BASED ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT DIRECTION.

SO, CAN I MAY I ASK, BEFORE THE 1-YEAR RENEWAL OPTION COMES UP SO, THAT WE'RE NOT PLAYING CATCH-UP AND BEHIND, IF YOU GUYS CAN PLEASE MEET WITH ME, MEET WITH IF OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANT THAT MEETING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS GOTTEN DONE IN THIS NEW PHASE AND HOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE FORWARD.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT, WORKING WITH SARAH AND HER TEAM. IN FACT, PART OF THE AGREEMENT DOES REQUIRE REPORTING, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH YOU AS THOSE REPORTS COME IN SO, Y'ALL ARE SEEING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT WHEN WE HAVE THOSE SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC RENEWAL AND NEEDS TO COME BACK. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WORKING CLOSELY WITH MY OFFICE AND BRINGING CONTINUING TO BRING COMPANIES TO PRECINCT 1. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. SARAH, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL. I KNOW BEFORE YOU WERE KIND OF THE, I GUESS, THE LEAD, YOU WERE ALSO, PART OF THE TEAM, A VERY SUCCESSFUL TEAM, AND YOU'VE KIND OF GROWN WITHIN THAT ORGANIZATION TO NOW LEAD IT. AND SO, THANK YOU FOR AND PLEASE RELAY TO YOUR TEAM OUR THANKS.

THANKS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. I KNOW WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS NEW INVESTMENT AND THE COUNTY'S EXPECTATION. AND I WANTED TO VISIT JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT, I THINK, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES.

I ALWAYS SEE THESE THINGS AS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TEAM BEXAR COUNTY, WHETHER IT LANDS IN PRECINCT 1 OR 4 OR 2 OR 3. THE CHALLENGE, I THINK, WITH PRECINCT 2 GEOGRAPHICALLY IS WE'RE THE MOST CONCISE AND COMPACT. A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS REQUIRE NEW LAND INVESTMENTS, NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE'RE LANDLOCKED ESSENTIALLY. BUT I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME BIG OFFICE-TYPE JOBS, CORPORATE JOBS THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON. I ALSO, WANT TO UNDERSCORE I KNOW WE ALWAYS ARE LOOKING AT EXPANSION AND RETENTION.

OF SOME OF THE BIG NAMES, BUT ALSO, A FOCUS ON SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESS. AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS PRECINCT 2 PROBABLY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF SMALL BUSINESS. AND PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE A FUTURE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE HELP THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES EXPAND OR RETAIN. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AS WELL.

I'M SURE YOU AGREE. AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT, I THINK, BEYOND YOUR SCOPE OF MAKING THE BIG WINS, BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO, AS IMPORTANT. SO, HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION DOWN THE ROAD. NOT TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT ALREADY, BUT I KNOW OFTENTIMES, AS WITH SOME OF THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH I KNOW WE HAD AN H-E-B ITEM ON THE AGENDA EARLIER TODAY, TOYOTA. THOSE ARE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE ALREADY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR BACKYARD. AND OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON RETAINING AND HELPING THEM GROW. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY THAT YOU GUYS ARE LEANING INTO.

SO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I THINK THAT THE HISTORY HAS BEEN A FINITE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE WITH DOUBLING DOWN AND MAKING SURE YOU GUYS ARE PART OF THE COUNTY'S STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM. I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT, IS AS AN EXTENSION OF WHAT WE DO.

DEBORAH AND HER TEAM HERE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS ON MAKING SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN TERMS OF GROWTH AND FAMILIES STAYING HERE, NEW FAMILIES COMING HERE, AND REALLY MAKING IT THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. SO, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT JUST WANTED TO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS, IF YOU CAN MAYBE RESPOND TO THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MAJORITY OF JOBS IN ANY COMMUNITY WILL BE CREATED BY, BY SMALL BUSINESSES. AND SO, THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY ON ENSURING WORKFORCE READINESS, ENSURING THAT THE PLACE-BASED INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING, LIKE AN AIRPORT, RIGHT, LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO DRIVE THEIR SUCCESS.

AND THE WORK AND DECISIONS THAT THIS BODY MAKES EVERY TODAY

[01:05:01]

WILL, WILL HELP TO DRIVE THAT SUCCESS.

FROM OUR, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE ARE CERTAINLY ENGAGING WITH THOSE COMPANIES REGULARLY AND, AND TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH WHATEVER THOSE SPECIFIC NEEDS ARE. AND I THINK EXPEL IS SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT BECAUSE THEY STARTED HERE, THEY'VE GROWN HERE, AND I THINK THOSE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WE, WE'D LOVE TO SEE MORE OF. IT'S A BIG PART OF WHY WE'RE LEANING IN ON THIS INNOVATION STUDY THAT I MENTIONED AS PART OF OUR CONTRACT SO, THAT WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPANIES, WHAT ARE HOLDING COMPANIES BACK, SO, THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN, WE CAN HELP THEM BETTER TO DECIDE TO GROW AND STAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO ONCE THEY'VE BEEN FOUNDED.

THANK YOU, SARAH. I DID HAVE ONE ACTUALLY FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. THE PEER GROUP CITIES, I THINK YOU SAID THERE WERE 9.

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY A PEER CITY? IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR MEASURING STICK AND I GET IT, YOU'VE GOT TO COMPARE AGAINST OTHER COMMUNITIES, OTHER REGIONS HOW ARE THESE IS THAT DONE BY INDUSTRY? HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY WHICH ARE THE PEER GROUPS? IT'S SUCH A GOOD QUESTION. WE WORK WITH A NATIONAL SITE, A NATIONAL CONSULTANT THAT HELPS US EVALUATE MARKETS THAT ARE SUCCEEDING IN WAYS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE SUCCEEDING. SOME OF THESE ARE MAJOR, MAJOR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT AT THE SAME SCALE IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND THE KINDS OF GROWTH THAT THEY'RE SEEING, BUT WE SEE ELEMENTS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING THAT WE ASPIRE TO. SOME OF THESE ARE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND THE WORK AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE GROWN AS A COMMUNITY OVER RECENT YEARS. SO, EACH ONE SERVES A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THEM, BUT AS A WHOLE, THESE COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING GROWTH THAT WE ASPIRE TO LEARN FROM AND UNDERSTAND AND TRY TO COMPETE BETTER AGAINST. AND WE OFTEN ARE COMPETING WITH THESE COMMUNITIES.

YEAH, AND I'M SURE IT'S MUTUAL.

I KNOW THE ELBOWS ARE SHARP OUT THERE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE COMPETING. SO, WHATEVER RESOURCES AND WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS. AGAIN, I SEE IT AS A TEAM EFFORT. WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS THERE.

SO, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK, SARAH.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, SARAH, FOR BEING HERE AND THE PRESENTATION. I'LL JUST ECHO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS. I THINK IT IS A TEAM EFFORT WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE BOARD. AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE BRIEF HERE. WE ALL KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. THE CONTRACT AMOUNT HAS INCREASED. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THE DATA DOESN'T LIE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

AND I THINK THAT YOU PRESENTED A LOT OF DATA HERE JUST SHOWING THE THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO, YOU'VE GOT TO PICK YOUR NUMBER, $5 BILLION, $7 BILLION, WHETHER WE'RE LOOKING BACK, WHETHER WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE DIRECT INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN.

100X, RIGHT, WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN HERE.

AND I MEAN, NAYSAYERS MAY SAY, WELL, SOME OF THIS MAY COME NATURALLY. BUT LOOKING AT IT WITH OPEN EYES AND SEEING ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BY YOU AND YOUR TEAM, BY OUR TEAM AT BEXAR COUNTY, STAND BEHIND YOU. AND JUST KNOWING THAT THESE THINGS WOULDN'T HAPPEN IF THAT WORK DIDN'T GET DONE. SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE RELY ON THAT DATA, WE SHOW THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, WHAT I'M DOING HERE TODAY AND SUPPORTING THIS.

THE HARVEST, IF I CAN USE SOME METAPHORS HERE, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE, THESE CORPORATE, UM, EXPANSIONS OR, OR MOVES CAN BE REALLY CHOPPY, BUT WE HAVE TO PLANT THOSE SEEDS. AND GREATER SATX TENDS THE FIELDS.

SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT. AND SO, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT. I WANT TO FURTHER THE PARTNERSHIP HERE AND MAKE SURE THAT BEXAR COUNTY, YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF VERY MUCH SEAT AT THE TABLE, FRONT OF THE LINE, UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE KIND OF GOING FORWARD AND BEING INVOLVED AND ALSO, BEING RESOURCES INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A COURT WHEN IT COMES TO DISCUSSING SESSIONS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS OR GOING ON TRIPS, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE STATE OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

SO, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT. I WILL JUST SAY THAT I THINK THE YOU HIGHLIGHTED THE MILITARY PORTION WITH THE JOINT MILITARY TASK FORCE THAT I'M ONE OF THE TRI-CHAIRS ON. I THINK THERE'S REAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE. THERE'S ALSO, REAL RISKS WITH A LOT OF THE CHANGE AND CONSOLIDATION THAT'S GOING ON NATURALLY RIGHT NOW

[01:10:03]

WITHIN DOW. BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT, AND WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT IT IN THAT WAY. BUT THESE MISSIONS HAVE REAL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO JOBS, WHEN IT COMES TO SALARIES AND INCOME. I'VE REPEATED THE NUMBER. THE NUMBER I'VE BEEN GIVEN IS OVER $50 BILLION IN IMPACT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR. SO, WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT BALL AND NOT LOSE SIGHT OF IT AS WE KIND OF GO FORWARD HERE, AND APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM'S SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT AS WELL.

PROUD TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, SARAH, AND YOUR TEAM FOR THIS REPORT. IT'S A GOOD ONE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR TALENT AND READINESS AND ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE IN BUSINESS, IN HOSPITALITY, AND SO, MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES. AND I WANT TO HONE IN ON WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNED IN TERMS OF THE ENROLLMENT ISSUES THAT WE HAD WITH THE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS AND THE ACHIEVEMENT ISSUES, THE GAP THAT WE HAVE ON THE POVERTY SIDE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT POVERTY ANVIL THAT HANGS AROUND BEXAR COUNTY'S NECK IS WE ARE REALLY TEETERING ON THE POINT OF NOT BEING A DESIRABLE RELOCATION DESTINATION IF WE DON'T TURN SOME OF THAT AROUND. SO, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE, EDUCATION? I HAVE MY OWN IDEAS, BUT I'D LIKE TO YOU DO THIS EVERY DAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING DIFFERENTLY? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS AT SOME POINT. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD THAT DEEP DIVE CONVERSATION. WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS COME TO MIND. WE CERTAINLY HAVE CHALLENGES OF POVERTY IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AT MAJOR MARKETS, YOU COULD LOOK AT DALLAS, YOU CAN LOOK AT HOUSTON, YOU CAN LOOK AT OTHER PLACES, WE ARE ALL AS COMMUNITIES IN LARGE CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY DEALING WITH POVERTY ISSUES. AND SO, I CAUTION US TO ASSUME THAT THAT'S GOING TO HOLD US BACK. NOW, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, RIGHT? BUT I THINK WHEN YOU TALK TO COMPANIES, THEY SEE THIS MARKET, THEY SEE US AS COMPETITIVE, AND I THINK WE'RE VERY QUICK TO DECIDE AS OURSELVES RIGHT, NOT THE OUTSIDER, BUT AS, AS OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY, THAT, THAT IT'S A, THAT IT'S A, IT'S A CRUTCH THAT WE CAN'T MOVE PAST. WHAT I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES IS THINK ABOUT THIS AS THE NUANCED ISSUE THAT IT IS, AND HOW DO WE HELP GET MORE FAMILIES INTO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND HELP THEM SUCCEED ONCE THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM? THESE ARE, THESE REQUIRE THE KINDS OF SUPPORTS THAT ARE YOU ALL ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN EVERY DAY, AND WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE OF THAT BECAUSE THOSE SUPPORTS, THOSE, THOSE, YOU KNOW, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, THAT FORCE PEOPLE OUT OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. AND IT IS THROUGH EDUCATION THAT FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIFT THEMSELVES OUT OF THESE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS. I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPANIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING, AND RECRUITING TO THIS REGION UNDERSTAND THEIR CRITICAL ROLE AS THE LEADERS IN ENSURING THAT THERE ARE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE. AN ENTRY-LEVEL ROLE AT A STARTING WAGE IS A GREAT PLACE, BUT IT'S NOT A GREAT JOB IF SOMEBODY IS STUCK AT THAT WAGE THEN FOR THE NEXT 10, 15 YEARS. AND SO, THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH COMPANIES THAT FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, IF YOU WILL, TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING THOSE PATHWAYS, I THINK, IS PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO. AND THAT'S DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMPANIES THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING. AND AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE'RE FOCUSED ON RECRUITING THOSE BUSINESSES THAT SEE THAT PATHWAY, RIGHT, THAT UNDERSTAND THAT SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. SO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AT THE KIND OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL, THAT WOULD BE MY REACTION.

SURE, THERE ARE TONS OF DEEP DIVE CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE.

WHAT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS WORK BEST? WHERE DO WE SEE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, FALLING OUT OF THE SYSTEM? AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DIG INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT I THINK AT THE TOP LINE, IT'S ABOUT A COMMITMENT THAT WE MAKE TOGETHER, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, TO SAY WE BELIEVE THAT THAT THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE WORTH INVESTING IN AND THAT WE HELP, WE HELP MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS.

I THINK YOU'RE

[01:15:01]

ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I WOULD, I WOULD ADD A LOT MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES THAN WE TRADITIONALLY DO. AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO, STUDIES CAME OUT FROM BIG COUNTIES LIKE COOK COUNTY AND SOME OTHERS THAT HAD INDICATED THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS WERE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN SOMETHING THAT IS CONTROVERSIAL IN THE SOUTH, GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME. AND THEY HAD UNIVERSITIES TRACE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HOW PEOPLE SPENT THEIR MONEY. AND THEY SPENT IT ON PAYING DOWN DEBT, THEY SPENT IT ON EDUCATION, THEY SPENT IT ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES, THEY DIDN'T WASTE IT. AND I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE THEY REALLY SAW SOME TRACTION IN TERMS OF LIFTING PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY BECAUSE OF THE STIPENDS THAT THEY WERE GIVEN.

VERY CONTROVERSIAL HERE. I TOLD A LOT OF THEM, I SAID, I CAN'T SEE THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTH TEXAS PUSHING IT, BUT YOU'VE GOT REALLY GOOD RESULTS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK GLOBALLY AT HOW POVERTY HAS BEEN ALLEVIATED. AND THAT INCLUDES MICROLOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE, AND IT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THAT THE UNMET NEEDS OF DYSLEXIA, WHICH I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME TALKING ABOUT WE'LL NEVER GET THE ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAMS WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT READ. AND WE HAVE 25% TO 33% OF THIS ADULT POPULATION IN BEXAR COUNTY WHO READS AT A 5TH GRADE LEVEL. SO, THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO WALK INTO A READY-TO-WORK OR ANY OTHER KIND OF WORKFORCE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE TRAUMA AND SHAME OF THEIR NEVER BEING DIAGNOSED IN SCHOOL FOR A LEARNING DISABILITY. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BE MARKETING IN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED ABOUT GIVING YOURSELF A SECOND CHANCE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP YOU GET DIAGNOSED, BUT WE ALSO, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE PAY PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE IN SCHOOL. THEY CAN'T AFFORD A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DID FOR WORKFORCE, THERE WAS NOT A STIPEND THAT COULD COVER YOUR RENT AND COVER YOUR LIVING EXPENSES OR YOUR CHILDCARE EXPENSES. WE HAVE TO BE MORE WRAPAROUND IN THAT REGARD, AND WE NEED YOUR ENTITY TO, TO HELP LEAD THAT CONVERSATION IN THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF SWAY OVER THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY. I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NARROW IN 4 INDUSTRY SECTORS, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT AI IS GOING TO DO IN A LOT OF THE SECTORS, INCLUDING CYBERSECURITY. I THINK IT'S A TICKING TIME BOMB TO RELY UPON OUR ABILITY TO GET CYBERSECURITY JOBS WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY OF AI CAN DO IT FASTER, AUTOMATICALLY, ARGUABLY BETTER. WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS AT MASTER'S AND PHD LEVEL IN THAT REGARD. AND SO, I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR IN YOUR NEXT ROUND, OR JUST EVEN AFTER THIS DAY, IS A LOOK AT WHAT'S NEXT.

WHAT'S NEXT? BECAUSE A CYBERSECURITY JOB MIGHT HAVE A DECADE TIMELINE FOR A LOT OF THE GRADUATES. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRANSITION AS QUANTUM COMPUTING AND OTHER AI THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN IN THAT REALM. SO, WHAT'S NEXT AFTER THAT IN TERMS OF OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE? SO, WE STILL LACK A LOT OF ENDEMIC TALENT. EVEN OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS I MET 2 PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE WHO SAID, WE HEARD ABOUT YOUR ALAMO PROMISE, WE HEARD ABOUT YOUR WORKFORCE PROGRAM, AND I CAME FROM FLORIDA, OR I CAME FROM OKLAHOMA. AND I HEAR MORE OF THAT THAN I DO FOLKS LOCALLY. AND SO, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A HAVE A TEACHING SUPPORT PIPELINE FOR OUR TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO TEACH COMPTIA NETWORK+, SECURITY+, THOSE CYBER JOBS THAT ARE HERE AT LEAST MAYBE FOR THE NEXT DECADE, SO, THAT WE CAN GRADUATE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR, WE'VE GOT SUCH A GROWING HEALTHCARE COHORT AND IN NURSING AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER SHORTAGES THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE A ROBOT REPLACES THEM.

BUT THERE MAY BE THAT DAY COMING IN 20 YEARS, RIGHT? BUT WE NEED, WE NEED TO GET A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY, SCHOLARSHIP, AND WHAT HAVE YOU. AND I WANT

[01:20:01]

TO WORK WITH YOU ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

BUT I THINK AS WE, AS LAND BECOMES LESS AVAILABLE IN BEXAR COUNTY, HEADQUARTERS RELOCATION IS GOING TO BECOME INTERESTING. IT'LL BE TIGHTER. IT'LL BE IT'LL BE WE'LL HAVE TO BE VERY NIMBLE.

OF COURSE, OUR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IS DEALING WITH SOME CHALLENGES THAT MAY OPEN UP SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR SPACE, BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE GRADUATE AND YOUNG PEOPLE RETENTION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY BE HONEST AND OPEN-EYED ABOUT WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE AT AND HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES OF A LOT OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS TO MAKE SOME MOVEMENT HAPPEN.

WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED WINDOW BECAUSE THE WORLD IS, IS DOING THEIR THING AND MANY NATIONS AND MANY CITIES ARE COMING UP ON US. AND I JUST WANT US TO STAY IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

APPRECIATE IT.

SARAH, LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND TO THE GREATER SATX.

THESE 4 YEARS AS COUNTY JUDGE, I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE GREATER SATX AND WITH YOU ON SOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRIPS, AND I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT.

ALERTING THE COURT THAT I'D LIKE TO GO TO AGENDA ITEM 64 AFTER THIS. AND I WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT.

BUT A LOT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THESE 4 YEARS. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD WITH THE GREATER FCTX. AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH GREATER FCTX AND WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND I HAVEN'T LOOKING BACK IN 4 YEARS, I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS HAD UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR GREATER SATX. AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TODAY FOR THIS CONTRACT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE COST THAT IS BEING ASKED OF THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, BUT I THINK THAT THE COUNTY TODAY IS TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT WILL CONTINUE ON AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. AND THE REASON I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT'S HAPPENED THESE 4 YEARS, BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU PUT IN THAT POWERPOINT. AND THESE ARE SOME OF THEM, BUT JCB, TOYOTA, WITH THE MULTIPLE PROJECTS FROM THE REAR AXLE TO NOW A WHOLE NEW LINE OF TRUCKS COMING OUT FROM I BELIEVE THE BAJA PLANT COMING OUT OF MEXICO BACK TO SAN ANTONIO. AND AS I RECALL, SANKO, JAPANESE MANUFACTURER, YAMAGUCHI HEAVY STEEL, IEM THAT WILL SET UP IN BROOKS, THE REDEVELOPMENT OVER AT WINDSOR PARK THAT SHOULD OPEN THIS FALL. AND TODAY WE APPROVED THE HEB, THAT PACKAGE THAT WE WORKED. I UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES CITIZENS QUESTION THESE TYPE OF DEALS, BUT I THINK YOU CLEARLY PUT OUT WHAT THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT IS. AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I BELIEVE IN COMMISSIONER COWART'S CORRECTION ABOUT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES.

BUT GOING TO THOSE INTERNATIONAL TRIPS THAT SOMETIMES GET QUESTIONED, THERE IS A VALUE, A RETURN ON INVESTMENT BECAUSE OF THE PERSONAL CONTACT THAT'S MADE.

AND I TRULY BELIEVE IN MY 4 YEARS, THAT'S THE REASON WHY SOME OF THESE MANUFACTURERS, ESPECIALLY FROM JAPAN, ARE NOW COMING AND RELOCATING BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOCUSED IN ON WHAT MAKES BEXAR COUNTY GREAT. SO, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND, COURT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WHAT'S GOOD FOR FAMILIES, WHETHER IT'S THE POVERTY ISSUE, THE CRIME ISSUES, THE HOUSING ISSUES, THE FOOD INSECURITY, THE HOUSING INSECURITY.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY ASKED UPON BY THESE MAJOR INDUSTRIES IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AND WHAT DOES BEXAR COUNTY HAVE TO OFFER THESE COMPANIES AND THE EMPLOYEES THAT COME WITH THEM, MANY OF WHICH WILL BE LOCAL? AND WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT OF THE LOCAL COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN PRECINCT 01, THAT THEY HAVE ENGAGED, ESPECIALLY AND I SEE DEBORAH CARTER HERE WITH OUR TEXAS FAST TRACK. AND THEY HAVE EMPLOYED PEOPLE

[01:25:03]

FROM THE REENTRY PROGRAMS THAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS SET UP.

SO, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN A RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT HAS HELPED EVERYBODY, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WITH MONEY, THAT THERE ARE JOBS THAT WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE BACK THAT HAVE RECORDS OR THEY'VE MADE BAD OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. BUT WITH THE COUNTY'S WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE TAILORED, THAT ARE EMPLOYER-DRIVEN, THAT YOU'VE ACCURATELY STATED, WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST GAME CHANGER, I BELIEVE, THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THESE 4 YEARS. AND I TRULY BELIEVE WILL CONTINUE ON IN A GENERATIONAL WAY.

SO, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO FIX THINGS IN A REAL-TIME WAY, BUT I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS CONTRACT, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE MAY QUESTION IT, TRULY DOES BRING A RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BRING AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THAT WE DO HAVE TO WORK HAND IN HAND AND THAT THE COMPANIES THAT COME HERE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY TOO HAVE TO GIVE BACK, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A HAND UP WITH WHATEVER INCENTIVES OR ABATEMENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED. BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR BIG INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS TOYOTA, JCV, AND THE ONES TO COME, HEV, THEY TRULY GIVE BACK. AND I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT OUR MAJOR EMPLOYERS HAVE GIVEN BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS DISASTERS. AND SO, I UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES THE NEED OR THE VOICE THAT SAY THEY GOT TO GIVE MORE. BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IT REQUIRES AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY THAT THERE BE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, THAT WE WORK TOGETHER, THAT WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY OR WHATEVER INDUSTRY WANTS TO COME TO BEXAR COUNTY, BUT ALSO, UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE BACK. AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WHICH HAS BEEN HAPPENING, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE GROW.

AND WE SHOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS A A HEART, A COMPASSION, AND A WILLINGNESS TO PROTECT THE LEAST OF US.

AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THIS CONTRACT IS SO, IMPORTANT. WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS THING GOING FORWARD. WE CAN'T STOP AND SAY OUR BUDGET'S TOO TIGHT, WE'VE GOT WE CAN'T DO THIS. IF WE'RE TRULY GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE, FORWARD WAY AND TO CONTINUE TO BRING THE INVESTMENTS, THE RETURN INVESTMENTS. SO, I'M ASKING THIS COURT TO APPROVE BY UNANIMOUS SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM THAT I BELIEVE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. AND THEN I WILL BRING UP ITEM 64, WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL TRIP I'M ASKING TO HELP SUPPORT. SO, WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OTHERWISE, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.

THANK YOU, MISS CARABIAS RUSH. CARRY ON AND GET MORE BUSINESSES TO BEXAR COUNTY. AS I INDICATED, I WILL NOW MOVE TO ITEM 64, WHICH IS THE LATE FILE. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO DISCUSS APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED GRANTING AN EXCEPTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 1.2 TO AUTHORIZE CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING LATE FILE AGENDA ITEM 64A. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THE NOW WE'LL TAKE UP 64A, APPROVAL OF REQUEST REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FOR A BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION LED BY COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKAI TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC WITH MEETINGS IN PRAGUE MR. LYNN? WE GOT TO VOTE ON IT. I'M SORRY. YES, WELL, LET ME, LET ME READ THIS IN AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.

AND TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INVESTMENT PROMOTION MISSION SPONSORED BY THE CZECH REPUBLIC, GREATER SATX, ALONG WITH THE APPROVAL OF EXPENSES NECESSARY FOR THIS TRAVEL, AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000. CAN I HAVE THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LATE FILE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL NOW TAKE UP 64A THAT I'VE DICTATED THE RECORD. I OPEN FOR THE RECORD. IS THERE A MOTION? SO, MOVED.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. SECOND. SECOND BY

[01:30:01]

COMMISSIONER COWART. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, I BELIEVE THAT

[5.b. 9:45 a.m.: Submission of 2026 calculated No-New Revenue, Unadjusted, and Adjusted Voter- Approval Tax Rates for Bexar County as calculated by the Office of the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector in accordance with Section 26.04 of the Texas Property Tax Code.]

CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ON 5A. WE'LL NOW GO TO THE SECOND TIME CERTAIN, 5B. MR. RESTE, I NEED YOU BACK.

SUBMISSION OF 2026 CALCULATED NO NEW REVENUE WHAT IS THAT UNADJUSTED AND ADJUSTED VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATES FOR BEXAR COUNTY AS CALCULATED BY THE OFFICE OF THE BEXAR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 626.04 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. MR. RESTY.

JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THE TAX RATE PRESENTATION. I'LL BEGIN BY STATING OUR MISSION, WHICH IS WORKING TO HELP KEEP FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HELPING OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, OUR DISABLED, OUR VETERANS, AND ULTIMATELY OUR CHILDREN.

EVERYTHING WE DO IN OUR OFFICE WORKS TOWARDS THAT END. SO, LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.

SO, ADOPTING THE SAME COMBINED TAX RATE IN 2026 AS LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE FOR BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND WOULD BE 29.99 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUE. THIS INCLUDES NEW IMPROVEMENTS APPROXIMATELY $4.9 BILLION. SO, BY ADOPTING LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DECREASE IN REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR BY $3.668 MILLION. THE BREAKDOWN FOR THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE 27.63 CENTS, WITH A DECREASE OF $3.3 MILLION. AND FOR THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND, IT'D BE 2.3 CENTS.

AND WOULD DECREASE THE TAX REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR BY $363,000. SO, TO EXPLAIN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, WHICH WAS FORMERLY THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE, THIS REPRESENTS A TAX RATE THAT A TAXING UNIT WOULD NEED TO GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR FROM PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON THE APPRAISAL ROLL IN BOTH YEARS. SO, IN SHORT, WHEN PROPERTY VALUES DECREASE, AS IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WILL ASK FOR AN INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE TO KEEP PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO, THE 2026 NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, AGAIN, FORMERLY KNOWN AS EFFECTIVE TAX RATE FOR BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND, IS 30.90 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUE. AND WOULD INCREASE THE COMBINED TAX REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR BY $15 MILLION. THIS COMES BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE, YOU HAVE TO BACK OUT ACCORDING TO THE COMPTROLLER'S, THE WAY THEY CALCULATE, WE HAVE TO BACK OUT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION. AND I'VE TALKED IN YEARS PAST ABOUT HAVING A LITTLE FLUFF IN THERE. SO, ONCE YOU PUT IT BACK IN, YOU'LL GENERATE AN EXTRA $15 MILLION. SO, THE NEW REVENUE 2026, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR THE GENERAL FUND. IS 28.46 CENTS, WHICH WOULD GENERATE $13 MILLION.

AND THE FOR THE ROAD AND FLOOD WOULD BE 2.4 CENTS, WOULD INCREASE THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND BY $1.2 MILLION. THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE OF 3.5% THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE UNUSED INCREMENT RATE. SO, THE 3.5%, THIS IS THE MAXIMUM THAT A COUNTY CAN INCREASE THEIR THEIR TAXES.

AND SO, THIS IS ADDED TO THE M&O RATE. IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE WITH THE 3.5% AND THIS WAS FORMERLY AT 8% AND KNOWN AS THE ROLLBACK TAX RATE SO, IF YOU DO THIS FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND, YOUR NEW TAX RATE WOULD BE 34.52 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUE AND WOULD INCREASE TAX REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR BY $90 MILLION.

THE BREAKDOWN IN THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE 31.22 CENTS FOR AN INCREASE OF $71 MILLION, AND ADOPTING THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE WOULD BE 3.30 CENTS AND WOULD INCREASE THE TAX REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR BY $19 MILLION.

SO, THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE, INCLUDING THE UNUSED INCREMENT TAX RATE, SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN YOU GET TO THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, YOU CANNOT PASS THAT TAX RATE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION. HOWEVER, BECAUSE IN THE PAST 3 YEARS Y'ALL HAVE NOT ALWAYS GONE TO THE MAXIMUM, YOU HAVE BANKED 4.1 CENTS OF

[01:35:02]

MONEY THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY I'M SORRY, OF TAX RATE THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY ADD. SO, IF YOU WERE TO COMBINE THE 3.5% MAXIMUM RATE ALONG WITH THE UNUSED INCREMENT TAX RATE, YOU WOULD HAVE A TAX RATE OF 38.67 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUE AND WOULD INCREASE TAX REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR BY $177 MILLION.

THE GENERAL FUND WOULD BE 34.97 CENTS WITH AN INCREASE OF $149 MILLION, AND THE ROAD AND FLOOD FUND WOULD BE 3.6 CENTS WITH AN INCREASE OF $27 MILLION.

KIND OF GIVING AN OVERVIEW HERE. AGAIN, THE 2025 ADOPTED TAX RATE OF 29.9 CENTS AND 25, THAT GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $628 MILLION.

KEEP IN MIND, A LOT OF THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT COMPLETELY SET IN STONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE GETTING OFF THE TAX ROLL, YOU HAVE PEOPLE GETTING EXEMPTIONS, SO, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO FLUCTUATE, BUT THIS IS AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET. SO, IF YOU READOPT THE 2025 TAX RATE OF 29.99 CENTS PER $100 USING THE '26 COMBINED VALUES, YOU WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $624 MILLION. AGAIN, THAT'S A DECREASE OF $3.668 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR'S REVENUE. IF YOU ADOPT THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 30.90 CENTS PER $100, YOU WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $643 MILLION.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR OF $15 MILLION.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE EFFECTIVE TAX RATE. ADOPTING THE 2026 VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE WITH THE 3.5% MAXIMUM WOULD BE 34.52 CENTS WITH AN INCREASE OF $90 MILLION. AND OF COURSE, IF YOU ADOPT THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE WITH THE UNUSED INCREMENT RATE, THAT WILL GIVE YOU A TAX RATE OF 38.67 CENTS GENERATING APPROXIMATELY $805 MILLION AND AN INCREASE OF $177 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR. THIS IS A SUMMARY SHEET. AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2 RIGHT COLUMNS, YOU HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS GENERATED WITH THE DIFFERENT TAX RATES.

AGAIN, IF YOU ADOPT THE SAME TAX RATE AS LAST YEAR, YOU LOSE $3.6 MILLION. I SAY LOSE, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD.

YOU'LL HAVE LESS REVENUE OF $3.6 MILLION. NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, YOU'LL GENERATE $15 MILLION.

WITH THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE OF THE 3.5% MAXIMUM, YOU WILL GENERATE $90 MILLION ADDITIONAL REVENUE. AND WITH THE FINAL ONE, YOU WOULD GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $177 MILLION. SO, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CALLS FROM DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS.

THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE VALUES WILL BE AS FAR AS INCREASES OR DECREASES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER. DOESN'T COUNT COMMERCIAL AND ALL THAT. SO, THE 2026 AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL HOME TAXABLE VALUE WITH EXEMPTIONS IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT IN BEXAR COUNTY IS $266,000. OVERALL, IT'S ABOUT WHAT IS IT, CARLOS? ABOUT $341,000? $341,000.

$336,000.

SO, AGAIN, WITH THE EXEMPTIONS, IT'S $266,000. IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE, THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD SEE A DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR OF $9 PER YEAR AND WOULD EXPECT TO PAY $801. IF YOU WERE TO ADOPT THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 30.9 CENTS THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER WOULD EXPECT TO PAY $825 WITH AN INCREASE OF $24 PER YEAR. IF BEXAR COUNTY WERE TO ADOPT THE UNADJUSTED VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 34.52 CENTS, THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER COULD EXPECT TO PAY $922 IN PROPERTY TAXES THIS YEAR AND AN INCREASE OF $121. IF BEXAR COUNTY WERE TO ADOPT THE ADJUSTED VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 38.67 CENTS. THAT WOULD BE $1,032 PER YEAR, AN INCREASE OF $231.

ON THE NOTE YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM, THE $9 DECREASE WOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS, BUT THE INCREASE THE OTHER INCREASES WOULD NOT AFFECT SENIOR CITIZENS OR DISABLED CITIZENS WHO HAVE A TAX FREEZE.

AND BEFORE I GO INTO ANY QUESTIONS, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, AND WE KNOW THAT ALL FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, AS IF COMMISSIONER'S COURT WERE

[01:40:03]

TO GIVE A VOTE FOR A COST OF LIVING BUDGET ISSUES THAT HAVE NOT THIS COURT HAS NOT BEEN BRIEFED. I AM NOT. I'M GOING TO OBJECT AS NOT BEING. IT HAS.

IT HAS TO BE VETTED. WE HAVE TO. SO, IF THIS IS NOT, IF YOU'RE PROPOSING A COST OF LIVING.

NO, NO.

I'M JUST GIVING YOU THE NUMBER FOR THE TAX RATE.

NO.

YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU ANYWAY.

WE CAN WAIT ON THAT.

BECAUSE THAT IS ALL PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE'RE HAVING TO WEIGH IT OUT. AND I BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. AND SO, I DON'T WANT.

THAT'S FINE.

WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ENTERTAIN ANYTHING. SO, THAT, FOR THE PUBLIC'S EDIFICATION, THAT IS ALL GOING TO BE PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

YES.

WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS ALL THE BUDGET ISSUES, INCLUDING THE TAX WE'RE GOING TO SET THE TAX RATE TODAY. IS THAT WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS? NO.

NO ACTION TODAY, BUT WE ARE YOU NOW HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON WHAT THE PROPOSED TAX RATES MAY YIELD. AND WHAT WE MAY HAVE TO ADJUST. AND SO, IT IS QUITE EVIDENT THAT IF WE HAVE NO PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, WE WILL HAVE A DECREASED REVENUE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE CUTS IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO, THAT'S THE REASON WHY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. ESTE, THAT'S FINE.

WE'RE THERE'S SOME SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR SO, THAT WE CAN EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.

TO THE PUBLIC.

PERFECTLY FINE.

I AGREE.

JUST AS THE ONLY THING I WANT TO CLOSE WITH IS IF YOU ADOPT LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE OF 29 CENTS, YOU WILL HAVE A DECREASE OF, $3 MILLION. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I HAVE CARLOS AND OUR TAX DIRECTOR, AND SO, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANYTHING YOU MAY ASK.

LET ME YIELD UP TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

YEAH, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

ALBERT, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I KNOW THIS IS ALWAYS A LITTLE PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS WHERE WE ALL LOOK A LITTLE GLAZED OVER BECAUSE ALL THESE NUMBERS.

BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU MENTIONED AT THE END IS THAT IF THE COURT DECIDES, WHICH WE WILL IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, TO KEEP THE TAX RATE AS IT IS, WE WILL HAVE LESS REVENUE, BASICALLY, TO DEAL WITH, WITH OUR BUDGET, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S WHETHER IT'S YOUR NUMBERS OR THE BUDGET OFFICE'S NUMBERS OR THE AUDITOR'S NUMBERS, THE REALITY IS REVENUES WILL BE DOWN IF WE KEEP THE EXISTING TAX RATE AS IS. SO, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION, ALBERT. THE REALITY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS ON HOW TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING.

I KNOW THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE DESERVING OF SOMETHING. I KNOW WE'VE GOT RETIREES HERE WHO WOULD LIKE ALSO, FOR US TO CONSIDER A COST OF LIVING.

THERE ARE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WOULD LIKE MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE STREETS. SO, THAT'S FOR THIS BODY TO DECIDE. WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY, ALBERT, AND GIVING US THE INFORMATION. AGAIN, TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES WILL GET THIS DONE AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THE MOST IMPACTFUL DECISIONS ON OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT SACRIFICING TOO MUCH IN OUR BUDGET. SO, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

WELL, ALBERT, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THERE AND DATA. ONE QUESTION I DID HAVE IS WITH THE UNUSED INCREMENT, DOES THAT REMAIN OUT THERE IN PERPETUITY OR AT SOME POINT, DOES IT DISAPPEAR? HOW LONG DOES IT STAY OUT THERE? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.

THAT UNUSED INCREMENT THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THERE, THAT ADDITIONAL PERCENTAGE, DOES IT REMAIN PERMANENTLY OR AT SOME POINT DOES IT GO AWAY? IT'S FOR 3 YEARS. SO, ONCE YOU ADOPT THIS TAX RATE, THE 3RD YEAR WILL IT'LL DROP OFF. SO, IT'S ALWAYS LAST 3 YEARS? YEAH, IT'S RUNNING. IT'S ALWAYS INCLUDING THE LAST 3 YEARS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, ALBERT, AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE REPORT.

WITH RESPECT TO THE BANKED I'LL CALL IT THE BANKED TAX CUT REVENUE. THERE IS FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF THE TAX, THE AMOUNT OF THAT THAT WE UTILIZE, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE TO MAX IT OUT. WE DON'T HAVE TO USE LIKE ALL 3 YEARS. WE CAN ADJUST IT AS WE WANT. I'M SEEING A SHAKING OF A HEAD FROM YOUR STAFF. YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT?

[01:45:02]

AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.

SURE. IS IT HARD TO HEAR? I'M SORRY. SO, IN TERMS OF THE BANKED I'M GOING TO CALL IT THE WE HAVE BANKED BECAUSE WE'VE KEPT IT AT 2.9 FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WE DON'T HAVE TO USE ALL OF THAT 3-YEAR CAPACITY. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE ON THAT SCALE OF THAT BANK THAT WE WANT TO HAVE IT. CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY, SO, WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE.

OKAY. YEAH, SO, LET ME SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME, AND MAYBE WE NEED ANOTHER PRESENTATION, WAS THE AMOUNT OF STATE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF FREEZES AND EXEMPTIONS THE COUNTY HAS CREATED.

IN OTHER WHEN I WAS DEALING, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, THEY WERE INDICATING THAT THEY COULD RAISE THEIR RATE, BUT YOU STILL WOULD HAVE A SAVINGS A NET SAVINGS ON TAXES THAT YOU PAID, EVEN WITH THEIR RAISING OF THE RATES. AND THEY'RE 50% OF THE TAX BILL. SO, WHEN, WHEN I SEE THAT THE AVERAGE PROPERTY OWNER GETS AN INCREASE, ARE THEY STILL SAVING BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXEMPTIONS, BUT JUST IT WOULD BE $24 LESS OR WHAT HAVE YOU? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M LET ME GIVE YOU A, FOR EXAMPLE. LET'S SAY THAT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IS GOING TO SAVE $300 BECAUSE OF ALL THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND ALL THE FREEZES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, STATE AND LOCAL. BUT IF WE, FOR EXAMPLE, ADOPTED THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, WOULDN'T IT BE $276 THAT THEY STILL WOULD PAY OR GET BACK LESS? OR TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW, BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS, CAN YOU PAY LESS THAN THE TAX FREEZE IF THE CALCULATED AMOUNT IS LESS? I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IS GETTING BACK IN TAX RELIEF BASED UPON ALL THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, BASED UPON UHS, THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER.

DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER? I HAVE THAT NUMBER ONLY BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS A PERCENTAGE-BASED HOMESTEAD.

THE HIGHER THE VALUE, THE MORE OF AN EXEMPTION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING. WE COULD GO BACK AND FIND OUT WHAT THE MAYBE WE DO HAVE THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD VALUE IN BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH IS, I BELIEVE, $226,000. YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'LL GIVE YOU AN INDICATION IF YOU LOOK THE HOMESTEAD VALUE IS 200 AND SEE I HAD IT HERE.

IT'S 266,000. THAT'S WITH EXEMPTIONS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE VALUE, IT'S $336,000. SO, YOU'RE SEEING A REDUCTION OF. $70,000 IN THE AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE.

OKAY. I WILL SHARE SOME OF THE MATH THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN AN OFF-SESSION. I JUST THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COURT TO HAVE BECAUSE IF THE EXEMPTIONS STILL NET A DECREASE, BUT THE DECREASE IS JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH OUR REVENUE ISSUES, AND WE NEED THAT'S REALLY THE BAROMETER THE COURT HAS TO LOOK AT, IS THAT BOTTOM LINE. SO, I'LL GET WITH YOU ALL OFFLINE AND I'LL SHARE THE DATA. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. WE, WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ANY MORE QUESTIONS, JUDGE? ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. ESTE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GOLD AWARD.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ARE THEY GOING TO CREATE A STATUTE OVER THERE FOR YOU? YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO NELSON LEWIS.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. WE AIN'T

[5.c. 10:00 a.m.: Presentation regarding Bexar County's FY 2026-27 Operating and Capital Budget.]

PAYING FOR IT, ALL RIGHT? OKAY.

LET'S SEE, WE'RE MOVING ON TO TIME CERTAIN PRESENTATION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY'S '26-'27 OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET. MS. GAITAN.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS TANYA GAITHAN. I'M THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR. I'LL BE PRESENTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FOR FISCAL YEAR '26-'27. YOU SHOULD HAVE COPIES WITHIN YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET BOOKS RIGHT ON THE FRONT PAGE, AND YOU CAN YANK THOSE OUT FROM THERE IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG.

YOU TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE? YES, SIR, THAT BIG WHITE BINDER. MAKE SURE TO READ EVERY PAGE

[01:50:01]

BEFORE WE ADOPT THE SO, THERE'LL BE A QUIZ, JUDGE.

SO, THE FIRST THING, AS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT TOPICS OBVIOUSLY, IS OUR REVENUES COMING IN.

SO, AS YOU MAY KNOW, AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, PROPERTY TAXES ARE ABOUT 80% OF OUR REVENUES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GENERAL FUND. AND THE GENERAL FUND FUNDS ALL OUR OPERATIONS FROM THE DA'S OFFICE TO THE SHERIFFS, ALL THE WAY TO THE BAIL BOND BOARD. SO, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO. SO, IN JULY, WE RECEIVED OUR BARE APPRAISAL REPORTS, AND OUR NET TAXABLE BASE CAME IN AT $242 BILLION. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM THE PAST 4 YEARS. WE ACTUALLY DECREASED BY 1.3%.

BACK IN APRIL, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST, LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION, WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO THOSE PROJECTIONS. SO, WE ARE DECREASING OUR VALUES HERE.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY WAS OUR EXISTING VALUES, WHICH DECREASED BY 10.3%. A PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE EXEMPTIONS THAT YOU WERE JUST DISCUSSING. THERE WERE BRAND NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE VOTED BY AND APPROVED BY PROPERTY TAX OWNERS.

BUT WHAT HAS CARRIED US IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ARE OUR NEW VALUES, WHICH ARE HOLDING STEADY AT $7 BILLION. AND WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT ON THIS TABLE HERE IS THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAD SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES SINCE 2023.

AND YOU'LL SEE THERE, THIS WAS AN UNUSUAL YEAR OF GROWTH FOR THE COUNTY, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO FUND SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, WE HAVE DECREASED FROM 11.9% TO 4.5% TO 2.3%. AND THIS YEAR WE ARE DECREASING TO 1.3%. AND THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT $3.3 BILLION IN VALUE LOSS. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AS I MENTIONED, $7 BILLION IS DUE TO NEW VALUES. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A LOT OF INCREASES IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA WITH HOMES, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT $4 BILLION OF THOSE NEW VALUES. THE REST OF IT IS DUE TO COMMERCIAL AT $1.3 AND OTHER CARRYFORWARD NOT CARRYFORWARD, EXCUSE ME PROPERTIES AT $1.7 BILLION. AND AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT RESULTED IN OUR LOWER PROPERTY TAXES WAS OUR NEW EXEMPTION. SO, THERE'S 2 EXEMPTIONS THAT EXIST, BUT THEY WERE EXPANDED DURING THE LAST STATE LEGISLATURE.

THE FIRST ONE IS WE LOST $1.3 BILLION IN VALUES TO EXTEND WIDOWS, TO EXTEND KEEP THE EXEMPTION OF THEIR PREVIOUS THE LATE SPOUSE'S QUALIFYING EXEMPTION.

SO, THAT INCREASED BY $1.3 OR DECREASED, RATHER, OUR PROPERTY TAXES BY $1.3 BILLION. THE NEXT THING IS A VOTER-APPROVED EXEMPTION. THIS IS AN EXISTING EXEMPTION CALLED THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY, BUT THIS WAS EXPANDED FROM $2,500 TO $125,000. THIS IS THE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST NUMBER OF EXEMPTIONS THAT WE SAW YEAR OVER YEAR. WE SAW ABOUT 57,000 NEW EXEMPTIONS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THIS WAS THE PRIMARY RESULT OF THAT. SO, NOW I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE, WHICH WE JUST WAS PRESENTED BY THE TAX ASSESSOR. SO, WE ARE PROPOSING OUR BUDGET AT OUR CURRENT TAX RATE OF JUST UNDER 30 CENTS, AT 29.999. AS THE TAX ASSESSOR MENTIONED, WE HAVE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE AT JUST 30 CENTS, THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE AT JUST 38 CENTS, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON A PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU AT OUR MAINTAIN BY MAINTAINING OUR TAX RATE AT 29 CENTS. AND THIS IS OUR TAX RATE HISTORY. SINCE 1995, THE COURT HAS EITHER REDUCED OR MAINTAINED OR CUT THE TAX RATE FOR PROPERTY TAX OWNERS. AND WE ARE WORKING TO MAINTAIN THAT FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

SO, THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED, WAS DETERMINED UNDER THIS MAINTAINING OUR TAX RATE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS SHIFTING THE TAX RATE. WITHIN OUR FLOOD MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS BUDGET, WE ARE ABLE TO SHIFT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR THE COURT TO SHIFT ABOUT $20 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM THE FLOOD M&O TO THE GENERAL FUND. THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE HERE IS THAT THE FLOOD AND M&O BUDGET DOES HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE AND CAN MORE THAN ENOUGH COVER THEIR MAINTAINING THEIR OPERATIONS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT ANY OF THE PROGRAMS WITHIN FLOOD. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT ANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE WITH FLOOD. SO, THIS IS JUST SHIFTING THE TAX RATE OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND. SO, THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO, THE EXPLANATION OF THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WAS JUST PRESENTED. SO, THIS JUST CREATES THE TAX RATE TO MAINTAIN THE SAME REVENUE AS

[01:55:01]

LAST YEAR. SO, THIS IS AN OPTION FOR THE COURT TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE. SO, WHERE THE TAXES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, WE WOULD DECREASE OR RATHER INCREASE ABOUT A LITTLE UNDER 1 CENT THAT WOULD BE RIGHT BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. IF WE GO ABOVE THAT, THEN THIS WILL TRIGGER A PUBLIC NOTICE. THIS DOES NOT TRIGGER AN ELECTION.

BUT THIS WOULD MAINTAIN OUR SAME NUMBER AMOUNT OF REVENUE FROM LAST YEAR. THE NEXT ONE IS THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE AT $0.38. AND THIS IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE COUNTY CAN LEVY BASED ON STATE LAW.

BUT THIS WILL TRIGGER AN ELECTION IF WE GO OVER THIS TAX RATE. YOU DO HAVE AN OPTION FOR THIS ONE. THIS IS JUST ABOUT 8 CENTS, JUST UNDER A CENT, AND THIS AMOUNT RIGHT HERE, IF WE DO INCREASE, WILL NOT TRIGGER AN ELECTION.

BUT THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT TAX RATE INCREASE COMPARED TO OUR CURRENT ONE. SO, NOW THAT WE DISCUSSED OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND DISCUSS OUR ACTUAL PROPOSED BUDGET. SO, ON SLIDE 11, THIS IS ALL FUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT THE COMMISSIONERS MAINTAIN AND OVERSEE. THIS DOES INCLUDE THE GENERAL FUND. SO, WE ARE PRESENTING A $2.6 BILLION BUDGET TO YOU TODAY. THIS IS A DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET AT $2.8 BILLION. THIS HERE IS A LIST OF THE CATEGORIES WHICH INCLUDE OUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES, CAPITAL, DEBT, ET CETERA. SO, THIS IS AGAIN A DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR. THE NEXT IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THAT SLIDE, BUT THIS SEPARATES OUT THE GENERAL FUND SPECIFICALLY.

SO, WE ARE PROPOSING A BUDGET OF $964.3 BILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THIS IS A DECREASE OF ABOUT $1 BILLION COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. AND THESE CATEGORIES ARE JUST CATEGORIES OF THE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT RESIDE IN THE GENERAL FUND.

FUND.

NOW I'LL DISCUSS PROGRAM CHANGES. AND I WANT TO THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO, WE WILL BE I WILL BE PRESENTING THE PROGRAM CHANGES IN 2 CATEGORIES. THE FIRST CATEGORY IS REGULAR PROGRAM CHANGES FROM OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS.

AND THEN THE SECOND CATEGORY, WHICH I WILL PRESENT LATER ON AFTER THIS, IS FOR POST-ARPA GRANT POSITIONS.

SO, THIS FIRST SECTION WILL JUST BE FOR WHAT WE CALL REGULAR PROGRAM CHANGES IN OPERATIONS FOR THE COUNTY.

SO, IN MAY, WE RECEIVED OUR REQUESTS FROM OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS, AND WE RECEIVED $26.7 MILLION WORTH OF PROGRAM CHANGES. THIS IS ABOUT 264 POSITIONS WITH 129 POSITION MODIFICATIONS.

MAJORITY OF THOSE REQUESTS ARE OBVIOUSLY FROM THE LARGER OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS. THAT INCLUDES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT $15 MILLION. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REQUESTED $2 MILLION. AND THEN ALSO, THE ENDING GRANT FOR THE MANAGED SITE COUNCIL, WHICH I WILL DISCUSS LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION, AT $1.6 MILLION. THE CONSTABLES ALSO, ASKED FOR ABOUT $1.5 MILLION IN PROGRAM CHANGES. SO, THIS IS THE USUAL CUT OF REQUESTS, IS MOSTLY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POST-ARPA POSITIONS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING JUST UNDER $1 MILLION IN PROGRAM CHANGES. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS INCLUDES ALL FUNDS, SO, MAJORITY OF THESE COSTS ARE IN OTHER FUNDS LIKE THE FIRE CODE FUND, OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE FUND.

WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY NEW NET POSITIONS. WE ARE ONLY RECOMMENDING ONE POSITION MODIFICATION, WHICH IS A DOWNGRADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE OFFICE.

SO, THESE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES PROVIDE A LIST OF ALL THE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS.

THEIR REQUESTS AND THE NET NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND COSTS FOR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. I WILL GO THROUGH, NOT TOO QUICKLY, BUT HERE IS THE LIST OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. AND THE FEW THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT ON THIS LIST INCLUDE THE MANAGER-ASSIGNED COUNSEL, WHICH I WILL GO INTO DETAIL.

THIS FUNDING THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING IS PLACED IN CONTINGENCIES. THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT ONE IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE ARE CARRYING OVER THE POSITIONS THAT WERE AUTHORIZED NOT AUTHORIZED, BUT FUNDED IN CONTINGENCIES FOR THE UNIFORMED DETENTION OFFICERS.

THESE INCLUDED THE 50 DETENTION OFFICERS AND THE 10 DETENTION CORPORALS, AND THIS IS CONTINGENT UPON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ACTUALLY FILLING THEIR POSITIONS. AS OF THIS PAST WEEKEND, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE ABOUT 192 VACANCIES, SO, THEY STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, BUT WE WANTED TO CONTINUE PLACING THOSE IN CONTINGENCIES IN CASE THEY NEED TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS, AND WE'RE ALSO, FUNDING THEIR OVERTIME. THE NEXT SECTION IS OTHER FUNDS.

AND AS I MENTIONED, MAJORITY OF

[02:00:02]

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE COSTS FOR THOSE ARE WITHIN THE FIRE CODE FUND AND THE FLEET MAINTENANCE FUND. SO, THE NEXT GROUP I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT REGARDING PROGRAM CHANGES IS OUR POST-ARPA GRANT.

CURRENTLY WITHIN THE POST-ARPA GRANT, THERE ARE 91 AUTHORIZED POST-ARPA POSITIONS. THIS ALSO, INCLUDES 2 POSITIONS DOES NOT INCLUDED. ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAVE 2 POSITIONS THAT ARE PARTIALLY FUNDED, AND IT ALSO, INCLUDES 2 TEMPORARY VISITING JUDGES FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT. IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS PROVIDED THEIR REQUEST TO RETAIN THEIR POST-ARPA POSITIONS, AND THAT WAS 84 FTES THAT THEY REQUESTED FOR A COST OF $8.3 MILLION. SO, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE INCLUDES FUNDING FOR ALL 91 OF THOSE POSITIONS, INCLUDING THOSE PARTIALLY FUNDED POSITIONS AND THE TEMPS FOR ALL THE POST-ARPA PROGRAMS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITHIN THE POST-ARPA BUDGET WILL FUND ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER 31ST AT THE END OF THE GRANT. AND THEN WE PUT 9 MONTHS, THE REMAINDER OF THOSE POSITIONS, IN CONTINGENCIES. WE PLAN TO COME FORWARD WITH 2 COMMISSIONERS TO TALK ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS TO ALLOW SOME MORE TIME TO DISCUSS THINGS THAT WE FOUND, INCLUDING GUIDEHOUSE'S EVALUATION AND ANY WORK WORKLOAD MEASURES THAT WERE PROVIDED TO US. SO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANY OF THOSE 91 POSITIONS ARE THE 8 POSITIONS IN SMART. AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REDUCE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR REDUCE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET ACCORDING TO LAW. SO, WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE SMART POSITIONS FOR $806,000 THAT ARE IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE SECOND IS THE COUNTY AUDITOR WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO INCREASED HIS BUDGET UP TO 5%, AND THIS IS APPROVED BY THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS.

THESE 3 POSITIONS THAT WERE IN POST-ARPA ARE ALSO, MAINTAINED IN HIS BUDGET, AND IT'S WITHIN THE 5%.

BUT ALL OTHER POSITIONS, AGAIN, THAT WERE IN POST-ARPA WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER, AND THE REMAINING FUNDING WILL BE IN CONTINGENCIES FROM JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER. THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN CONTINGENCIES ARE ABOUT $5.9 MILLION. AGAIN, THIS IS 9 MONTHS' WORTH OF POSITIONS.

THIS INCLUDES OUR BIBLIOTECH NAVIGATORS, OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACT COURTS, OUR SECOND PRE-INDICTMENT COURTS, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OUR STAR PROGRAM, AND OUR TEXAS FAST TRACK II.

SO, MOVING ON TO ANOTHER GRANT WITH THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL GRANT. THIS OFFICE OR THIS DEPARTMENT RATHER WAS CREATED IN 2021 BY THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, AND THE GRANT TERM WAS FROM 2021 ALL THE WAY TO 2025. IT'S A 4-YEAR GRANT WHERE WE WOULD INCREASE OUR CASH MATCH OVER THE 4 YEARS FROM 80% ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 20%, AND THIS YEAR IS THE LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE FUNDING THE MAC 100% IN THE GENERAL FUND. SO, OVERALL, WITHIN THE GRANT CASH MATCH, THIS IS ABOUT A 6. $7 MILLION OFFICE OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS, AND THE COUNTY'S CASH MATCH IS AT $3.3 MILLION. THE TOTAL COST OF THE MAC IS ABOUT $1.6, $1.7 MILLION. SO, WE WILL BE SCHEDULING A WORK SESSION ALONG WITH THE PDO TO COME PRESENT THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

WHAT WE HAD ASKED THE OFFICES TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE WERE BEFORE, THIS IS WHAT WE DO NOW. AND JUST TO REMIND THE PUBLIC WHAT THE MAC DOES, THESE ARE THE ATTORNEYS THAT OVERSEE WHAT WE CALL THE ATTORNEY WHEEL. THESE ARE THE COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS, THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS THAT ARE ASSIGNED FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS. AND SO, THIS OFFICE OFFERS TRAINING, ENSURES THAT THE WHEEL'S QUALITY. THEY RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM ANY INDIGENT DEFENDANT THAT HAS A COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEY. SO, THIS OFFICE ESSENTIALLY MAINTAINS THAT WHEEL. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS ACTUAL COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE A WORK SESSION TO EXPLAIN THAT FURTHER IN DETAIL. THE POSITIONS ARE LISTED HERE TO INCLUDE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ATTORNEYS AS WELL AS OFFICE ASSISTANTS AND THEIR OPERATING COSTS. SO, REALLY THE TOTAL COST, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE POSITIONS ARE ALREADY FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND, IS REALLY AT $1.8 MILLION. AGAIN, WE'LL GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THAT AT THE WORK SESSION. THE NEXT TOPIC IS EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.

SO, WITHIN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WE ARE NOT PROPOSING A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES, AND THIS ALSO, INCLUDES THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE UNDER THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

HOWEVER, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ON EXISTING STEP PLANS AND CAREER LADDERS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR PAY INCREASES, AND THIS INCLUDES THE COURT COORDINATORS FROM ALL THE COURT SYSTEMS.

[02:05:01]

AND THAT IS UNIFORMED OFFICERS THAT ARE ON THE STEP PLAN, OUR CRIME LAB, THE DA INVESTIGATORS, THE CONSTABLES, THE FIRE MARSHALS, AS WELL AS THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS. AND JUST AS A REMINDER FOR THE COURT, SINCE 2019, THE EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED OVER 23% OF PAY INCREASES SINCE RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OR PROPOSED CHANGES THAT IS HAPPENING FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS A NEW OFFICE CALLED OFFICE OF CIVIL LEGAL AFFAIRS. CIVIL LEGAL AFFAIRS, EXCUSE ME. THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS A BRAND-NEW OFFICE. THIS IS THE EXISTING CIVIL SECTION FROM THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THIS OFFICE WILL BE SEPARATED FROM THAT OFFICE AND WILL BE UNDER THE PURVIEW OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THEY'LL CONTINUE HANDLING CIVIL LITIGATION, HANDLING LEGAL TRANSACTIONS AND ADVISING COUNTY OFFICIALS AND HELPING WITH EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONS AND ANYTHING THAT ARISES RELATED TO THE WORKFORCE. THIS INCLUDES 26 POSITIONS, MOSTLY CONSISTING OF ATTORNEYS. AND THIS WILL BE SEPARATED. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT AN INCREASE TO PERSONNEL. THIS IS SIMPLY TRANSITIONING OUT THE OFFICE TO ITS OWN SEPARATE OFFICE.

NEXT THING IS OUTSIDE AGENCIES.

SO, THIS YEAR WE ARE PROPOSING TO DECREASE EACH OFFICE, THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE 4 COMMISSIONERS, FROM $400,000 TO $300,000. AND THEN WE ALSO, HAD A COUNTYWIDE ALLOCATION THIS YEAR OF $1 MILLION, WHICH WE ARE CUTTING IN HALF TO $500,000. WE ARE MAINTAINING THE COMMUNITY EVENTS AT $25,000 FOR EACH OFFICE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE CONTINUING SPECIFIC CONTRACTS AND EVENTS WHICH INCLUDE CLASSICAL MUSICAL INSTITUTE, WHICH WILL BE SPLIT FUNDED BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND VENUE. CANCER, MEALS ON WHEELS, THE ART INTERNSHIP, THE SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR, PLAN YOUR VOTE, SAN ANTONIO OPERA BALLET, AND THE ALAMEDA THEATER CONSERVANCY, AS WELL AS BRACKENRIDGE. AND THE LAST 4 ARE FUNDED WITHIN THE VENUE FUND. THIS IS A TOTAL OF ABOUT $2 MILLION.

THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE STATUS OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO, AS YOU PROBABLY RECALL, OUR PROGRAM FOR CAPITAL IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AT $800 $816 MILLION. AND ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, WE HAD ASKED THE COURT TO PAUSE ON ISSUING DEBT UNTIL WE CAN PAY OR ACTUALLY SPEND DOWN OUR CASH FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT HERE, THIS IS CATEGORIZED BY OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE AN $816 MILLION BUDGET.

WE STILL HAVE A REMAINING BALANCE OF ABOUT HALF OF THAT. SO, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING THIS YEAR IS NO NEW CAPITAL THAT HAS NOT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY EMERGENT. AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE LIST OF WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING.

SO, WE ARE JUST ASKING TO CONTINUE THAT DIRECTION WHERE WE ASK OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO SPEND DOWN THEIR BUDGETS.

SO, TO DATE, WE HAVE ISSUED ABOUT $463 MILLION IN CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. SO, WE STILL HAVE SOME CASH TO SPEND DOWN FOR THESE PROJECTS.

SO, OUR GOAL, AS I MENTIONED, IS TO SPEND DOWN THE CASH, AND WE RECOMMEND CONTINUING THAT STRATEGY. SO, THE DEBT SERVICE FUND IS PRIMARILY PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. SO, BECAUSE OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE DECREASING, WE ARE ALSO, SEEING A DECREASE IN OUR REVENUE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE. SO, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT STRATEGY FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS ONLY RECOMMENDED TO FUND ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY PROJECTS. THIS INCLUDES DATA CENTERS. THESE ARE NETWORK SWITCH REPLACEMENTS. UPDATING A REQUIRED INFOR UPGRADE. THIS IS GOING TO BE EXPIRING IN, I BELIEVE, 2 YEARS. SO, IT WILL NEED TO ACTUALLY UPGRADE THIS SYSTEM OR IT WILL NOT BE WORKABLE. THIS IS OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM. WE ARE ALSO, DOING A PLAIN OLD TELEPHONE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS THE TELEPHONES THAT ARE IN THE ELEVATORS. SO, THIS IS AN EMERGENT SAFETY ISSUE.

JUVENILE PROBATION HAS I BELIEVE IT'S THE FORGIVE ME IF I SAY THIS INCORRECTLY IT'S RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION.

SO, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE DETENTION OFFICERS AT THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE.

WE'RE ALSO, INCLUDING THE NEW POTENTIAL CONTRACT FOR BODY CAMERAS AND TASER UPGRADES AT $6.7 MILLION. AND WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO FUND THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR VEHICLES. IT'S PRIMARILY LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS VETTED OUT THROUGH OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT COMMITTEE. SO, THESE ARE VETTED OUT VEHICLES WITHIN THAT RECOMMENDATION.

SO, THE TOTAL NEW CAPITAL IS

[02:10:02]

AT $18.6 MILLION, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE NEXT CAPITAL GROUP IS OUR ROAD AND FLOOD PROJECTS. SO, WE ARE NOT INCLUDING ANY NEW CAPITAL FOR FLOOD AND ROAD PROJECTS.

THE ROAD PROJECTS ARE BEING COMPLETELY FUNDED BY CLOSED PROJECTS THAT PUBLIC WORKS REALLOCATED INTO THESE NEW PROJECTS. SO, AGAIN, THERE'S NO NEW FUNDING FOR ROADS OR FOR NEW FLOOD PROJECTS. THESE ARE THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT FUNDING WILL BE REALLOCATED TO.

AND THE ONLY NEW PROJECT THAT WE'LL BE FUNDING IS THE C-MAC COUNTYWIDE TRAFFIC SIGNALS FOR $418,000. SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH THE COURT TODAY WAS THE FUTURE OF OUR ROAD AND FLOOD PROJECTS.

OBVIOUSLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT NEW VALUES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, WHICH MEANS THAT THE AREA IS GROWING. AND IT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW SUBDIVISIONS THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.

SO, IN THE NEXT YEAR OR THE NEAR FUTURE, WE THE COUNTY WILL NEED TO ASSESS A PLAN, CONSIDER NEW THOROUGHFARES IN THOSE AREAS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.

AND THE WE NEED TO PLAN THE LENGTH OF TIME AND THE CASH AND HOW LONG THESE PROJECTS WOULD TAKE. THIS IS SIMILAR TO HOW WE DID THE 10-YEAR FLOOD PROGRAM BACK IN, I THINK, 2007, WHERE WE HAD A 10-YEAR PROGRAM. PUBLIC WORKS WORKED THROUGH PHASING OUT THOSE FLOOD PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THE BUDGET DOES NOT PROPOSE A FUNDING STRATEGY FOR A STRATEGY FOR THESE INITIATIVES, BUT THE COST IS UNKNOWN. SO, WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH COUNTY STAFF TO TRY TO DEVELOP THAT THANK YOU, TONYA.

I JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK BEFORE TONYA FINISHES HERE AND YOU BEGIN YOUR REAL QUESTIONS. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I'LL JUST SAY IT WAS ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING BUDGETS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DON'T OFTEN EXPERIENCE A LITERAL DROP IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.

WE'VE EXPERIENCED DECLINING GROWTH. WE'VE EXPERIENCED STAGNANT GROWTH.

BUT A LITERAL DROP, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SMALL ONE, IS UNUSUAL FOR US. AND AS YOU'LL SEE IN FUTURE SLIDES, THE REAL IMPACT COMES WHEN YOU PROJECT FORWARD, WHICH WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO. AND I KNOW YOU LOOK AT THAT AS YOU'RE EVALUATING THE BUDGET AS WELL. BUT ONE OF THE REASONS I'M HERE TODAY PROPOSING OR BUILT SUBMITTING A BUDGET TO YOU THAT IS BUILT ON NO CHANGE IN THE TAX RATE IS BECAUSE I DO WANT THE COURT TO BEGIN TO CONSIDER WHAT I BELIEVE WILL BE MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT YOU WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE, AND THEY MAY WELL REQUIRE REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS, SIGNIFICANT REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS POTENTIALLY. AND THESE ARE CAPITAL-RELATED. AND THEY'RE NOT NICE-TO-HAVES, IN MY OPINION. AND THEY'RE TWOFOLD FLOODS AND STREETS AND ROADS. NUMBER ONE, WE HAVEN'T DONE AS TONYA LAID OUT HERE, IT WAS 2007 WAS THE LAST TIME THE COURT EMBARKED ON A WHAT WAS THEN A 5-YEAR PROGRAM, I BELIEVE. IT BECAME A 10-YEAR PROGRAM OF WHAT WAS THEN WE ALL THOUGHT THE ASTRONOMICAL SUM OF $550 MILLION. IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD TODAY. AND THE GROWTH, AS YOU WELL KNOW, IS ALL IN THE WELL, MOST OF IT'S IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA FOR WHICH THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE. AND WITH THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER AND GROWTH COMES NEW FLOODING PATTERNS AND NEW SAFETY CHALLENGES RELATED TO WATER. BEFORE ART REINHARDT LEFT TO GO BACK TO THE CITY, HE AND I HAD A CONVERSATION.

AND ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR, HE SAID, BY THE WAY, I THINK YOU COULD SPEND $700 MILLION IN NEW FLOOD CONTROL ON 6 PROJECTS. 6. NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE ALL ADVISABLE OR EVEN COST-EFFECTIVE.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE A MORE FORMAL COUNTYWIDE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE NEED IS ALL OVER THE COUNTY. THESE WERE 6 PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY KNOWN. THEY WERE MOSTLY MAJOR PROJECTS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

SO, THAT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FINANCE THAT KIND OF PROGRAM EVEN OVER 10 YEARS WITH OUR EXISTING TAX RATE, IN MY OPINION. NUMBER 2, AND THIS ONE I THINK THE COURT HAS BEEN ON TOP OF IT, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME WE NEED

[02:15:01]

TO TAKE A HARDER, MORE SYSTEMATIC LOOK. EVERY AGENDA, PERHAPS INCLUDING THIS ONE, I HAVEN'T CHECKED, YOU ACCEPT SUBDIVISIONS INTO OUR STREET PROGRAM FOR MAINTENANCE. WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS, MAYBE DECADES, BUT IT'S I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. AS YOU'VE NOTICED, MORE AND MORE PAGES OF YOUR AGENDA EVERY MEETING HAVE THOSE ACCEPTANCES IN THEM AND SOME OF THE STREETS AND PROGRAMS. WELL, WE'RE MOSTLY AS BEST I CAN TELL, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REPLACE THE STREETS IN A 20-YEAR-OLD OR OLDER SUBDIVISION, WE'RE NOT TALKING A MILLION BUCKS TO PUNCH HOLES ANYMORE. YOU'RE TALKING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF THE LAST FEW EXAMPLES I'VE SEEN ARE INFORMATIVE. WITH THAT IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND OR ADVISE THE COURT TO STRONGLY CONSIDER GETTING OUTSIDE ASSESSMENTS AND HELP OF WHAT THAT SCHEDULE OF REPLACEMENTS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE AND HOW MUCH IT'LL COST. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CHEAP.

FINALLY, THERE'S JUST NEW MAJOR ROADS THAT ONLY WE CAN BUILD OR THAT WE ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE. IF WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH, IT'S A MAJOR ENOUGH THOROUGHFARE, IT'S A TXDOT ROAD, THEY PROVIDE FUNDING.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR MPO, I MEAN, WE HAVE ONE PROJECT IN FRONT OF THE ALAMO REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY WHICH YOU APPOINT THE BOARD FOR, AND IT'S A SHORT PROJECT. IT'S A COUPLE OF MILES IN ALAMO RANCH, AND IT'S NEARLY $100 MILLION, AND IT'S NOT ON THE TXDOT SYSTEM. IT'S NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED IN ANY WAY, AND IT'S NOT IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S THE COUNTY'S.

IF THERE ARE MORE OF THOSE, AND I'M CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE AGAIN. ONE PROJECT, A COUPLE OF MILES, $100 MILLION. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF NUMBERS YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

AND AS YOUR BUDGET OFFICER, I'M SEEING OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS LEGITIMATE REQUESTS AND DEMANDS THAT THE GROWTH IS CREATING ON THIS COUNTY THAT COULD EASILY BE MULTIPLE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CAPITAL NEEDS. AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BE FINANCED AS I AS FAR AS I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD FINANCE IT WITH OUR EXISTING TAX RATE.

SO, I STRONGLY ADVISE IF WE DO NOTHING ELSE, AND YOU'VE GOT MORE THINGS TO CONSIDER THAN THESE FUTURE CAPITAL NEEDS, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT I WORRY ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT UNKNOWN.

WE CAN SEE THEM. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNTS. WE SHOULD TAKE A FEW MONTHS AT LEAST TO FIGURE OUT AS BEST WE CAN WHAT IS THAT NUMBER, THOSE WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS, AND WHAT WOULD BE A FINANCING PLAN FOR IT. BUT THAT MAY WELL REQUIRE A CONSIDERATION OF A TAX INCREASE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT. SO, I SORT OF WANT THIS I'M JUST SAYING I'M JUST SAYING THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE TODAY, FORTUNATELY, AND I REALIZE THAT, TO KIND OF SET THE BASELINE. THIS IS THE BUDGET I CAN RECOMMEND AT THE TAX RATE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND THERE'S NOTHING NEW IN HERE, AS YOU'VE JUST SEEN.

PROGRAM CHANGES IN THE GENERAL FUND, ZERO.

THAT'S LITERALLY NO NET NEW HIRES IN THE GENERAL FUND.

CAPITAL PROGRAMS, BASICALLY NOTHING THAT WASN'T JUST REPROGRAMMED MONEY.

FORTUNATELY FOR THE COURT AND THE COUNTY, THERE ARE PROJECTS FROM WHICH YOU COULD CONSIDER REPROGRAMMING OR REPRIORITIZE CAPITAL FUNDING FOR OTHER PRIORITIES THAT YOU MAY IDENTIFY.

BUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD, I'M MINDFUL OF THE POTENTIAL BILL THAT WE WILL HAVE, AND IT'S LEGITIMATE. IT'S NOT A NICE-TO-HAVE. THESE ARE MAJOR ROADS. THE FINAL THING I WOULD POINT OUT BEFORE I TURN IT BACK OVER TO TONYA IS I AM NOT THE MOST WELL, THIS IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT, BUT I'M NOT THE MOST TECH SAVVY PERSON. I'M NOT THE MOST TECH SAVVY PERSON IN THIS ROOM. I'M NOT THE MOST TECH SAVVY PERSON WITHIN 20 FEET OF THIS PODIUM.

BUT EVEN I, FROM JUST WATCHING MY OWN PERSONAL INVESTMENTS AND THE HEADLINES AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND NEWS, YOU'D HAVE TO BE ASLEEP NOT

[02:20:04]

TO REALIZE. WE'RE AT LEAST THE BEGINNING OF A MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION.

AI IS CHANGING THE WORLD AS WE SPEAK. NOW, WHAT I'M MINDFUL OF IS THAT BEXAR COUNTY IS NOT ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THAT TRANSFORMATION, BUT I'M NOT EVEN SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME TRAIN. AS THE TRANSFORMATION. AND SOME OF THAT'S BY DESIGN. BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SENSITIVE DATA AND WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL AND CAREFUL, OR TRY TO BE, ABOUT HOW AI ACCESSES AND MAKES AVAILABLE THAT INFORMATION TO OTHER AIS OUT THERE. WE'VE DRAWN AS HARD A LINE AROUND OUR SANDBOX AS POSSIBLE.

AS YOU'LL KNOW, YOU CAN THINK YOU DREW A GOOD SANDBOX LINE, AND AI IS GETTING SMARTER THAN THE SANDBOX, OR AT LEAST THE PEOPLE WHO PUT IT UP.

BUT I ALSO, KNOW IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN PARTICULAR, AI IS BEING DEPLOYED TO SOLVE CUSTOMERS' PROBLEMS, AND WE HAVE CUSTOMERS TOO.

THEY'RE NOT LITERALLY PAYING EXCEPT THROUGH TAXES.

BUT THEY'RE OUR CLIENTS. THEY NEED SERVICES FROM THE COUNTY. WE HAVE CALL CENTERS. WE HAVE COURT SYSTEM THAT WOULD SEEM TO OFFER MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT WITH AI. AND I SO, IN ADDITION TO STARING DOWN THE BARREL AT TEN YEARS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, I'D ALSO, LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE LOOK AHEAD.

AND USE WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, LOOK AHEAD AND COME UP WITH AN AI IMPLEMENTATION PILOT PROGRAM FOR BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO.

BUT I'M ALMOST LAUGHING AT MYSELF BECAUSE A WEEK FROM TODAY, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE FRONTIER OF AI, THEY IT WILL HAVE BLOWN PAST IT. THAT'S JUST HOW RAPIDLY THIS. IS HAPPENING.

BUT SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE SMARTER AT IT THAN I AM. AND SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE HELPING US LOOK AT HOW TO DEPLOY THAT TO CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THESE SERVICE PROVISION COSTS IN THE FUTURE. OR AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR TAXPAYERS THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY. SO, THESE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY I'M NOT STANDING HERE RECOMMENDING TO YOU THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU INCREASE THE COUNTY TAX RATE, BUT I'M NOT TELLING YOU WON'T NEED TO DO THAT. I'M TELLING YOU THAT NEED IS COMING, AND YOU MAY WELL DECIDE THAT THIS RATHER AUSTERE BUDGET WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY ISN'T SATISFACTORY FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT FULLY, BUT I'M GIVING YOU THE BASELINE.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TONYA.

BUT THESE WERE KIND OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ON MY MIND AS I WAS WORKING WITH STAFF TO DEVELOP THIS RECOMMENDATION.

SO, WITH THAT, MOVING ON TO OUR LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST.

AND WHAT I WANT TO JUST DAVID SMITH REMINDED ME, WHAT I WANT TO MAKE VERY I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE SEE THE BUDGET DECREASING WITH THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS THE ALL FUNDS TO INCLUDE OUR CAPITAL FUNDS, THIS IS NOT DUE TO THE COUNTY CUTTING POSITIONS OR OPERATIONS. WE ARE MAINTAINING ALL SAME OPERATIONS THAT WE HAD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE DECREASE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO CLOSING OUT THAT ONE-TIME REVENUE WE RECEIVED FROM POST-ARPA AS WELL AS SPENDING DOWN OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AS WE HAD DIRECTED THE COURT HAD DIRECTED OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO DO. SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC, FOR THEIR KNOWLEDGE, THAT WE ARE NOT CUTTING. WE ARE MAINTAINING OPERATIONS. SO, THAT BEING SAID, AS WE PRESENTED IN APRIL, WE PROJECTED OUT THE LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST. THIS IS A TOOL THAT WE USE BASED ON PROJECTIONS OF REVENUES, HISTORIC REVENUES, AS WELL AS OUR PROPERTY TAXES.

WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS BACK IN APRIL, IF WE HAD CONTINUED WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF INCREASES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, THINGS THAT WE WERE AWARE OF AT THAT TIME, SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS, OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS, NEW POSITIONS THAT WERE GOING TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THE COUNTY, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN A DEFICIT, A GAP BETWEEN OUR TARGET FUND BALANCE OF $145 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR '28. THIS WAS NOT A YEAR COMING UPCOMING YEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO PLAN FOR CUTS. SO, AGAIN, THIS LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST IS A PROJECTION OUT.

YES, SIR.

[02:25:08]

THAT'S CORRECT, JUDGE.

OKAY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED.

YES, THAT IS CORRECT. WE ARE NOT CUTTING WE DID NOT HAVE TO FIND A CUT OF $150 OR $145 MILLION IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET. WHAT WE HAD TO DO WAS SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH, WHICH IS, AS DAVID POINTED OUT, WE SLOWED DOWN GROWING AND PROGRAM CHANGES, WHICH HAVE BEEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AND NECESSARY FOR OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS.

BUT BECAUSE OF OUR DECLINING REVENUE BASED ON PROPERTY TAXES, WE HAVE TO PULL BACK THE REINS A LITTLE BIT SO, WE CAN MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE OUR OPERATIONS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS. SO, AS WE PRESENTED TODAY THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE ARE NOW AT A DEFICIT OF $42 MILLION, WHICH IS MORE MANAGEABLE, AND WE PUSHED THAT BACK ONE YEAR.

SO, ANYTHING THAT IS ADDED ON WILL EITHER BRING THAT CLOSER BACK INTO FISCAL YEAR '29 AND INCREASE THAT GAP BETWEEN THE TARGET FUND BALANCE. SO, AS PROPOSED TODAY, IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, WE WOULD STILL REQUIRE ABOUT A $30 MILLION EITHER RECURRING REVENUE OR RECURRING EXPENDITURE CUTS IN FISCAL YEAR '28. SO, WE HAVE CLOSED THAT GAP AS WE PRESENTED TODAY. FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

SO, MOVING FORWARD FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DATES THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE COURTS TO BE AWARE OF. AGAIN, TODAY WE PRESENTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

NO ACTION IS NEEDED TODAY FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET. WE DO HAVE 2 TENTATIVE WORK SESSIONS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY SCHEDULED ON AUGUST 25TH AND SEPTEMBER 3RD, AND WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO COURT ON SEPTEMBER 4TH TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AND TO GET YOUR DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TAX RATE. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO POST, IF REQUIRED, IN TIME THAT'S STATUTORILY REQUIRED BY LAW IF WE INCREASE THE TAX RATE ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. WE ALSO, HAVE A WORK SESSION THAT WILL BE SCHEDULED JUST FOR THE CHANGE MEMORANDUM, WHICH IS CHANGES TO THE BUDGETS THAT YOU WILL BE PROVIDING TO US. AND THEN WE FINALLY ADOPT, AND THIS IS THE FINAL DECISION WHERE WE WILL RECEIVE DIRECTION ON THE TAX RATE AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND ADOPTING IT FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO, STAFF WILL AGAIN WORK WITH OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS YOUR OFFICES ON SCHEDULING POTENTIAL WORK SESSIONS. THE IMPORTANT DATES THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO REMEMBER IS THE CHANGE MEMORANDUM ON THE 14TH, AND THEN WE FINALLY ADOPT ON THE 15TH. AGAIN, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS OR ANY SUGGESTIONS THE COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE.

GREAT. THANK YOU, TONYA. I GUESS WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER MOODY? THANK YOU.

I'LL TRY TO BE THOUGHTFUL HERE WITH THESE QUESTIONS AND ORGANIZED. YOU COVERED A LOT.

FIRST OF ALL, MAYBE SLIDE SEVEN. YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING THIS SHIFT FROM THE FLOOD MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX TO THE GENERAL FUND TAX. WHAT DOES THAT DO? ARE THOSE FUNDS WITHIN THE FLOOD MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS? WE THEY'RE NOT FUNGIBLE. WE CAN'T MOVE THEM UNLESS THEY'RE. THE TAX RATE IS SHIFTED FROM ONE TO THE OTHER? NO, SIR. THE OPERATIONS OF THE FLOOD MAINTENANCE FUND WILL MAINTAIN AS IS. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST SHIFTING THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM THAT FLOOD M&O INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SO, WE INCREASED THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BY $20 MILLION.

I UNDERSTAND. BUT I GUESS WHAT'S THE GOAL THERE? I MEAN, CAN WE NOT MOVE THOSE FUNDS WITHOUT MOVING THE TAX RATE OVER, OR MOVING THE FUNDS? SO, THE FUNDS STAY WITHIN FLOOD M&O? THEY'RE NOT FUNGIBLE. THEY WERE LEVIED FOR FLOOD CONTROL OPERATIONS, BUT MOST OF THAT WE DO THROUGH OUR PARTNERS AT THE RIVER AUTHORITY. WE ESTABLISHED THAT FUND ORIGINALLY BECAUSE IN CASE OF DAMAGE TO, SAY, THE MISSION REACH OR A COUNTY-OWNED ASSET, THAT RISES TO A SUBSTANTIAL LEVEL. WE NEED TO FUND THAT, AND THERE'S SOME MINOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES THEY INCUR. BUT OVER TIME, THIS TAX REVENUE GENERATES WAY MORE THAN WE SPEND. AND I MADE THE ASSESSMENT THAT YOU WILL AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THAT THAT TAX REVENUE, THAT TWENTY MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT 5 TIMES, 4 TIMES THE ANNUAL SPEND. IT ALREADY HAS A FUND BALANCE THERE OF $20 MILLION. WE SPEND ABOUT $3 MILLION. SO, I MADE THE ASSESSMENT, OR I'M MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION, THAT SUPPORTING GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS IS A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN CONTINUING

[02:30:01]

TO BUILD THE FUND BALANCE IN OPERATIONS. I STRESS OPERATIONS BECAUSE A COMPLETELY SEPARATE FLOOD TAX FUNDS CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR FLOOD CONTROL.

OK. UNDERSTOOD.

THANK YOU. IF WE GO TO SLIDE 11. SO, CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WELL, SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES? LIKE WITHIN CONTINGENCIES, YOU MENTIONED THE $5.9 MILLION FOR THE ARPA-FUNDED POSITIONS THAT'S IN CONTINGENCY, WHICH WE WILL HAVE TO GET FURTHER REVIEW THOSE PROGRAMS, I GUESS, OVER THE COURSE OF THE FALL IS WHAT BUDGET'S SUGGESTING. BUT WHAT ELSE IS IN THE CONTINGENCIES AMOUNT THERE, THE $37 MILLION? SO, WHAT'S INCLUDED IN CONTINGENCIES IS OVERTIME FOR DETENTION. I CAN'T THINK OF THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I BELIEVE I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU THAT EXACT AMOUNT.

SO, WE FUND THE POSITIONS FOR MAC, THE $1.6 MILLION. YOU MENTIONED THE POST-ARPA POSITIONS. AND THERE'S VARIOUS, I GUESS, POTENTIAL CONTRACTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE JAIL AS WELL, LIKE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, JUST PUTTING THAT BUCKET OF MONEY IN THERE AND UNTIL THE COURT DECIDES ON HOW TO USE THAT REMAINING FUND FOR THAT.

AND JUST $11.2 MILLION IS FOR OVERTIME.

YEAH, SO, IT'S MAJORITY OF THAT.

I KNEW THAT WAS A BIG-TICKET ITEM THERE. THE CARRYFORWARD, IS THE CARRYFORWARD WHAT WE TYPICALLY THINK ABOUT AS LIKE THE RESERVES FOR THE GENERAL FUND? YES, COMMISSIONER.

AND I GUESS A BIG QUESTION FOR ME, I'VE BEEN OBVIOUSLY TALKING WITH MY STAFF, HAS BEEN TALKING TO YOUR OFFICE, HOW THAT NUMBER CHANGES OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THE GRAPHS, IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DEPLETING THAT BUFFER IN TERMS OF CARRYFORWARD. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR? SO, LAST YEAR WHEN WE PRESENTED, WE HAD AN ENDING BALANCE OF ABOUT $303 MILLION, OR WE ARE ESTIMATING $303 MILLION. THIS YEAR IT IS DECREASING TO $234 MILLION.

AND NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT DECREASED FROM 2 YEARS AGO TO LAST YEAR BEFORE THE $303 MILLION? SO, IN FISCAL YEAR '25, WE HAD AN ENDING BALANCE OF $408 MILLION, BUT THAT INFLUX WAS BECAUSE OF THE POST-ARPA REVENUE REPLACEMENT, WHICH WAS ABOUT, I THINK, $190 MILLION. BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY EVERY DOLLAR WAS ALLOCATED FOR POST-ARPA PROJECTS. SO, I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE FISCAL YEAR '24, BUT FROM OVER THE 3 YEARS, IT WENT FROM $408 MILLION TO $303 MILLION, NOW TO $234 MILLION.

AND IS THAT THE FUND THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN 10%? AT LEAST 10%? YES.

AND WE AT SOME POINT, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER REVISING OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES BECAUSE 10% IS OUR STATED LEVEL. I'M MORE THAN I'M OLD ENOUGH NOW TO HAVE LIVED THROUGH A COUPLE OF FINANCIAL CRISES AROUND HERE, AND I THINK THE 10% IS NORMALLY FINE. IT'S MORE THAN A MONTH THAT YOU COULD GO WITH NO INCOMING REVENUE AND STILL DO FINE. THE PROBLEM IS OUR BOND RATING AGENCIES PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING.

AND THEY LOOK AT 15%. SO, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER JUST MAKING IT 15%, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. THAT'S THE ONE WE ARE OVER THAT 10% BALANCE.

AND THAT 10% WOULD BE BASED OFF OF THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES NUMBER? OKAY.

AND THEN THE VENUE RESERVE AND THE DEBT RESERVE. THE VENUE RESERVE, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE VENUE TAX, THE FUNDS THAT THROUGH THE VENUE TAX ELECTION WOULD BE GOING TO THE RODEO AND SPURS ARENA, OR SO, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SORRY.

GO AHEAD.

YES, THEY ARE EVEN MORE RESTRICTED. WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH SOME OF YOUR INTERESTED PARTNERS EARLY IN THE VENUE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT NUMBER. THAT NUMBER IS MOSTLY COMMITTED. AND WE DISCUSSED THE PARTS THAT AREN'T.

BUT THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR VOTER-APPROVED VENUE PROJECTS.

UNDERSTAND. JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT WAS THE SAME THING WITH VENUE. AND THEN THE DEBT RESERVE, I THINK YOU MAKE A COMMENT LATER THAT THAT'S BEING DEPLETED. IS THERE A TARGET FOR THE DEBT RESERVE AS WELL? AND WHERE ARE WE COMPARED TO THAT? SO, IT'S 10% ACROSS ALL FUNDS, BUT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE

[02:35:02]

TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH TO PAY FOR OUR CURRENT DEBT. THIS IS DECREASING THE RESERVE JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF DECREASING PROPERTY TAXES, BUT WE HAVE DONE A DEBT FORECAST, LIKE A LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST, SO, WE ARE WE'RE PRETTY HEALTHY RIGHT NOW WITH NOT ASSUMING SIGNIFICANT ISSUANCES OVER THE NEXT LIKE 10, 15 YEARS.

SO, THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, COMMISSIONER, JUST BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE OF DEBT CAN GO OUT 20, 30 YEARS. SO, WE LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER. AND SECONDLY, OTHER THAN THE REVENUE, THE DEBT EXPENSE IS MOSTLY CONTRACTUAL AND KNOWN. SO, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT IT'S NOT FRONT-LOADED.

IT'S TYPICALLY LOADED TOWARD THE BACK OR MIDDLE OR BACK.

SO, WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD TO MAKE SURE, BUT WE ALWAYS FORECAST WITH OUR REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS TO TRY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING GET NO LOWER THAN THAT REQUIRED RESERVE OVER THE LIFE OF THE DEBT.

IF WE GO TO SLIDE 33. SO, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR THIS. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GOING FORWARD. IF YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND GET BACK TO OUR OFFICE, BUT BECAUSE HONESTLY, I JUST SAW THIS THIS MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, BUT IN TERMS OF IT BEING IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET AND COMING FORWARD, HAD AN ATTORNEY FRIEND SEND THE STATUTE THAT THE DA HAS TO.

APPROVE OF ANY KIND OF MOVE LIKE THIS? I GUESS THE QUESTION WILL BE A LEGAL ONE, IN TERMS OF, IF THERE'S A NEW DA, ANY DECISION THAT'S MADE BY THIS COURT TODAY WOULD STILL BE SUBJECT TO THAT APPROVAL, OR THAT'S HOW THEY READ THE STATUTE? SO, I'M JUST ASKING THAT QUESTION TO THE COURT, GOING FORWARD.

SO, THE DA DOES APPROVE. HE'S FULLY IN SUPPORT OF IT.

SO, WE HAVE A DA TODAY, AND WE'LL HAVE A NEW DA ON JANUARY 1ST. SO, HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT, THOUGH, IN TERMS OF MAKING A STRUCTURAL CHANGE THAT HAS TO CONTINUE TO BE APPROVED BY NEW DAS? SO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOUR ATTORNEY FRIEND LOOKED AT, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE THEM THE CASE LAW THAT SUPPORTS THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT RIGHT TO HAVE A CIVIL LEGAL SECTION, AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT CASE LAW, OR I CAN READ IT TO YOU, AND THE AG OPINION THAT SUPPORTS THAT AS WELL. SO, IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY THEY CAN'T IT'S NOT UP TO THE DA. IT'S KIND OF A BALANCE. THE DA WILL RETAIN DA FUNCTIONAL CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS, PROTECTIVE ORDERS, ASSET FORFEITURES, ALL OF THE CIVIL MATTERS THAT DEAL WITH THE CRIMINAL SIDE AND DA FUNCTIONS SPECIFICALLY. AND THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE CIVIL MATTERS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

WELL, SEND ME THAT CASE LAW. I WAS LOOKING AT THE STATUTE, AND THEY WERE POINTING ME TO THE STATUTE THAT BASICALLY SAYS THE DA HAS TO APPROVE OF THAT.

THERE'S NO STATUTE THAT SAYS THE DA HAS TO SPECIFICALLY APPROVE, BUT THE CASE LAW IS GUYENS V.

GALVESTON. IT'S THE ARRANGEMENT THAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT REVIEWED, RELATED TO GALVESTON COUNTY. IT'S 861 S.F.S. IT'S KEN PAXTON 861.

THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT REVIEWED THIS MATTER IN 1993, AND IT'S KEN PAXTON 0492. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LOOKED AT IT AS WELL. SO, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, AND THAT'S WHAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT SAID. SO, I'M NOT SURE YOUR FRIEND LOOKED AT THAT, BUT THAT'S VERY INFORMATIVE.

YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE TRACKING ON THAT. THEY MENTIONED GALVESTON. COUNTY, BUT THEY ALSO, POINTED ME TO WHICH, GALVESTON COUNTY DOES THE SAME ARRANGEMENT.

ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, CERTAINLY.

BUT IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT CASE LAW WITH ME, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

YEAH, I CAN PRINT YOU OUT I CAN SEND YOU A COPY.

AND THE LETTER FROM THE AG.

IT'S AN AG OPINION, BUT I'LL SEND YOU THAT, TOO.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, IF I COULD JUST ADD, WE'VE BEEN KIND OF WORKING ON THIS, PROBABLY FOR A FEW MONTHS. AND IT'S STILL BEING FLESHED OUT. I JUST WANTED IT TO BE PART OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BUDGET NEUTRAL. BUT I THINK, AND YOU'VE SEEN IT OVER THE COURSE OF OUR TIME HERE, WE DO A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AND DELIBERATIONS WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM. SO, I THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE TO HAVE A TEAM THAT REPORTED STRAIGHT TO THE COURT.

BUT I THINK DETAILS ARE GOING TO GET FLESHED OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

YEAH, I MEAN, STRUCTURE, I'M OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION, RIGHT? JUST THE CONCERN WAS BROUGHT UP, AND WANT

[02:40:01]

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO IN EYES WIDE OPEN, AND WE'RE CONSIDERING THAT YOU KNOW A NEW DA. ARE WE SUBJECT TO THEIR APPROVAL OF WHATEVER'S DECIDED HERE BY THE COURT? WE TALKED ABOUT CONTINGENCIES. CAN YOU GO TO SLIDE THIRTY-FIVE AND THIRTY-SIX? SO, FIRST OF ALL, ON 35, SO, THIS COUNTYWIDE $500K HERE VERSUS IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, 36, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LISTED UNDER GENERAL FUND, IS THAT THE $500K THAT'S ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE? NO, COMMISSIONER, THOSE ARE SEPARATE. THESE ARE SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS WHERE THE COUNTYWIDE IS AN ALLOCATION THAT'S STILL YET TO BE DECIDED ON BY THE COURT.

AND I THINK COMMISSIONER, THAT'S THE COUNTYWIDE NOFA THAT WE PUT OUT THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR ELIGIBLE OUTSIDE AGENCIES.

SO, THAT $500K IS THE COUNTYWIDE NOFA THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.

AND SEE, WE WENT THROUGH THIS BEFORE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S MY OPINION THAT ALL THESE ITEMS SHOULD COMPETE.

SO, IF YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE 36, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THESE AREN'T GOOD NONPROFITS THAT DESERVE CONSIDERATION FOR SUPPORT BY THE COUNTY.

HOWEVER, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THESE INDIVIDUALLY WERE SELECTED AND SEPARATED SO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH EVERY OTHER NONPROFIT, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NONPROFITS OUT THERE.

CAN WE SPEAK TO THAT? SO, THESE ARE CONTRACTS THAT WERE BUDGETED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WE JUST CONTINUED THEM ON. THESE WERE APPROVED GENERALLY THESE ARE AGENDIZED AND APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS. SO, WE JUST CARRIED OVER THE SAME CONTRACTS FOR FISCAL YEAR '27.

SO, THESE NONPROFITS WE'RE GOING TO TREAT DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE WHO COMPETES IN THE NOFA.

I'M SORRY, SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME, COMMISSIONER.

SO, THESE NONPROFITS WE'RE GOING TO TREAT DIFFERENT THAN EVERY OTHER NONPROFIT THAT COMPETES FOR THE OTHER $500K? AS THEY WERE APPROVED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THAT WAS A STATEMENT, I GUESS, NOT A QUESTION. WHICH, I MEAN, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO BUSINESS. I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COUNTYWIDE FUNDS, THEN EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR THOSE EQUALLY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. CAN YOU GO TO SLIDE 44 REALLY QUICK? YOU MENTIONED AS PROPOSED TODAY, THE GENERAL FUND WILL STILL REQUIRE $30 MILLION IN RECURRING NEW REVENUE OR RECURRING EXPENDITURE CUTS. IS THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO BALANCE TO ADDRESS THE $42 MILLION, OR IS THAT WHAT'S THE $30 MILLION THERE THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING? THE FIRST THING THAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER, THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S TO CLOSE THE GAP OF THE $42 MILLION.

MAKES SENSE.

I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND QUICKLY. DAVID, APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IN THE FUTURE AND THINKING ABOUT THAT. I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL PLAN, OUR 10-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2021, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? 5 YEARS AGO, WHICH WE'VE NEVER REALLY DOVE BACK INTO AS A COURT. AND I'M NOT SURE THE BUDGET'S THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THAT, BUT THIS FALL, AGAIN, I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO THAT IN RELATION TO WHAT DAVID BROUGHT UP, BECAUSE THERE ARE PROJECTS OUT THERE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY ON THIS COURT KNOWS ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETED. AND THERE'S NOT THE POLITICAL WILL FOR THEM.

BUT WHEN ARE WE GOING TO THINK ABOUT SHIFTS ON THE CAPITAL PLAN TO THE FUTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR ROAD AND FLOOD? AND I THINK THAT'S A VALUABLE DISCUSSION.

SO, THERE'S QUESTIONS I THINK WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT SHIFTING FIRST. WHAT PROJECTS ARE NOT GOING FORWARD OR WE WANT TO REPRIORITIZE NEW PROJECTS WHEN IT COMES TO ROAD AND FLOOD? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE STILL HAVE GAPS, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT ONCE WE GET THERE.

BUT I THINK THE FIRST THING WE SHOULD DO IS REPRIORITIZE SOME OF THOSE CAPITAL FUNDS. AND THEN I WOULD FULLY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT A SMALL STUDY WITH RELATION TO AI. AND AS WE GO FORWARD HERE, THINKING ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANYONE'S JOB. I MEAN, WE'RE A GROWING COUNTY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE REQUIREMENTS AND NEEDS, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE PERSONNEL THAT ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY. BUT IN TERMS OF FUTURE GROWTH, WHAT IS REQUIRED? AND IN THIS SHIFTING SPACE OF TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN AI MAKE US WORK SMARTER, QUICKER, MORE PRODUCTIVE? AND I THINK

[02:45:01]

THAT THAT WOULD BE A VALUABLE THING TO THINK ABOUT AS WE GO FORWARD INTO THE FALL IN THIS NEXT FY. JUST IN CLOSING, I THINK AN IMPORTANT THING TO THINK ABOUT HERE IS WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE TAXES, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT A TAX RATE INCREASE.

LET ME BE CLEAR ON THAT.

BUT WHAT REALLY WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS HOW MUCH WE'RE DEPLETING THOSE RESERVES THAT CARRY FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THE 15%, HOW QUICKLY THAT'S BEING BEING DEPLETED BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT SPEAKS TO THE STRUCTURAL BALANCE. AS LONG AS WE ARE TAPPING INTO THOSE RESERVES, THEN WE ARE SPENDING MORE THAN WE ARE BRINGING IN, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S SIMPLE MATH. AND SO, WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BUFFERING SOME OF THIS. I THINK WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN A BETTER POSITION THAN SOME SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

BUT WE ALSO, HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WE ARE NOT IN BALANCE.

AND EVEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AUSTERE AS IT IS, IS NOT IN BALANCE, RIGHT? SO, WE ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER $40 MILLION IS COMING OUT OF THAT RESERVE FUND. AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S POSSIBLE TO UTILIZE THAT BUFFER BUT AT THE SAME TIME START TO WORK BACK TOWARDS THAT BALANCE THAT WE NEED LONG-TERM. SO, I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO FORWARD.

FORWARD HERE. THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND THANK YOU, TANYA.

WHO'S NEXT? COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. A COUPLE THINGS, TANYA, JUST TO, I GUESS, A CLARIFICATION. I KNOW FIRST OF ALL THAT THIS IS, I GUESS, REALLY THE BEGINNING OF OUR DELIBERATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FEW WORK SESSIONS, SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE, AND THOSE ARE ALL FORTHCOMING.

THE I GUESS THE SLIDE THAT'S UP THERE NOW RELATED TO THE LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST ON THE I GUESS THE FUNDS AVAILABLE, YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS ALREADY, I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, BUT WHAT ASSUMPTION ARE YOU MAKING YEAR OVER YEAR ON THAT? IS IT THAT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN? OBVIOUSLY, IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT ARE YOU FACTORING IN THE 1%, 1.5% THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH THIS YEAR? SO, FOR FUTURE YEARS, WE'RE PRETTY CONSERVATIVELY INCREASING. SO, NEXT YEAR WE'RE ASSUMING, I BELIEVE, FLAT AND THEN A VERY NORMAL INCREASE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, 11% IS A REALLY UNUSUAL GROWTH, RIGHT? BACK IN THE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, OUR NORMAL OUR NORMAL GROWTH WAS BETWEEN 2% TO 3%. SO, IN THE OUTLIER YEARS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING FOR PROPERTY TAX GROWTH.

NOW, COMMISSIONER, IT'S SO, IT'S BASICALLY ZERO GROWTH NEXT YEAR.

I THINK IT'S 1% THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AND IT'S SLOW. SO, IT'S A GREATLY REDUCED GROWTH FORECAST. AND I JUST TO WHERE I THINK YOU WERE THINKING, COULD BE WRONG, IS THAT IF THAT CHANGES NEXT YEAR, THAT GRAPH CHANGES.

AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, WE DIDN'T REALLY ANTICIPATE THIS.

AND I THINK WE WERE WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT 2 OR 3% YEAR OVER YEAR. SO, I GUESS ABSENT ANY SIGNIFICANT AND ALMOST IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT IN FRONT OF US. RIGHT. AND SO, THAT'S THAT'S I ASSUMED YOU GUYS WERE BEING CONSERVATIVE AND I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT.

ON THE I GUESS I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO TOO MANY OF THE MINOR THINGS BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.

BUT I DO THINK, THOMAS, YOU MENTIONED THE NOFA. LAST YEAR WAS $1 MILLION, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RECOMMENDING $500,000. I MEAN, I HAVE TO JUST CHIME IN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT FOR YOU AND STAFF AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE JUICE IS WORTH THE SQUEEZE ON THAT. AND SO, IT MAY BE BETTER THAT YOU JUST PUT THAT INTO, YOU KNOW, DIVIDE IT BACK UP AND PUT IT BACK INTO THE COURT'S OUTSIDE AGENCY DOLLARS. THAT'S ONE SUGGESTION.

I'M JUST KIND OF THINKING OUT LOUD. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GET REQUESTS FROM NONPROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE DO $500,000 DIVIDED BY, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE COUNTY, IT MEANS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF WORK FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A $10,000 OR $15,000 GRANT. AND I MEAN, NOT JUST ON YOUR PART, BUT THE NONPROFITS, RIGHT? THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE THINK THAT THROUGH. AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST THINK MAYBE THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO DO THAT. AND NO OFFENSE TO THE WAY IT'S BEEN RUN, BUT I JUST THINK

[02:50:01]

WITH THAT LIMITED AMOUNT OF FUNDS, IT MAY NOT BE WORTH DOING A WHOLE NOFA PROCESS.

THAT'S JUST MY 2 CENTS ON IT.

BUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

LET ME SEE WHAT ELSE REAL QUICK.

I GUESS ON THE TAX RATE, JUST TO CLARIFY AGAIN, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN ALBERT WAS UP, WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF SCENARIOS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE ALLOWS US TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A PENNY IF WE DECIDED, AND WE WOULD GENERATE ABOUT THE SAME REVENUE AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.

AND DOES THAT REQUIRE ANY KIND OF PUBLIC NOTICE OR TRIGGER ANY KIND OF PUBLIC VOTE? FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, IT WOULD TRIGGER A PUBLIC NOTICE IF WE GO ABOVE IT.

RIGHT. JUST IF YOU GO ABOVE IT.

AND SO, THIS TAX RATE INCREASE RIGHT HERE IS RIGHT BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.

BUT FOR GOOD MEASURE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RECOMMENDS THAT WE DO A POSTING ON THE TAX RATE JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE WHETHER WE GO OVER OR NOT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST MY OPINION, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS STRUGGLING. I THINK IT WOULD BE TOUGH TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE.

BUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THOSE DELIBERATIONS.

THE LAST THING I'LL CHIME IN ON IS WHAT DAVID MENTIONED. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT YES.

AS WELL, DAVID.

IN A GROWING COUNTY, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECTIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO ADD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLKS. A LOT OF IT'S COMING INTO THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR KEEPING UP WITH THAT GROWTH, NOT TO MENTION THE EXISTING NEEDS IN FLOOD CONTROL, WHICH IS A PRIMARY RESPONSE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. SO, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, BUT AND NOTHING AGAINST COUNTY RESOURCES, BUT WE PUT SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR TO DO THAT ASSESSMENT. AGAIN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT A NUMBER. I WOULD JUST BE SPITBALLING. BUT WHETHER IT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHATEVER IT IS TO HIRE EXPERTS TO HAVE US TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE. IT WOULD POTENTIALLY REQUIRE, I WOULD IMAGINE, YOU WERE ALLUDING TO, POTENTIALLY RAISING THE TAX RATE AT SOME POINT NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER IN ORDER TO UNDERWRITE THOSE PROJECTS.

BUT I DO THINK THE MORE WE KIND OF KICK THAT CAN DOWN THE ROAD, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT BECOMES.

SO, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT. AND SO, I'D BE IN FAVOR OF PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE BUDGET FOREIGN ASSESSMENT, YOU KNOW, JUST SO, WE CAN START PLANNING FOR SOMETHING POSSIBLY IN 2027. SO, THAT'S ALL I GOT, JUDGE. LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSIONS AND SOME HARD CHOICES WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THE $20 MILLION THAT WE SHIFTED FROM THE FLOOD MAINTENANCE IS THAT NUMBER 208, FUND 208? THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY, JUST DOUBLE-CHECKING.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS NO RAISES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR RETIREES. IT SEEMS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME IN THIS ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WITH THINGS SO, HIGH THAT WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONTRACT EXPIRED ON OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR. SO, THERE WAS NO INCREASE FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE CONTRACT EXPIRED? THAT'S CORRECT. BUT THEY DO RECEIVE THEIR ANNUAL STEP INCREASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH TENURE.

SO, THE STEP INCREASES ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO, I GUESS, RISE IN THE RANK OR IN THE RANGE? NO, NO. IT'S BASED ON SENIORITY. SO, THERE'S A 12 SO, THEY GET PAY RAISES OVER A 12-YEAR PERIOD. FOR EACH RANK AND SLICK SLEEVES.

RIGHT. SO, THAT APPLIES TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE OVER 8 YEARS OF SERVICE OR HOW MANY YEARS? NO, THEY START OUT AT LET'S SAY THEY STARTED AT $50,000 AND THEN THE NEXT PAY RAISE WOULD BE THE NEXT YEAR.

LET'S SAY IT'S 3%, SO, THEY WOULD BE AT $51,000.

SO, IT VARIES.

JUST BREAK IT DOWN FROM THE BASELINE IF YOU CAN.

HOW DOES IT WORK? CAN I FINISH? OKAY.

SO, LET'S SAY YOU'RE HIRED AT $50,000. THE NEXT YEAR YOU GET A 3% PAY RAISE, SO, YOU'RE AT $51,500. THE NEXT YEAR YOU'RE GOING TO GET ANOTHER 3%, ALL THE WAY FOR 12 YEARS. I BELIEVE IT'S 11 OR 12 YEARS, NO MATTER WHAT RANK YOU ARE.

AND IF THEY PROMOTE, THEY CAN MOVE UP TO THE NEXT RANK.

SO, HOW DOES THAT HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE THAT WE THEY DIDN'T GET A RAISE, BUT THEY GOT THE WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS WE WILL DO A COST OF LIVING INCREASE, WHICH

[02:55:02]

SHIFTS THE ENTIRE PAY TABLE.

THEN THEY CONTINUE TO GET THEIR ANNUAL INCREASES ON THAT.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT GENERALLY IN THE ATMOSPHERE, IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN COST OF LIVING FOR THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT? I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I WANT TO SAY IT'S ABOUT 2 TO 3% BETWEEN STEPS.

SO, YES, WE'RE AT 3.5%, I THINK, CPI, SO, IT'S CLOSE.

I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS JUST TO SEE WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE CONTRACT AND THE COURSE OF NOW. DID WE DO A STUDY IN TERMS OF THE WAGES, A WAGE STUDY? BECAUSE I'M HEARING WE DIDN'T DO ONE.

WE DID NOT. THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION HIRED BAKER TILLY TO DO A PAY STUDY, AND I THINK THE RESULTS WERE QUESTIONABLE TO THE DSABC, SO, THEY SENT US SOME INFORMATION.

WE WENT AHEAD AND TRIED TO USE WHAT THEY SENT US AND CAME UP WITH WHAT WE THINK BAKER TILLY WAS TRYING TO DO.

SO, WE'VE GOTTEN DOWN FROM 300 VACANCIES TO 197. AND HAS THERE BEEN ANY FEEDBACK ABOUT WHY WE HAVEN'T GONE DOWN MORE? NO, I HAVE NOT HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH ANYBODY ABOUT THAT.

WELL, I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT BUDGETARY QUESTIONS AND WHAT WE DO WITH CARRYOVER FUNDS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM YOU ALL AND BUDGET STAFF ON THE AXON THING, WHICH I THINK SOME OF THE OUTLYING YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAM WE GET, COULD BE UP TO $40 MILLION, $12 MILLION, AND NOW IT'S I MEAN, FIRST YEAR, $6 MILLION. I ALSO, THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A VERY, VERY CAREFUL LOOK, ALONG WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, ON THE REPLACEMENT. THERE'S A 500 UNIT REPLACEMENT CLAUSE IN THE AXON BODY CAMERA CONTRACT? DID WE DO THAT? BECAUSE THAT SHOULD MITIGATE SOME OF THE COST TO THE COUNTY OF HOW LONG. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE SHOULD ALSO, LOOK AT, AND THE BUDGET OFFICE SHOULD ALSO, LOOK AT, WHAT IS THE FUNCTIONAL USE OF THE CAMERA? ARE THEY GOOD FOR BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE BASICALLY BEING REPLACED LIKE EVERY 2 YEARS.

AND IS THAT A GOOD CLIP OR IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THE COMPANY LIKES THAT TIMELINE? WE NEED SOME CLARITY BEFORE SUCH MAJOR EXPENDITURES ARE MADE ON THAT TECHNOLOGY.

AND OKAY.

SO, TONYA, WHAT'S THE CARRYOVER FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW? SO, FOR THE END OF THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR? YES.

OUR ESTIMATE, $303 MILLION.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALL AS A COURT NEED TO LOOK AT IS THAT IS THOSE WHAT ARE THOSE EXPENDITURES THAT ARE CARRYING OVER? BECAUSE IF WE CAN FIND MONEY FOR A PROJECT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TO HELP WITH THE WAGE ISSUES, TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET, IT MAY MEAN THAT WE DON'T NEED A TAX INCREASE BECAUSE WE'VE IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON THE PROJECT MAY OR MAY NOT, OR THE PROGRAM MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN FUNCTION. SO, WE SHOULD DO THAT TOGETHER. I MEAN, WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT NECESSARILY IN COURT, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOME BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT OUR CARRYOVER FUNDS. AND I'LL WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO TRY AND LOOK AT THOSE CARRYOVER FUNDS AS WELL.

I THINK FOR THE FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THERE ARE FLOOD PROJECTS, ROAD PROJECTS.

I THINK THE BETTER WAY TO GET THAT DONE IS TO BE DETAILED ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS ARE. AND IF WE GO TO THE VOTERS AND SAY WE WANT TO LOOK AT A TAX RATE THAT FUNDS THOSE PROJECTS, HERE IS BASICALLY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BOND VOTE FOR YOU. IT'S GOING TO COME ACROSS AS IT COULD COME ACROSS IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS. IT COULD COME ACROSS AS AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE RATE. IT COULD COME ACROSS AS A BOND. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR THAT? DOES ANYONE HAVE A NUMBER OF HOW MUCH DEBT WE'VE PAID

[03:00:02]

DOWN OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS? BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE BEEN PRETTY CONSTRAINED IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. HOW MUCH DEBT HAVE WE PAID DOWN? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. WE DO HAVE THAT.

I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT I CAN PROVIDE IT.

A BALLPARK. HAVE WE PAID DOWN $200 MILLION, $100 MILLION? I MEAN, $400, $500? LIKE $300 MILLION.

OVER $300 MILLION IN DEBT THAT'S PAID DOWN. SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO SOME OF OUR PER CAPITA LOOKS. WHAT HAS THAT DONE TO OUR PER CAPITA LOOK? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN QUITE AUSTERE, RELATIVELY SPEAKING.

THE LAST THING I HAVE TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN HERE 12 YEARS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GET 8% RECOUPED FOR THE FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE INVESTMENT WE NEED FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT ANY KIND OF CONVERSATION AROUND A TAX CONVERSATION HAS TO BE IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE, GOING FROM 8% TO 6% TO 3.5%, WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW COMMUNITIES, CITIES AND COUNTIES, TO INVEST IN THE ROADS, THE FLOOD CONTROL, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS. AND SO, I'M NOT SAYING THIS COURT HAS TO DO A TAX INCREASE, BUT IF IT DOES, IT'S BECAUSE OF DAN PATRICK AND GOVERNOR ABBOTT. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GOVERN OURSELVES THE COUNTIES AND CITIES WITHOUT DEFICITS FOR A LONG TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE ENDORSEMENTS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, MAYBE SOME OF THOSE ENDORSEMENTS HAVE LED TO THIS FLAT THIS FLATNESS IN OUR BUDGET. BUT FOR ME, THE BOTTOM LINE ON TAX RELIEF IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ALL THE EXEMPTIONS IN THEIR TOTALITY AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT I AM VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS THE HOMEOWNER GETTING BACK.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE RECEIVED EARLIER DIDN'T COMPUTE WITH THINGS THAT I'VE JUST BEEN WORKING WITH ON TAX ELECTIONS. SO, I WANT TO GET WITH THE STAFF ABOUT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE REALLY BRING BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, CONCEIVABLY IT COULD BE $2 LESS FROM THE COUNTY, BUT IT ALLOWS OUR RESIDENTS, OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO GET A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WHICH I THINK IT DOESN'T HELP US WITH THAT 197 VACANCIES AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IF OTHER AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO INCREASE AND WE'RE LOSING.

AGAIN, WE DID A LOT OF WORK TO CATCH UP. SO, WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT THAT IN CONTEXT. SO, WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US, AND I THINK OUR RETIREES ALSO, ARE OBVIOUSLY PROBABLY STRUGGLING IN PARTICULAR WAYS TOO. SO, WE GOTTA LOOK AT ALL THESE FUNDS AS WELL AS ALL OF THE CARRYOVERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL THESE CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE.

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING HERE AND YAWNING AND HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING. I RECOGNIZE THE TIME AND WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO GET DONE. SO, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE TIME OF THE CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE HERE. AS YOU ALL KNOW HOW I WORK, I LIKE TO DO MY HOMEWORK. AND NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE MET TO GO OVER THIS. I KNOW Y'ALL WERE STILL WORKING ON IT UNTIL THE 11TH HOUR. SO, I'M GOING TO RESERVE A LOT OF NITPICK QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.

SO, IF YOU CAN PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK SO, THAT WE CAN REVIEW. I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR AS I SAY EVERY YEAR YOUR SMALL BUT MIGHTY BUDGET TEAM WHO CRUNCHES THESE NUMBERS AND GETS ALL THIS TOGETHER SO, THAT WE CAN BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE. SO, I WILL RESERVE THOSE FOR OUR MEETING IN MY OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AS SPECIFICALLY ON 5C. SO, WITH THAT, YES, YES, OKAY, YEAH, LET ME CALL, I HAVE IS IT DEVIN LOTTA? AND THEN KATHY JONES AND ALMA DOMINGUEZ. Y'ALL HAVE ALL SIGNED UP FROM UP PARTNERSHIP. ARE Y'ALL STILL HERE TO SIGN UP FOR 5C, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? I WILL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

YES.

WELL, COME. Y'ALL WANT TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY IF YOU DO,

[03:05:01]

OR IF Y'ALL GOING TO YIELD TIME? Y'ALL APPEARS TO BE FROM THE SAME ORGANIZATION, UP PARTNERSHIP, COME FORWARD. SO, WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? AND YOUR NAME? KATHY JONES.

ALL RIGHT, KATHY JONES. IS THE OTHER STILL HERE, MISS ALADA AND DOMINGUEZ? NO.

NO.

ALL RIGHT. WELL THEN, MISS JONES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT. I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT NOW I'LL SAY GOOD AFTERNOON, JESSICA AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DR. KATHY JONES, AND I AM THE CEO AT UP PARTNERSHIP.

UP PARTNERSHIP IS A LOCAL BACKBONE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY. OUR WORK IS FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FUTURE-READY AND HAVE CHOICE-FILLED LIVES. OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT RATE OF BEXAR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO 70% BY 2030, AND WE DO THIS BY WORKING ALONGSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NONPROFITS, HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS, EMPLOYERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN THE WELL-BEING OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

YOUR LEADERSHIP REFLECTS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS ARE THOSE THAT ADDRESS CHALLENGES BEFORE THEY BECOME CRISES AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OVER THE LONG TERM. BEXAR COUNTY IS RICH IN CULTURE AND GROUNDED IN DEEP COMMUNITY ROOTS, WHERE ONE-THIRD OF THE PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 25.

IN OUR WORK, WE SEE FIRSTHAND HOW ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING, AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME OPPORTUNITIES CHANGE OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHEN STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED EARLY AND CONSISTENTLY, THEY STAY ENGAGED IN SCHOOL, THEY BUILD ON THEIR STRENGTHS, AND THEY BEGIN TO ENVISION A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES COLLEGE, CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT, MILITARY SERVICE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND MEANINGFUL CAREERS. THESE OUTCOMES BENEFIT NOT ONLY INDIVIDUAL YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT BEXAR COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, BEXAR COUNTY CAN BE A PLACE WHERE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LEAVE TO GO FIND, BUT WHERE A YOUNG PERSON WHO GROWS UP HERE CAN STAY HERE AND THRIVE HERE, AND WHERE THE PATH FROM EDUCATION TO A MEANINGFUL AND WELL-PAYING CAREER IS VISIBLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND SUPPORTED AT EVERY STEP.

ON BEHALF OF OUR OVER 100 FUTURE READY PARTNERS, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE INVESTMENTS REFLECTED IN THIS BUDGET SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT HELP STRENGTHEN THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY AND THAT WE ARE COLLECTIVELY WORKING TO MAKE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION A REAL AND ACCESSIBLE OPTION FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO GRADUATES FROM A BEXAR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE OR THEIR INCOME OR THEIR BACKGROUND. ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY, THIS MEANS ENSURING YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES HAVE A VOICE IN SHAPING THE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES, CREATING TUITION-FREE PATHWAYS TO COLLEGE, AND PLACING TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS DIRECTLY IN SCHOOLS TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH ACADEMICS, MENTAL HEALTH, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND HELPING STUDENTS BEGIN EXPLORING COLLEGE AND CAREER OPTIONS EARLY. JUST AS IMPORTANT, THESE INVESTMENTS HELP ADDRESS CHALLENGES EARLIER BEFORE THEY BECOME CRISES THAT REQUIRE MORE INTENSIVE AND COSTLY INTERVENTIONS.

BY SURROUNDING YOUNG PEOPLE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

WRAP IT UP, DR. JONES, PLEASE.

AS FUNDING, AS ARPA FUNDING COMES TO AN END, WE WANT TO ASK THAT OUR, THAT OUR BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUTH ARE FUTURE READY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU DID YOU SIGN UP? YOUR NAME? WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? ALMA DOMINGUEZ.

OKAY, MS. DOMINGUEZ, GO AHEAD.

YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ALMA DOMINGUEZ AND I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2. I'M HERE TODAY AS A FORMER PARTICIPANT OF SAN ANTONIO NONPROFIT PROGRAMS, AND NOW I AM A STUDENT AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDYING SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY. THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, I RELIED ON THE NETWORK AND THE MENTORSHIP, AFTER-SCHOOL AND NONPROFIT PROGRAMS SAN ANTONIO PROVIDED.

THIS WAS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUTH-SERVING NONPROFITS AND CITY AND COUNTY INVESTMENTS. AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE ADVICE ON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, PAID EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES AND A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM IN THESE PROGRAMS. THESE YOUTH-ORIENTED PROGRAMS PROVIDED MANY FIRST-GENERATION

[03:10:01]

LOW-INCOME STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF A PLATFORM TO BE SEEN AND HEARD IN PLACES THEY WOULD TYPICALLY BE OVERLOOKED. AS THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS, I RECOGNIZED THE SACRIFICE MY PARENTS MADE AND KNEW I HAD TO MAXIMIZE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN TO ME. SEEKING TO ATTEND AN OUT-OF-STATE UNIVERSITY.

HOWEVER, HAVING HIGH EXPECTATIONS ALSO, COMES WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF STRESS. THESE YOUTH-DESIGNATED PROGRAMS TAUGHT ME HOW TO MITIGATE STRESS AND PROVIDED GUIDANCE THAT FOLLOWED ME AND MADE ME THE MOST RESILIENT VERSION OF MYSELF AT PENN STATE.

WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'D BE TODAY.

BERWICK COUNTY IS HOME TO A HUGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE. MORE THAN 1 IN 3 RESIDENTS HERE IS UNDER THE AGE OF 25. MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY ARE STILL RISING. AND ACCESS TO CONSISTENT SUPPORT, WHETHER THROUGH A COUNSELOR, A MENTOR, OR AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, CHANGES OUTCOMES. IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STUDENT DISENGAGING AND A STUDENT STAYING IN SCHOOL, BUILDING ON THEIR STRENGTHS, AND STAYING TO SEE A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES COLLEGE, A CREDENTIAL, MILITARY SERVICE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OR A MEANINGFUL CAREER. NOT ONLY DO THESE PROGRAMS GIVE STUDENTS THE FOUNDATION NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN ADULTHOOD, THEY ALSO, PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS THAT MANY CARRY OVER TO THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIVES WITH THEIR RESOURCES. I KNOW THE COURT IS FACING A DIFFICULT BUDGET SEASON, AND I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO IGNORE THAT. WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT ARPA FUNDING COMING TO AN END, THAT THE COURT CAN CONTINUE INVESTING IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

AND IN THE NONPROFIT AND YOUTH-SERVING SECTOR MORE BROADLY AS A PART OF THE FISCAL 2027 BUDGET. I ALSO, WANT TO MENTION THAT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH BUDGET SHORTFALLS ON THEIR OWN END. THEY CAN'T SIMPLY ABSORB THESE COSTS ON THEIR OWN. SO, COUNTY INVESTMENT MATTERS HERE TOO.

THIS ISN'T JUST AN EXPENSE.

IT'S A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE PEOPLE AND THE SYSTEMS THAT HELP BEXAR COUNTY THRIVE.

PREVENTION COSTS FAR LESS THAN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT SUPPORT DISAPPEARS. I'M ASKING THE COURT TO FIND A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO KEEP THIS WORK GOING SO, YOUNG PEOPLE COMING UP BEHIND ME HAVE THE SAME SUPPORT THAT HELPED ME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT, SUSAN BAIN, YOU SIGNED UP FOR 5C. 3 MINUTES.

JUDGE SAKAI, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, SUSIE.

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. SO, I'M TALKING ABOUT A BUDGET SHORTFALL OF $145 MILLION, AND REALLY IMPRESSED WITH A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION HERE THIS MORNING, BUT STILL CONCERNED, LIKE, HOW WILL YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES? AND THAT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING.

YOUR CITIZENS ARE LOOKING. AND THE REASON I'M HERE IS TO MAKE SOME GENERAL COMMENTS.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE TERM HELICOPTER PARENT? WELL, IT'S A PARENT THAT HOVERS, HOVERS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILD SUCCEEDS. WELL, LAST NIGHT I REALIZED I FEEL LIKE A HELICOPTER CITIZEN, ONE OF MANY. WE ARE WATCHING, AND IT IS NOT A GOOD FEELING.

WE WANT WE FEEL WE NEED TO HOVER OVER YOU TO IMPACT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO HANDLE THE CRISIS WE'RE FEELING IN THE VERY BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW, IN TOUGH TIMES, AND WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THAT, YOU WERE ELECTED TO PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES FOR THIS.

COUNTY.

YOU WERE ELECTED TO ADDRESS THE ITEMS THAT ARE YOUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY.

MM-HMM.

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED YOU TO ADDRESS AND FOCUS ON FIRST, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A BUDGET SHORTFALL. SO, I, I'M ASKING YOU, WE NEED TO COUNT ON YOU TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN TOUGH TIMES. GOVERNING IN CRISIS IS A CHALLENGE AND IT REQUIRES COURAGE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT THERE'S TEMPTATIONS ALWAYS, AND THAT TEMPTATION IS THAT FIRST SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE TO DEMAND MORE REVENUE INCREASES.

I'M PRAYING YOU DO NOT SUCCUMB TO THAT TEMPTATION. SO, I JUST CLOSE WITH 2 QUESTIONS FROM YOUR HELICOPTER CITIZEN.

ONE, CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO WORK TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET? AND 2, WILL MY COMMENTS MAKE ANY IMPACT ON YOU AT ALL? THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

[03:15:07]

THANK YOU, SUSAN. ALL RIGHT.

COURT, I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO TRY TO MOVE SOME OF THE CITIZENS. WE HAVE PLENTY MORE, BUT FOR THOSE THAT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS BE HEARD, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET 5C, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET YOU DO SO, AT THIS TIME. SO, LATONYA BURTON AND PAULA FLOYD, ELIZABETH GARCIA GOMEZ FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, ARE Y'ALL STILL HERE? ARE Y'ALL TALKING ON THE BUDGET? IF YOU DO, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS LATER ON.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ON BUDGET, I WILL LET YOU TALK NOW. DO YOU WISH TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET? NO? ALL RIGHT. I WILL CALL YOU BACK LATER. HOW ABOUT GREG CHAPMAN? ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET? IF YOU'RE HERE ABOUT THE BUDGET, COME ON UP. AND THEN I SEE A GROUP THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY SENIORS. I THINK LINDA SIGUAJARDO, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, I WILL LET YOU DO SO. I THINK YOU BROUGHT A GROUP HERE, SO, I'LL TALK TO YOU. BUT WHAT ABOUT GREG CHAPPIN? HE'S IN THE ARE YOU GOING TO WANT TO WAIT? YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT? LOOK, I KNOW I WANT TO WAIT.

OKAY, I'LL COME BACK TO YOU LATER. ALL RIGHT, LINDA SUGO-GUARJARDO, YOU HAVE SIGNED UP. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE MARY WHITE, OLGA ENRIQUEZ, YOU HAVE PATRICIA GARCIA, YOU HAVE REBECCA MENDEZ. AND YOU HAVE YOLANDA DRESH, I BELIEVE, HAVE YIELDED THEIR TIME. SO, LINDA SUE, WHERE ARE YOU? THERE YOU ARE. SORRY, SORRY, SORRY.

I DOUBT IF I'M GOING TO NEED ALL THAT TIME, JUDGE, BUT YES, I HAVE BROUGHT A GROUP WITH ME.

SO, I'LL LET KATE FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TIME THAT IS, AND YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MS. LINDA SUE.

THANK YOU, SIR. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, BACK IN MAY, I ASKED I ASKED YOU TO PUT A BOOKMARK, AND THAT WE WOULD BE BACK. I ASK YOU TODAY TO PLEASE TURN TO THAT PAGE.

TODAY, I STAND BEFORE YOU, REPRESENTING 3,200 PEOPLE, 03,200 PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING THE COURT, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IN DOING MY RESEARCH THAT IT'S ONLY THIS BODY THAT CAN GIVE US THAT COMA. BUT EARLIER, AS I WAS LISTENING, JUDGE SAKAI SAID THE MAGIC WORDS, AND HE SAID QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE SENIORS ARE ASKING, AND ACTUALLY NOT ONLY THE SENIORS, ALL OF YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES.

WE'RE ASKING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND THAT QUALITY OF LIFE HAS DIMINISHED BECAUSE OF THIS INFLATION. AND I READ SOMETHING ONLINE YESTERDAY THAT SAID THAT IN 2020, A COUPLE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE OR A COUPLE WENT TO A STORE IN SAN ANTONIO AND BOUGHT 28 ITEMS. THEIR TOTAL TAB WAS $64.50. 5 YEARS LATER, SAME STORE, 28 ITEMS WAS $158.30. THAT'S A TOTAL OF $93.80 MORE. 145% INCREASE IN 5 YEARS. JUST RECENTLY, MY SON-IN-LAW WENT AND BOUGHT SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ONE CHILD. HIS TAB WAS OVER $200. NOW, MY SON-IN-LAW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WORKS FOR THE DA'S OFFICE, AND WE'RE BLESSED. AND KATIE IS A SOLE ATTORNEY PRACTITIONER.

WE'RE VERY BLESSED.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RETIREES WHO ARE HELPING TO RAISE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN, WHO HAVE NO OTHER SUPPORT OTHER THAN PERHAPS SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE PENSION FROM THE COUNTY. HOW CAN THESE GRANDPARENTS AFFORD $200? NOW, IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, WE HAVE 4 I HAVE 4 GRANDCHILDREN. SO,

[03:20:01]

JUST RIGHT THERE, $800, OVER $800. AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING SCHOOL CLOTHES, AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING FOOD AT SCHOOL. SO, IT'S IMPERATIVE IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN QUALITY OF LIFE THAT PERHAPS YOU WILL FIND IT SOMEWHERE IN THIS BUDGET TO GIVE US THAT COLA ADJUSTMENT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SOCIAL SECURITY GAVE US AT 2.8%.

PERHAPS YOU CAN MATCH THAT. A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ALLOWS THE COURT TO INCREASE OUR BENEFIT PAYMENTS, TO RESTORE PURCHASING POWER LOST DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION. AND THIS IS WHY I SAY THAT ONLY THIS COURT CAN GRANT THE SENIORS THAT HELP THAT WILL HELP GET US THROUGH.

AND IF I MAY ADD, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET, THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN FIX IN THIS COUNTY BUDGET. I BELIEVE THAT ONCE UPON A TIME, THE HONORABLE NELSON WOLFE PUT A FREEZE ON OVERTIME PAY.

PERHAPS YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK TO SEE EXACTLY, DO YOU REALLY NEED ALL THAT OVERTIME PAID TO THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES. AND IF I MAY ADD ONE SIDE NOTE, WHEN THE PED BUILDING WAS BUILT AND WE MOVED OVER TO THE PED BUILDING, THERE WAS A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL. AND I'M JUST GOING TO THROW STONES BECAUSE I CAN. I WORKED 2 JOBS WITH ONLY BEING PAID FOR ONE JOB, AND SOMETIMES I WOULD STAY UNTIL 8 PM JUST SO, THAT I COULD FINISH ALL MY DUTIES. I KNOW THAT NOT EVERY EMPLOYEE WILL DO THAT, BUT THERE ARE WAYS THAT THIS BUDGET CAN BE TRIMMED AND TO GIVE CURRENT AND RETIREES THE HELP THAT THEY NEED DURING THIS TIME. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL HEALTH PLAN THAT WE HAVE. AT 77 YEARS AROUND THE SUN NOW, I'M FINALLY BEGINNING TO NEED THAT MEDICAL CARE, AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW GREAT OUR HEALTH INSURANCE IS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PENSION. I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTY. SO, WE ARE THANKFUL WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US, BUT WE ALSO, WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE INFLATION AND THE FACT THAT RETIREES AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES ALSO, NEED COST OF LIVING INCREASE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, LINDA SUE. JAMES STEWART, DID YOU WANT TO TALK ON THE BUDGET? COME ON UP.

YES, I'M JAMES R. STEWART.

I'M ON CHURCH AND POLITICS. I'M A TREASURER THERE.

AND I WISH TO BE SPEAKING GENERALLY ON THE BUDGET. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I ONCE ASKED MY BROTHER, HE'S AN ACCOUNTANT, WHAT THE DEFINITION OF ECONOMICS IS, AND I REALLY GOT A GOOD ANSWER.

HE SAID ECONOMICS IS THE ALLOCATION OF SCARCE RESOURCES. AND PERHAPS WE SHOULD DEFINE THIS.

SCARCE RESOURCES, THAT MEANS THERE'S ONLY SO, MUCH TIME, EFFORT, AND MONEY.

ALL 3 OF THOSE, THERE'S ONLY SO, MUCH.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT.

SO, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, ALLOCATION? ALLOCATION. IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE, PRIORITIZE WHICH ONE OF THE WHICH THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO THAT ARE IMPORTANT ENOUGH AND YOU HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO DO. THE REST OF THE STUFF IS EITHER GOING TO GET LEFT BEHIND OR MAYBE HAVE TO BE DONE LATER. THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ECONOMICS. IT'S ELEGANT. IT'S SUFFICIENT AND NECESSARY IN MATHEMATICAL TERMS. THAT'S WHAT IS NECESSARY.

THAT'S WHAT'S SUFFICIENT.

THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

SO, ANYWAY, IF WE TAKE AN EXAMPLE HERE, BACK IN MY DAY, WHEN I WAS A KID, IF YOU HAD A DOLLAR IN THE BANK, HOW MUCH CAN YOU SPEND? WELL, THE ANSWER MIGHT SEEM SIMPLE, BUT IT'S NOT SO, SIMPLE, IS IT? WHAT IF JOSEPH HAD A DOLLAR AND, YOU KNOW, IS THAT HOW MUCH CAN HE SPEND? WELL, HE MIGHT MAYBE WANT MAYBE HE COULD BORROW SOME MONEY ON CREDIT THAT WOULD MAGICALLY MULTIPLY THAT OR SOMETHING.

WELL, WHO'S GOING TO GIVE HIM THAT? MAYBE A FAMILY MEMBER WOULD OR

[03:25:01]

A RELATIVE, OR WHAT ABOUT A BANK? WELL, THAT SOUNDS EASY ENOUGH, BUT UNLESS HE'S A REAL GOOD TALKER, YOU KNOW, REALLY SMOOTH, YOU KNOW, AND THEY JUST OUTRIGHT GIVE HIM THAT MONEY, HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT'S THE CATCH? WELL, THERE IS A CATCH, ISN'T THERE? ALL THROUGH HISTORY, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WRITING, STUDYING ECONOMICS.

THERE'S TEXTBOOKS ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE PRETTY GOOD AT IT, AND THERE'S SOME THAT AREN'T SO, GOOD AT IT. AND IT TURNS, IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE'S REALLY KIND OF 2 WAYS THAT GOES. PEOPLE SPEND TIME IT MUST BE REALLY ENTERTAINING AND CHALLENGING AND INTERESTING AND ELUSIVE, JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO TRY TO DEFINE ECONOMICS AND STUDY IT AND RECOMMEND RECOMMENDATIONS, BECAUSE THEY REALLY GO AT IT PRETTY HARD.

BUT THERE'S ONLY A FEW THAT REALLY DO WELL AT IT.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER CATEGORY TOO. THERE'S THOSE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ECONOMICS. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET INTO TODAY.

THEY DON'T LIKE THIS DEFINITION THAT ECONOMICS IS THE ALLOCATION OF SCARCE RESOURCES.

THEY GO BEYOND THAT. THEY LEND YOU MONEY AT RATES AND THIS AND THAT AND YOU'RE PAYING INTEREST AND ALL THIS STUFF. WELL, THIS COMES DOWN TO WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.

RIGHT NOW, THIS BARROW COUNTY, ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, OWES $2.4 BILLION, WITH A B, BILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S ABOUT $1,651 PER RESIDENT.

THEORETICALLY, I OWE THAT BECAUSE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY THAT? HOW'S THE COUNTY GOING TO PAY THAT? THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO THE TAXPAYER.

THAT'S WHO'S GOING TO PAY THAT. OKAY, SO, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

SO, YOU WANT TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES TO MEET THIS DEBT.

YOU WANT TO RAISE THE SALARIES OF THIS BOARD EVEN MORE THAN YOU RAISE A HIGHER RATE THAN YOU RAISE THE PROPERTY TAXES.

AND THERE'S NO DISCERNIBLE PLAN THAT I KNOW OF FOR THIS BOARD TO GET THIS SPENDING UNDER CONTROL. I DO NOT SEE IT, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT FOR SOME YEARS NOW.

AND HERE'S FROM PROVERBS 22:07, WHICH STATES THIS. THAT'S THE BIBLE. TIME HAS EXPIRED.

WRAP IT UP. YEAH.

THE RICH RULES OVER THE POOR, AND THE BORROWER IS THE SLAVE OF THE LENDER. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE POWER IMBALANCE CREATED BY DEBT.

THE BIBLE WARNS AGAINST THE PITFALLS OF FINANCIAL DEBT, SUGGESTING THAT IT CAN LEAD TO EXPLOITATION, AND LOSS OF FREEDOM, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT. YOU CANNOT REPEAL THE DEFINITION OF ECONOMICS, AND YOU CANNOT REPEAL THE BIBLE. THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, STUART.

ALL RIGHT, DIRECTOR, YOU SAID ALSO, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE COURT. CONSTABLE TED, ARE YOU STILL HERE? DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO INSIST ON THREE MINUTES, CONSTABLES.

I'LL BE BRIEF, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN JOE LOPEZ, AND MY LIEUTENANT ARAGON. THEY HAVE 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, AND OF COURSE THEY LOST 8 YEARS WHEN THE ABOLITION OF PRECINCT FIVE. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE COLLECTION OF FEES ON WARRANTS BECAUSE IT'S ON THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE SIDE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE, BUT THESE TWO OFFICERS HAVE BEEN MAXED OUT AT THE CATEGORY THAT THEY'RE IN.

AND ALL I'M ASKING IS TO MOVE THEM TO ANOTHER PAY SCALE. AND I HAVE A VACANCY RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE NOT FILLED IT, SO, THERE'S MONIES THERE. I HAVE LIKE $5,000 AVAILABLE. I GAVE, OR I SENT YOU, 2 OPTIONS. ONE WAS OPTION A, IT WAS GOING TO COST $1,800.20 SO, THAT WOULD ACCUMULATE TO $11,000 A YEAR. OPTION B WOULD COST ONLY $3,180. I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE THESE OFFICERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE UP IN PAY. RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE BEEN STAGNANT AT THAT PAY PROBABLY FOR AROUND MAYBE 5 YEARS OR SO. I'M SORRY, SO, ALL I'M ASKING IS TO MOVE THEM UP INTO A DIFFERENT BRACKET. AND IT'S NOT WE HAVE THE MONIES IN OUR BUDGET. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS HOPEFULLY TRYING TO DO IT BEFORE THE BUDGET LIKE THAT. IT DOESN'T AFFECT ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET THAT COMES INTO OCTOBER. THANK YOU.

BUT THEY'RE THEY'VE BEEN WITH ME SINCE 1993, AND THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. THEY CAME BACK AFTER THE ABOLITION. I HIRED

[03:30:02]

THEM BACK. SO, I THINK THEY'RE WELL DESERVING, AND THEY PERFORM VERY WELL.

SO, THEY HAVE SPECIAL DUTIES THAT THEY DO.

BUT I JUST I'M PLEADING TO THE COURT. FOR THAT. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY CHANGES OR EXTRA DEPUTIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT PLEASE CONSIDER. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. IF I COULD JUST SAY QUICKLY, THANK YOU, CONSTABLE, FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW FRANKIE IS TRYING TO WORK TO SEE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ALL RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND CONSTABLE VOVODICH ARE YOU STILL HERE? YOU ASKED I WILL ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK AND CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. WELL, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR YOUR AGENDA ITEM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT.

IF YOU WANT CITIZENS TO BE HEARD IN ORDER FOR ME TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR SCHEDULE, YOU'VE GOT YOUR 3 MINUTES.

ACTUALLY, SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT YOUR CAPTAIN GUM, SO, YOU GOT 6 MINUTES IF YOU WISH, OR YOU CAN WAIT TILL THE AGENDA ITEMS CALLED.

NO, I'M GIVING HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN ORDER I WILL ACCOMMODATE.

HE'S ASKED FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR HIS SCHEDULE. I WILL ALLOW HIM TO DO SO. I KNOW, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM 62. I AM NOT CALLING THAT. I AM GOING TO ALLOW YOU 6 MINUTES. I PRESUME GUMPF IS YIELDING HIS TIME TO YOU.

YES, SIR.

PROCEED. YOU GOT 6 MINUTES.

HE'S GOT HIS, HE'S GOT HIS 6 MINUTES.

JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND SPENDING THIS WITH US, GIVING US TIME IN A TOUGH TIME FOR A BUDGET.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT, OF COURSE, IS WE HAVE SOME SALARIES WE HAVE A REQUEST IN FOR IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET FOR SALARY SAVINGS THAT WE HAD TO PURCHASE 2 MOTORCYCLES. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH IS THE FACT THAT WE NEED THE PROPER TOOLS, OR WE NEED BETTER TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS. THESE MOTORCYCLES FIT THAT CATEGORY.

WE HAVE 3 POSSIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR IT THAT DO NOT DETRACT FROM OTHER AREAS. ONE IS THE SAVED SALARY IN PRECINCT 3, WHICH IS THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

THE SECOND SOURCE WAS ON AS A RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR BUDGET ANALYSTS THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY USE FLEET SERVICES FUNDS, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE A THIRD OPTION, CORRECT? YES, COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS OFFERED WHAT TO REFUND FROM PRECINCT THREE.

OKAY, HE'LL THEN. SO, WE HAVE THREE AREAS THAT WE CAN GET THAT FUNCTION IN THERE FOR THAT. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR CURRENT ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THESE MOTORCYCLES. THESE ARE FOUR AREAS THAT INCLUDE 116 SCHOOLS, BOTH. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WITHIN PRECINCT 3 THAT WE CANNOT SERVICE PROPERLY AS FAR AS GETTING INTO THE AREAS AND SLOWING DOWN SPEEDERS, WHEREAS MOTORCYCLES CAN DO THAT VERY EASILY. WE'VE HAD MOTORCYCLES IN THE PAST. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OPERATES THEM CURRENTLY.

WE HAVE NO REAL ISSUES WITH THE FUNDING FOR IT. WE HAVE NO ISSUES ON THE TRAINING. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DONE AND DONE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE PAST. AS WE GET INTO THESE AREAS, THIS OFFSETS THE COST OF TAXPAYERS. THE CHART THAT YOU'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY, WHICH COVERS FROM 2014 TO THE PRESENT, BASICALLY INDICATES THAT WHEN CONSTABLE PRECINCT 3 DIRECTS THE ACTIONS OF PRECINCT 3, WE COST TAXPAYERS LESS MONEY. IN 2014, 1% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGETS CAME FROM THE TAXPAYER. AS OTHER PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WITH TRYING TO MANAGE WHAT WE DO, THAT RATE INCREASED UP TO 38%. IT'S CURRENTLY AROUND 30%. OUR GOAL IS TO USE THE LEGISLATIVELY PROVIDED TOOLS, WHICH ARE 2. ONE, USER FEES FOR PEOPLE WHO USE US FOR THE CIVIL PROCESS AND COURT ORDERS TO OFFSET THAT TAXPAYER FUNDING. THE SECOND ONE IS FINE MONEY THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PROVIDED TO PUNISH PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLATING TRAFFIC LAWS.

THAT'S BASICALLY ABOUT 1 PERSON OUT OF EVERY 15 GETS A TICKET.

BUT IF YOU'VE DRIVEN OUT IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A FEW MORE THAT NEED IT.

WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 12% OF THE POPULATION THAT COULD POSSIBLY USE A LITTLE CLOSER SUPERVISION.

WITH MOTORCYCLES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN INCREASED OVER INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY OVER THOSE IN TAHOE'S. WE DO IT WITH LESS INTRUSION INTO THE SCHOOL ZONE. IT'S LESS OF A HAZARD FOR THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS, MY OFFICERS, AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH US.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT LOWERS THE TAXPAYER COSTS.

WE'VE ALREADY DETERMINED FROM THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS THAT THE MOTORCYCLE UNITS HAVE A 60-MONTH WARRANTY, SO, WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL COST THERE IN OPERATIONS. AND IN OVER A 5-YEAR TIME PERIOD,

[03:35:01]

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $1.1 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT'S COMING IN FROM ONE OF THE 2 LEGISLATIVELY AUTHORIZED SOURCES TO OFFSET THE TAXPAYER COSTS OF COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY THAT WE GET TO THAT POINT WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THESE MOTORCYCLES IN. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF. WE WILL BE ABLE TO COVER THIS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN PUSHING IS WE WANT TO BE. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT WE'RE ALWAYS ADVERSARIAL. THEY HEAR US UP HERE ALL THE TIME. WE GET ALONG WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND WE ARE FULL PARTICIPANTS IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS ARE PUBLICLY REPRESENTED, BOTH IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT REALM AND SAVING THEIR MONEY AND TAX DOLLARS.

BUT WHEN WE COME TO ISSUES LIKE THIS, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE TRUST OF THE COURT TO LET US MANAGE WHAT GOES ON IN PRECINCT THREE. LET US FIGURE THE BEST WAYS TO DO THINGS. WHAT ARE THE BEST TOOLS AND HOW TO ACCOMMODATE IT? THAT'S WHAT I WAS ELECTED FOR. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PORTION OF IT. Y'ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GLOBAL OPERATIONS OF THE COUNTY, BUT WE SHOULD BE PARTNERS, NOT TRYING TO SECOND-GUESS EACH OTHER.

SO, AGAIN, WE ASK FOR THAT LITTLE BIT OF TRUST COMING ACROSS IN THERE. WE DEAL IN FACTS. WE DEAL IN THE SAME THING THAT YOU LOOK FOR, WHICH IS DATA, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN IMPARTIAL DECISION ON THAT, NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BASED ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE DATA OR THE IMPARTIALITY. THIS IS COMMON SENSE MOVE FOR US. IT'S A COMMON SENSE FOR THE COUNTY TO DO THIS AS WELL. EACH OF THE PRECINCTS ARE UNIQUE.

OTHER PRECINCTS, IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER THEY ARE USING MOTORCYCLES OR NOT, OR IF THEY'RE USING OTHER THINGS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR OTHER AREAS. AGAIN, THIS IS UNIQUE TO US. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE OUR OWN AFFAIRS TO THAT DEGREE, AND WE WANT TO DO THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND THE MOTORING SAFETY OF OUR KIDS. IN THOSE 116 SCHOOL ZONES, WHICH WILL KEEP US BUSY BOTH AFTERNOONS AND IN THE MORNINGS. ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CONSTANCE. ALL RIGHT,

[5.d. Immediately following Item 5c: Discussion and appropriate action regarding the second-year recommendation from the Citizens Advisory Committee on Elected Officials' Salaries and Allowances for FY 2026-27 and the Elected Official Salary Grievance process.]

LET ME GET BACK. LET'S TAKE UP 5D. 5D, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING SECOND YEAR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITIZENS' VALUES COMMITTEE ON ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES FOR FY 26-27 AND ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY GRIEVANCE PROCESS. MR. RODRIGUEZ? TINA, YOU CAN BE BRIEF ON THIS. I THINK IN LIGHT OF DISCUSSIONS WE HAD THIS MORNING, THIS SHOULD BE A PRETTY SHORT DISCUSSION. I THINK.

ALL RIGHT. YES, SO, THIS IS REQUESTING COURT'S DIRECTION ON THE SECOND-YEAR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES.

THEIR SECOND-YEAR RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO RECEIVE AN INCREASE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF CPI, WHICH AS OF AUGUST 12TH WAS 3.4%. AND SO, I'M ASKING FOR THE COURT'S DIRECTION ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO, JUDGE, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A PROCESS, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S A 2-YEAR PROCESS. THERE ARE CITIZENS THAT ARE PART OF THIS PANEL THAT MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION.

LAST YEAR THEY MADE A 2-YEAR RECOMMENDATION. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ME SPEAKING, IN LIGHT OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION, IN LIGHT OF ALL THE NEEDS, I UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF WE REJECTED A PAY INCREASE, EACH INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN STILL GRIEVE THAT AND HAVE THEIR CASE BE HEARD. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. SO, IN LIGHT OF THAT, JUDGE, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO DECLINE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR BEXAR COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR FISCAL YEAR '26-'27 AND SETTING BEXAR COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES AT THE SAME LEVEL AS FISCAL YEAR '25-'26.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

LET ME JUST, IF I COULD, HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT ABOUT JUST TABLING UNTIL THE BUDGET IS RESOLVED? WE CAN'T.

THERE'S A MOTION. WELL, IS THERE A MOTION TO TABLE? I'M NOT MAKING A MOTION.

I'M JUST TALKING.

POINT OF ORDER. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S. IS THERE A MOTION TO TABLE? YES OR NO? JUDGE, THIS IS ON DISCUSSION OF THE MOTION. I'M DISCUSSING THE MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU.

YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, WOULD THERE BE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR TABLING IT UNTIL THE BUDGET'S RESOLVED? YEAH, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME AS THE ONE THAT MADE THE MOTION, I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT THAT THAT'S THE MOTION I'D LIKE TO LAY ON THE FLOOR. AGAIN, THERE COULD BE SOMETHING THAT CHANGES DOWN THE ROAD, COMMISSIONER. I RESPECT THAT, BUT I JUST THINK IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE NEEDS I FEEL COMFORTABLE DECLINING THAT, AND LETTING THE INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS GRIEVE, IF THEY FEEL

[03:40:04]

LIKE THERE'S A DISPARITY IN THEIR PAY. BUT, THAT'S I'M COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT MOTION.

I HAVE A COMMENT, JUDGE.

TINA, LEGALLY, DON'T WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION TODAY? YES, THERE'S A STATUTORY TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. I PREPARED A CALENDAR THAT APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND SO, THE DATES THAT WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THESE ACTIONS, WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO GET THEM TODAY.

YES. SO, OBVIOUSLY, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GIVING COLAS TO OUR RETIREES AND OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, THEN THERE'S NO WAY THAT I WOULD ACCEPT A COLA.

SO, I AGREE. SO, WE SHOULD GO TO VOTE.

IS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR STILL PENDING? AND JUDGE, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS TRIGGERS THE EMPLOYEE THE ACTUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, RIGHT, FOR THE SALARY GRIEVANCE PROCESS, WHICH THEY HAVE 5 DAYS IS IT 5 DAYS TO SUBMIT THEIR GRIEVANCES IF THEY DO NOT AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION AND THE SETTING OF THE SALARIES BY THE COURT? AND THEN THAT TRIGGERS THAT PROCESS, WHICH I THINK EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY IS FAMILIAR WITH.

BUT SO, THIS IS JUST THE COURT'S DECISION, AND THEN EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL, ONCE THEY RECEIVE THEIR NOTICE, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THAT DECISION INDIVIDUALLY.

THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, CORRECT? COMMISSIONER MOODY, DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YEAH, JUST A COMMENT, JUDGE. I ECHO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, IN TERMS OF, IN THE MARINE CORPS, WE HAVE A PRINCIPLE CALLED OFFICERS EAT LAST, RIGHT, WHERE THE OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY, THERE'S NO WAY, IN MY OPINION, THAT WE COULD BE EXERCISING GOOD LEADERSHIP AND PROVIDE ANY KIND OF RAISE IF THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY. SO, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS MOTION. THESE ARE LEAN TIMES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

WE ALL PROBABLY HAVE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SUPPORT IN THE BUDGET. WHEN IT RELATES TO THIS, I THINK THIS IS A SIMPLE ANSWER FOR US TO PASS ON ANY KIND OF PAY RAISES.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT? I WILL ALSO, JOIN THE MOTION, AND I WILL PUT ON RECORD I WILL NOT GRIEVE MY SALARY.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S FOR ME ONLY. I SPEAK ONLY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE

[6. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary]

IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COURT WILL TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE

[7. Approval of Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, August 4, 2026.]

OF AGENDA ITEM 6A, FILING FOR THE RECORD THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION, AND IF NECESSARY, A THROUGH L.

APPROVAL OF COMMISSION COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2026.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE,

[8. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak.]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY OBJECTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. COMMUNICATIONS FOR CITIZENS WHO SIGNED TO REGISTER TO HEARD. NOW, THERE ARE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, BUT Y'ALL HAVE SIGNED UP SPECIFICALLY SO, THAT I THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING.

THERE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR SIXTY-ONE. ITEM 66. ITEM 65. YEP. ALL RIGHT. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD THAT LET ME COME BACK TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. GREG CHAPIN, ARE YOU HERE? GO AHEAD.

YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES. AND THEN ALSO, HAVE LATOYA BURTON, PAULA FLOYD.

THIS PERSON'S YIELDING TO THAT.

OKAY. AND ELIZABETH GARCIA-GOMEZ, YOU HAD ALSO, SIGNED UP. SO, GREG CHAPIN, WHICH ONE ARE YOU? I'M HERE WITH BRENDAN JOHNSON.

JUDGE SHIKAI, I AM GIVING MY TIME TO MR. CHAPMAN HERE.

GOT IT. THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. BRENDAN JOHNSON, YOU SIGNED UP AND YIELDING TIME.

GREG CHAPMAN, YOU MAY PROCEED.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE.

MY NAME IS GREG CHAPMAN, FELLOW CITIZEN MR. SPEAKER.

I AM HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RESOURCES PROVIDED.

RESOURCES THAT HELP CHANGE AND SAVE LIVES, GIVE HOPE, AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.

TODAYS THANK YOU AND GRATITUDE IS SHARED THROUGH A STORY WITH A REQUEST TO CONTINUE THIS EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC TREASURE. I WILL TRY AND SHARE SOME INDICATORS OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT, WHICH WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY.

IT TIES TO PEOPLE AND FACES THAT THE CHAPLAIN STARTED WITH THIS MORNING AND TALKS ABOUT LOOKING AT A PERSON, ASSESSING AND UNDERSTANDING THEM, AND PROVIDING REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FROM MS. MORALES, WHICH SHE STATED THIS MORNING WHEN SHE RECEIVED HER AWARD. OUR STORY BEGINS WITH A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WITH NUMEROUS TALENTS, SKILL, AND INTELLECT. AN HONOR STUDENT, ACCOMPLISHED SOCCER AND BASEBALL PLAYER, AND GIFTED

[03:45:02]

COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN.

AFTER RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS FROM MULTIPLE UNIVERSITIES, AN UNEXPECTED ILLNESS THREW A SUCKER PUNCH AND UPENDED THE STUDENT'S LIFE AND HIS FAMILY'S LIFE. THE DIAGNOSIS MIGHT BE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, DIABETES, STROKE WITH PARALYSIS, OR LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, ALS, THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE. THESE DIAGNOSES ARE DEVASTATING ILLNESSES WITH DEBILITATING FLARE-UPS.

THE STUDENT'S DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN TO THE FAMILY, A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. WHAT IS AN SMI AND WHAT DOES IT BODE FOR THE FUTURE? IN THE 7 YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, THE YOUNG PERSON AND THE FAMILY CRIED, BECAME ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED, GRIEVED FOR THE LOSS OF WHAT WAS AND MIGHT BE. THE YOUNG PERSON AND FAMILY LABORED TO UNCOVER ALL STONES TO FIND A CURE.

HIGHLY UNLIKELY, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. HECK, THE DIAGNOSIS IS NOT EVEN 100% CERTAIN. THIS DID NOT DISSUADE THE YOUNG PERSON AND THE FAMILY FROM WORKING WITH THE MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITIES TO MAKE LIFE BETTER AND GIVE SOME HOPE. DURING STABLE TIMES, THE YOUNG PERSON TRIED TO HOLD JOBS AND EARN A DEGREE IN MUSIC PRODUCTION. FOR EVERY SUCCESS CAME SETBACKS DUE TO ILLNESS FLARE-UPS, JUST LIKE THE OTHER ILLNESSES LOST JOBS, MEDICAL WITHDRAWALS FROM THE DEGREE PROGRAM. AS TIME PASSED, THE ILLNESS SEEMED TO OVERCOME THE SPIRIT OF THE YOUNG PERSON, LEADING TO A HOPELESS, WHAT IS THE POINT? ONE OF THE ILLNESS SYMPTOMS MADE THE YOUNG PERSON BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD NO ILLNESS, HAD NO ILLNESS, LEADING TO NOT TAKING THEIR MEDICATIONS AND BEING IN THE REVOLVING DOOR OF BEING HOMELESS, EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, AND INPATIENT HOSPITAL STAYS. THE YOUNG PERSON COULD BE ANY OF THE LOVED ONES THAT FAMILY MEMBERS AND CARETAKERS SHARE IN NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUPS, SHARE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, MEDICAL STAFF, OR CASEWORKERS. HOW DO PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS FIND HOPE, CHANGE, SAVE THEIR LIVES, AND THRIVE, MAKING THE COMMUNITY SAFER? LET'S GO BACK TO THE STORY. A DEJECTED FAMILY MEMBER POPPED INTO A COURTROOM WITH PROCEEDINGS GOING ON.

A CURE.

MM-HMM.

EMBARRASSED, THE FAMILY MEMBER SAID, EXCUSE ME, YOUR HONOR.

THE JUDGE ASKED NOTICED THE PERSON AND SAID, WHAT DO YOU NEED? I'M SORRY, YOUR HONOR, WE JUST SUBMITTED A MENTAL HEALTH WARRANT TO HELP OUR ADULT CHILD. THE JUDGE ASKED THE FAMILY TO WAIT AND SHARED THE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM WITH THEM. THE BLACK ROBE EFFECT, BEING ANSWERABLE TO AN OFFICIAL, WORKED. THE YOUNG PERSON COMPLIED WITH THE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND MADE MANDATORY MEETINGS. THE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM GAVE THE YOUNG PERSON AND FAMILY HOPE, CHANGED LIVES, AND POSSIBLY SAVED A LIFE, AND MADE THE COMMUNITY SAFER.

YES, SETBACKS OCCURRED, BUT THIS TIME, INSTEAD OF HAVING A REVOLVING DOOR, OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND THE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM WALKED ALONGSIDE THE YOUNG PERSON.

WHO CONTINUES TO STABILIZE, IS OVER 2 YEARS NOT BEING HOMELESS, WITH MANY LESS AND FEWER DETENTIONS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS. SO, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR INVESTING RESOURCES IN THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES PROGRAMS LIKE THE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM. AND THE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ECOSYSTEMS THAT SAVE LIVES. I SAW CORAZON AND CAM AND SOME OTHER THINGS ON THERE AS WELL. ON APRIL 2022, I LEARNED, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS CONTRACT WAS NOT RENEWED. SO, THE CHALLENGE PART IS, ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES ARE STRUGGLING WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS, PLEASE RECONSIDER THE CURRENT DECISION TO FUND THE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM, AS IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I READ A BOOK A FEW YEARS BACK AND IT SAID START WITH WHY. I DECIDED TO END MY WHY WITH WHAT MY WHY IS. MY WHY IS THE YOUNG STUDENT. HE'S, MY SON.

BRANDON? THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAPIN. ALL RIGHT, DID LATONYA BURTON, PAULA FLOYD, ELIZABETH GARCIA-GOMEZ, ARE YOU STILL HERE? ARE Y'ALL HERE? OKAY. DO Y'ALL WISH TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK? AND DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY? ARE Y'ALL YIELDING TIME INDIVIDUALLY? WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? THEN SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL ARE FROM OUR DEPARTMENT. Y'ALL ARE EMPLOYEES. SO, LATONYA, LATONYA, LATONYA, LATONYA, EXCUSE ME. NO, NO, GO AHEAD, LATONYA. 3 MINUTES.

SO, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU

[03:50:01]

FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'M GOING TO START OFF, UM, WITH THE SCRIPTURE. GALATIANS 06:9 SAYS, LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.

AND SO, WHAT THAT SIMPLY MEANS IS DO, DO NOT STOP DOING YOUR GOOD WORK. I DO GOOD WORK. I THINK MY TEAM DOES GOOD WORK AND VOTER REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, IF WE GIVE THAT A DEEPER DIVE, TO DO GOOD WORK, IT ALSO, MEANS THAT IT'S OKAY AND IT'S NORMAL TO BE TIRED.

AND WE, WE ARE TIRED. NOT OF DOING THE GOOD WORK, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND OVERWORKED.

AS A MANAGER COORDINATOR, I MEAN, AS AN EXEMPT EMPLOYEE, JUST FROM JANUARY UNTIL NOW, I HAVE WORKED 300 OVERTIME HOURS WITH NO COMPENSATION. I'M NOT AGAIN, I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I LOVE MY WORK AND MY JOB IS TO MAINTAIN THE VOTER ROLL OF BEXAR COUNTY. BUT THAT IS MORE THAN JUST ENTERING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS.

THAT IS CLEANING UP THE ROLL.

THAT IS HELPING AS SUPPORT ON ELECTION DAY. WE I HAVE A STAFF OF 4 PEOPLE, SO, IT'S 5 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

IN MY DEPARTMENT. IT'S MYSELF, A SENIOR PROCESSOR, AND 3 VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESSORS. AND THAT STAFF IS CHARGED WITH MAINTAINING 1.3 MILLION RECORDS. AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST DATA ENTRY. WE HAVE TO BE EFFICIENT IN THE ELECTION CODE. WE HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT CANDIDATE FINANCES AND CANDIDATE REPORTING. WE HAVE TO KNOW THE LAW. WE HAVE TO OUR JOB INCLUDES VOTER OUTREACH.

WHICH WE CAN'T DO WITH JUST 5 PEOPLE AND 1.3 MILLION VOTERS.

VOTER OUTREACH, VOTER EDUCATION, WE ARE TASKED WITH THE VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTER COURSES AND CLASSES, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GO OUT LIKE WE USUALLY DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE IN BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK ELECTIONS.

TO KEEP OUR OFFICIAL LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS, TO KEEP THAT DATABASE CLEAN, IT REQUIRES WORK. YES, WE HAVE TEMPORARY WORKERS, AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THOSE TEMPORARY WORKERS, BUT THE TIME AND THE MONEY THAT IT TAKES TO TRAIN THOSE TEMPORARY AND AGAIN, IT'S TEMPORARY WORKERS THAT'S PULLING MY STAFF AWAY FROM DOING THEIR DAILY DUTIES.

SO, I'M JUST HERE IMPLORING AND ENCOURAGING US TO CONSIDER, CONSIDER MY ASK. I, UM, I DON'T WANT TO QUIT MY GOOD WORK. MY STAFF DOES NOT WANT TO QUIT OUR GOOD WORK.

BUT WE NEED HELP. I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE MORE THAN A LINE ITEM IN A SPREADSHEET. WE'RE HUMAN.

WE ARE PEOPLE. AND HERE I AM IN MY HUMAN FORM SAYING I'M TIRED, BUT I WANT TO CONTINUE. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE MY JOB AND TO DO THAT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. I REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE SO, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ASSIST THE VOTERS IN BEXAR COUNTY. COUNTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, LATONYA. PAULA FLOYD.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS. WE NEED MORE HELP. WE'RE REQUESTING FOR MORE FULL-TIME STAFF FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE, WE HAVE BEEN HIRING TEMPS THROUGH TEMP AGENCIES, AND THEY ARE MAKING MORE THAN WE ARE.

AS A SALARIED PERSON, WE DO NOT GET OR FOR VR PERSONS, WE DO NOT GET PAID OVERTIME.

WE GET COMP TIME. AND BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE COMP TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR, I WILL BE LOSING APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS OF VACATION TIME.

ALSO, WE RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE FROM MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC FOR VOTER REGISTRATION AND ALSO, DECEASED PEOPLE THAT WHO WE REMOVE FROM THE ROLLS.

AND THERE ARE MANY WEEKS THAT WE WORK MORE THAN OUR 40 HOURS, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN WHAT'S CALLED AN ELECTION MODE. WE NEED MORE HELP IN OUR DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ELIZABETH GARCIA-GOMEZ.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH GOMEZ, AND I RECENTLY BEGAN MY ROLE AS AN OFFICE ASSISTANT 2 WEEKS AGO. I PREVIOUSLY, PREVIOUSLY HELD THIS SAME POSITION IN 2021, AND I'VE NOTICED THAT THE PAY HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE THEN.

[03:55:03]

WITH THE CURRENT RATE OF INFLATION AND NO INDICATION THAT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I FEEL THAT THE COMPENSATION FOR THIS ROLE HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE COST OF LIVING, THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

COURT AND STAFF, I'M GIVING Y'ALL AN ALERT.

LARRY, I BELIEVE WE HAVE NOW FINISHED ALL THE MATTERS THAT WERE TIME CERTAIN. AND ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF. NOW, WE PROCEED TO THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT I'M ASKING THE COURT, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THAT WE GO AHEAD AND GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO, I'M SIGNALING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANYTHING.

SO, GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THE COURT AND IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THE COURT WILL EAT DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LUNCH. ALLOW STAFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO GO GET A LUNCH. NEED TO TAKE A BIT OF A BREAK

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC)]

IN ORDER BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE. IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? STAFF, LARRY. ALL RIGHT. SO, LET ME GO AHEAD AT THIS TIME. THE TIME IS NOW 12:59 P.M. THE COURT WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED. ENACT UPON, IF APPROPRIATE, AN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING A PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE MATTERS OF BOTANEGO VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, RAMIREZ VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, LAMPKIN VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. LEGAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY FOR BEXAR COUNTY AND TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. 1, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO PROPOSED PROCUREMENT OF AXON BODY-WORN CAMERA SYSTEMS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, LICENSES, SERVICES, AND COMPONENTS, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF AN APPROPRIATE PROCUREMENT METHOD.

02, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTERS OF THE HONORABLE NADINE M. NIETO, PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE 285TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, RELATOR VERSUS THOMAS GUEVARA IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER AND DAVID SMITH IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS BEXAR COUNTY BUDGET DIRECTOR/COUNTY MANAGER.

RESPONDENTS. CAUSE NUMBER 26-CI-16747, RESOURCE ALLOCATION AS IT RELATES TO THE DISTRICT COURTS AND ANY MATTERS RELATED THERETO. 3, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO STALLED NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ON THE MASTER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM FOR CRIME LAB, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO CURRENT CRIME LAB PRICING.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 5510725 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, TO DELIBERATE MATTERS RELATED TO A CONTRACT BEING NEGOTIATED, SPECIFICALLY TO DELIBERATE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO NEGOTIATION OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT PROPOSED TO BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, A TEXAS POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, THE COLISEUM ADVISORY BOARD, SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION, INC., A TEXAS NONPROFIT CORPORATION RELATED TO REDEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION OF THE FREEMAN COLISEUM GROUNDS AND FACILITIES, SO, LONG AS BEFORE CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING, THE COURT VOTES UNANIMOUSLY THAT DELIBERATING IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIRD PARTIES THIRD PERSONS. AND 2, THE ATTORNEY ADVISING THE COURT ISSUES IT ISSUES A WRITTEN DETERMINATION THAT DELIBERATION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COURT IN NEGOTIATION WITH THIRD PERSONS. 2, DELIBERATE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION OF BEXAR COUNTY ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 174 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SO, LONG AS BEFORE CONVENING THE CLOSED MEETING, THE COURT VOTES UNANIMOUSLY THAT DELIBERATION IN A MEETING WOULD HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSION COURT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIRD PERSONS. AND 2, THE ATTORNEY ADVISING THE COURT ISSUES A WRITTEN DETERMINATION THAT DELIBERATION IN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COURT IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIRD PERSONS. LARRY, DO WE NEED TO TAKE UP A MOTION IN REGARDS TO THE LAST 2 MATTERS? YES, SIR. SO, MOVED.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.

WE'LL DISCUSS THOSE MATTERS.

THE COURT IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE A BREAK, GET OUR LUNCH, AND WE WILL RESUME EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND STAFF, IF YOU'LL INDICATE WHICH STAFF NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED WITH WHATEVER, THAT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

[04:00:02]

SO, WE ARE NOW EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. OKAY, OKAY, 60. ALL RIGHT, THE TIME IS 2:06 PM. THE COURT IS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, I THINK, AT THIS TIME. I DON'T KNOW IF

[60. Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of an update to Administrative Policy 4.1 Use of County Buildings, Grounds and Facilities, to establish an operationally effective framework governing public and non-County use of Bexar County buildings, grounds, and facilities.]

WE'LL LARRY, DO WE NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION OR DO WE WANT TO GO WITH INDIVIDUAL AND WE'LL TAKE IT UP AT THE RESPECTIVE TIME? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 60, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE UPDATE TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 4.1, USE OF COUNTY BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, FACILITIES. ESTABLISH AN OPERATIONALLY EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORK GOVERNING PUBLIC AND NON-COUNTY USE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND FACILITIES. MR. DAN CURRY.

JUDGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DAN CURRY, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, FOR THE RECORD. I HAVE JUST A QUICK PRESENTATION FOR YOU HERE TODAY, AN UPDATE ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY.

AS A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, SINCE 1990, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS HAD THIS POLICY. GOVERNING THE USE OF ITS COUNTY BUILDINGS BY NON-GOVERNMENT ENTITIES OR NON-COUNTY USE OF COUNTY BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND FACILITIES. IT ENSURES THE SAFE AND CONTINUED CONDUCT OF OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BUSINESS AS WELL AS FRAMEWORKING THE ABILITY FOR OTHER ENTITIES TO RESERVE SPACES AND USE THESE PUBLIC FACILITIES. THE POLICY SECTIONS ARE LAID OUT HERE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM GO THROUGH THEM INDIVIDUALLY, JUST GIVE YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF SOME OF THE NOTABLE CHANGES. THIS ISN'T A MAJOR REVISION TO THE POLICY. THERE ARE UPDATES THAT STREAMLINE THE RESERVATION PROCESS AND OTHER POLICIES, AS WELL AS AN ADDITION OF A NON-SOLICITATION PROVISION AT THE END OF THE POLICY. SO, HERE ARE JUST A COUPLE NOTABLE UPDATES. THE USE OF FACILITIES, IT'S CLARIFICATION ON REASONABLE TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS FOR THOSE FACILITIES. WE UPDATED THE CONTACT INFORMATION ON THE RESERVATION AND PROCEDURE SECTION. WE UPDATED THE REQUIREMENTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST DAMAGE AND ABUSE, DEPOSITS AND SUCH FOR THE RESERVATIONS OF THE FACILITIES. AND THERE'S SOME LIMITATIONS. WE REAFFIRMED THE COUNTY BUSINESSES TAKE OPERATIONAL PRECEDENCE OVER ANY RESERVATION. SO, THAT MEANS THAT IF WE HAVE A COUNTY EVENT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, WE HAVE A RESERVATION FROM AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY YOUR FUNCTION TRUMPS THOSE RESERVATIONS.

WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF REQUESTS IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WITH HELPFUL AUDIOVISUAL, SOUND, MICROPHONES. SO, THIS CLARIFIES A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES OF US FROM AN EQUIPMENT AND AUDIOVISUAL STANDPOINT IN THAT EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES SECTION.

IT MAINTAINS YOUR ABILITY TO HAVE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY FOR OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS.

AGAIN, SO, THERE ARE COUNTY FUNCTIONS, THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS POLICY. IT CLARIFIES PROHIBITED CONDUCT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE CERTAIN TERMS. AND THE LAST ONE, WHICH IS THE PROVISION WE ADDED, WHICH IS THE MAIN IMPETUS FOR THIS UPDATE, IS THE NON-SOLICITATION PROVISION.

SO, I WANT TO ASK LARRY ROBERSON TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT NON-SOLICITATION PROVISION. THANK YOU, DAN.

SO, COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO ADD TO THE RECORD AND OFFER AS AN EXHIBIT APPROXIMATELY 11 INCIDENT REPORTS THAT WE'VE HAD RELATED TO SOLICITATION IN COUNTY FACILITIES, SPECIFICALLY IN THE JUSTICE CENTER COMPLEX. THIS POLICY IS REALLY DESIGNED TO REAFFIRM THAT WE ARE HERE TO CONDUCT THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS, NOT TO CONDUCT PRIVATE BUSINESS.

PEOPLE MOVE IN AND AROUND THE FIRST FLOOR AND THE HALLWAYS TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HERE TO YOU KNOW, THERE'S CRIMINAL TRIALS THAT OCCUR, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF RECORDS, AND PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. THERE'S JURIES, AS YOU SEE LINED UP OUTSIDE.

SO, IT REALLY IS NOT A PLACE TO SOLICIT FOR PRIVATE BUSINESS AND TO IMPEDE THAT FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND IMPEDE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING HERE TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT BUSINESS.

SO, JUDGE, I WANT TO I DO WANT TO OFFER THESE INCIDENT REPORTS, PROPERLY REDACTED, AND ADD THOSE TO THE RECORD. I'LL GIVE THOSE TO ELIZABETH JUST TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS NON-SOLICITATION PROVISION.

SOME OF THEM, AND I THINK INCLUDE EVEN ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULT BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SOLICITING IN THE BUILDING. YOU KNOW, NOT SAYING THAT IT HAPPENED, BUT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE THERE.

SO, IT HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE, THEY'RE ABLE TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS FREELY AND LEAVE WITHOUT ANY SORT OF ANY INCIDENT.

SO, SIR.

OKAY. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY PROHIBITED CONDUCT

[04:05:01]

ON SOLICITATION. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT TRY TO SOLICIT WEDDINGS. IS THAT A SPECIFIC PROHIBITED CONDUCT UNDER THIS NEW POLICY? WE ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY TARGETING ANYONE. WE THAT WOULD FALL IF THEY'RE SOLICITING FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS, THEN YES, THAT WOULD FALL UNDER CONDUCT THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITED. WE DIDN'T WRITE THE POLICY TO TARGET ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL.

WE WROTE IT WITHIN CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S ANYONE WHO'S SOLICITING BUSINESS. NOW, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. IT'S ONLY WITHIN DEFINED AREAS.

SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WE LIMITED IT TO THE FIRST FLOOR. THAT'S WHERE REALLY PEOPLE ARE MOVING BACK AND FORTH. WE DON'T NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO IMPEDE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET COURTROOMS, WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO JURY SERVICE. THAT'S A HIGH-TRAFFIC AREA. SO, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. THERE ARE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GO SOLICIT IF YOU WANT TO. YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE HIGH TRAFFIC IN THE CURTILAGE RIGHT THERE AROUND CLOSE TO THE COURTHOUSE DOORS. WE CAN RESTRICT THAT AREA WHERE THE JURY JURORS ARE LINED UP TRYING TO GET INTO THE BUILDING, WHERE IT IMPEDES TRAFFIC.

THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

SO, HOLD ON, LARRY, AND I APPRECIATE, BUT I'M PLAYING LAWYER WITH YOU.

IN ORDER FOR THIS RULE TO HAVE ANY SANCTION, THERE HAS TO BE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH MEANS CORRECT.

AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPENDING ON THE SANCTION BEING IMPOSED, WHICH COULD BE A WHAT'S THE CRIMINAL TRESPASS, CORRECT? COULD BE, YES.

IT COULD BE.

COULD BE.

THERE HAS TO BE SPECIFIC NOTICE.

AND THERE HAS TO BE VISIBLE NOTICE.

SO, MR. DAN CURRY, ARE YOU PREPARED TO MAKE SURE TO MAKE THIS RULE ENFORCEABLE? OTHERWISE, FOR US JUST TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD, IN MY OPINION, AS A LAWYER, FORMER JUDGE, THIS RULE WILL HAVE NO TEETH UNLESS WE ENFORCE IT. SO, HOW, MR. CURRY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THIS RULE? IT'S GOING TO APPLY TO ANY NOT ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR, BUT I HAVE POINTED OUT, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE INVOKING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, SAYING THAT'S THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. SO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT, MR. CURRY, OR MR. ROBERSON? WELL, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL SPEECH HAS LIMITED FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS.

I KNOW THE RULES, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE IT? THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION, JUDGE. SO, THERE HAS TO BE I THINK GENERALLY POSTING NOTICE IS GOOD. I ALSO, WANT TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE SECURITY STAFF AND THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES WHEN WE HAVE AN INSTANCE OF SOMEONE THAT IS SOLICITING.

IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY ARRESTABLE, AS YOU KNOW. IT'S NOT ONLY THAT WE GIVE THEM NOTICE, BUT ALSO, THAT THEY HAVE NOTICE THAT THAT CONDUCT IS PROHIBITED IN THE FACILITY, AND THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. IF THEY RETURN AND DO IT AGAIN, THAT'S WHEN THE CRIMINAL TRESPASS MAY COME INTO PLAY. SO, THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THAT.

AND SO, NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED.

SO, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A WRITTEN POLICY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE, AND TRAINING, SO, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DON'T ARBITRARILY ENFORCE RULES? THAT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT AND THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT. BUT WE HAVE THE FACILITIES POLICY. THAT'S THAT'S THE BEXAR COUNTY SIDE.

NOW WE NEED TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THOSE INSTANCES WHERE SOMEONE IS CLEARLY SOLICITING, WHERE WE KNOW THAT, WE HAVE A CONVERSATION.

SO, WHO'S GOING TO DO IT? WELL, THAT'S COURTHOUSE SECURITY.

NO, DON'T THROW IT AT THEM.

SO, I HAVE A, LIKE, A SPECIFIC QUESTION. SO, WHOEVER IS THE PERSON WHO SAYS, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT OUR NEW POLICY? YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE. THAT'S A WARNING. BUT HOW DO LIKE, IF SOMEONE ELSE SEES THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE ENTRANCE AND THEY'RE STILL DOING THAT, LIKE, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO KNOW? HOW ARE WE GOING TO KNOW IF THEY ALREADY HAD A WARNING AND SO, NOW IT'S TRESPASSING BECAUSE IT'S THEIR SECOND? WELL, THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY LET COURTHOUSE SECURITY DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES, BECAUSE THEY CAN KEEP A RECORD OF THAT. ALSO, I THINK THEY GIVE THEM I THINK INITIALLY IT'S MORE OF AN EDUCATION AND LETTING EVERYONE KNOW HEY, WE HAVE THIS NEW POLICY.

SO, IT'S COURTHOUSE SECURITY TO SHERIFF? YES. ALL RIGHT, THAT FALLS ON THE SHERIFF, DON'T IT? DAN, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF TO MAKE SURE HE KNOWS THIS, OR MAYBE HE'S LISTENING.

MOTION? SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SO, YOU UNDERSTAND WE GOT MORE WORK TO DO? ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

[61. Discussion and appropriate action for the orders necessary for the conduct of the Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Joint Constitutional Amendment, General and Special Election to include: a. An Amended Order to Conduct the Joint General Election; b. An Order designating the main early voting location and branch polling places; c. An Order setting compensation for the deputy early voting clerks for early voting; d. An Order adopting a resolution designating the rate of pay for up to three temporary employees at the Auditors; e. An Order adopting a voting system to be used; f. An Order adopting the resolution designating the number of clerks authorized; g. An Order adopting a resolution for the rate of pay for Election Day judges and clerks; h. An Order setting voting times for Saturdays and Sundays for the November 3, 2026 Election; i. An Order creating an Early Ballot Board and appointing Presiding Judge; j. An Order establishing the Central Counting Station]

HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIED. THANK YOU,

[04:10:01]

DAN CURRY. GO ENFORCE THAT RULE NOW, DAN. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

61, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR THE ORDERS NECESSARY FOR THE CONDUCT OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, JOINT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT GENERAL SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO INCLUDE A THROUGH MS. CAREW.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. BEFORE YOU, I HAVE BROUGHT SEVERAL ORDERS TO BE SIGNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION.

JUST STARTING WITH THE FIRST ONE, THE AMENDED ORDER TO CONDUCT THE GENERAL ELECTION THESE ARE JUST STANDARDIZED FORMS THAT WE IN BEXAR COUNTY DO, NOT BECAUSE IT'S STATUTORILY REQUIRED, BUT WE DO IT AS A COURTESY.

SO, I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER ANYTHING YOU MIGHT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON AND MOVE FROM THERE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. CAREW? WE ALSO, HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, SO, WE CAN TRANSITION TO THAT.

MS. CAREW, YOU STEP ASIDE.

SURE. YEAH, COMMISSIONER MOONEY HAS A QUESTION.

JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TOUCHED ON THIS IN PAST DISCUSSIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE A PART OF ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM AS WELL, BUT JUST, I KNOW YOU HAVE A PLAN. I JUST WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT CONTINGENCY PLANS AND WHERE THOSE DECISION POINTS ARE BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE AT ABOUT 50% IN TERMS OF HIRING SO, FAR FOR ELECTION DAY REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S INCREASED TO 57% NOW.

OKAY, 57%. SO, AT WHAT POINT DO WE NEED TO BE AT 75%, AT 80%, AT 90%, RIGHT, IN ORDER TO BE ON THE PATHWAY TO GETTING THERE? AND/OR WHEN WOULD WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE OTHER CHANGES, COME BACK TO COURT IF WE DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT'S THE CASE. I'M JUST SAYING, LIKE, WE SHOULD ALWAYS PLAN FOR WHAT THOSE CONTINGENCIES MIGHT BE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I KNOW IN SOME OF I MENTIONED TO YOU AS WELL, I THINK WE HAVE GOOD EARLY VOTING POPULATION, A GOOD PERCENTAGE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE ELECTION, 60%, 70%, WHICH IS GREAT. I THINK THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO THERE WITH ADDITIONAL WITH OUR EXISTING EARLY VOTING SITES OR POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL EARLY VOTING SITES IN THE FUTURE, BEING ABLE TO SPREAD THAT OUT OVER 2 WEEKS IS A LOT MORE EFFICIENT OPERATIONALLY, AS I KNOW YOU KNOW, THAN TRYING TO DO THAT ON ELECTION DAY WITH THE UPWARDS OF 300 SITES AND WHAT THAT MEANS. SO, I MEAN, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE WHAT VOTING HABITS LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE HIRING SPIKE, THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THAT MANY CAPABLE, COMPETENT, TRAINED INDIVIDUALS ON ELECTION DAY TO MANAGE AND STAFF 300 SITES IS VERY CHALLENGING FOR YOUR OFFICE. AND WE SHOULD JUST LIKE THINK ABOUT THAT VERSUS THE EARLY VOTING SITES AND TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THAT EARLY VOTING AS WE AS WE GO FORWARD HERE.

BUT JUST SOME THOUGHTS I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD.

SURE THING. I'M HAPPY TO.

HOLD ON, MR. SURE. POINT OF ORDER. COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS ALERTED ME THAT ITEM SIXTY-SIX.

AFTER BUT AFTER.

BUT IT'S A LATE FILE AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT UP. ALERTING MS. CAREW AND WE'LL DO IT RIGHT AFTER. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU'VE ASKED. AND SO, WE'RE GOING TO GET A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR UPDATES. SO, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M SUGGESTING THAT SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION IS MOVING INTO 66. SO, IF WE CAN KEEP IT TO 61, AND IF THERE'S NO FURTHER COMMENT OR RESPONSE, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WHATEVER CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAD. SO, LET ME HAVE ASHLEY ALCANTARA HARRIS. MS. HARRIS, YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR 61 ELECTIONS. 3 MINUTES. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS ASHLEY ALCANTARA HARRIS. I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY WITH THE ACLU OF TEXAS. I'M SPECIFICALLY ASKING THAT THE LIST OF POLLING LOCATIONS BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE A POLLING LOCATION IN THE COUNTY JAIL FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. A POLLING LOCATION IN THE COUNTY JAIL IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OTHERWISE CERTAIN VOTERS IN THE JAIL WILL HAVE NO WAY TO VOTE, SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO WERE ARRESTED AFTER THE DEADLINE TO VOTE BY MAIL. THOSE POTENTIAL VOTERS IN THE JAIL HAVE NO WAY TO VOTE, INCLUDING BY MAIL.

[04:15:01]

JAIL-BASED POLLING LOCATIONS ARE NOT NOVEL. OTHER TEXAS COUNTIES HAVE HAD LEGALLY COMPLIANT POLLING LOCATIONS IN THEIR JAILS FOR YEARS.

DALLAS COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY WILL BOTH HAVE POLLING LOCATIONS IN THEIR JAILS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, WHICH THEY HAVE HAD SINCE 2023 AND 2025, RESPECTIVELY. THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. IN THE MOST RECENT PRIMARY ELECTION, TRAVIS COUNTY HAD A NEARLY EQUAL NUMBER OF VOTERS IN THE JAIL WHO CAST BALLOTS FOR THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES. A NONPARTISAN COALITION OF ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN ASKING BEXAR COUNTY TO PROVIDE VOTING IN THE JAIL FOR OVER 5 YEARS.

THIS SUMMER, THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR REPRESENTED THAT FINALLY THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE A POLLING LOCATION IN THE JAIL FOR THIS UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR VOTING HAS BEEN SELECTED IN THE JAIL. HOWEVER, LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WALKED BACK THIS PROMISE WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY REASONING. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO OPERATE A LEGALLY COMPLIANT LOCATION IN THE JAIL, THOSE QUESTIONS ARE RESOLVABLE BECAUSE OTHER COUNTIES HAVE ADDRESSED THESE QUESTIONS WITHOUT ISSUE. YET THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE WHERE THE ELECTIONS OFFICE HAS SAID THEY WILL WORK TOWARDS THIS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY HAS NEARLY 3 MONTHS TO RESOLVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT IT HAS ABOUT A POLLING LOCATION IN THE JAIL FOR THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION. AS A COALITION, WE HAVE STATEWIDE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW OTHER COUNTIES HAVE ADDRESSED QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ABOUT POLLING LOCATIONS IN JAILS. AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCE TROUBLESHOOTING THESE QUESTIONS. IF THE ELECTIONS OFFICE COMMUNICATES WHAT OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THERE ARE ABOUT SETTING UP A POLLING LOCATION IN THE JAIL, THERE ARE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE NOVEMBER. WE URGE BEXAR COUNTY TO OFFER IN-PERSON VOTING IN ITS JAIL FOR THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION SO, THAT NO VOTERS WILL BE COMPLETELY DISENFRANCHISED IN THE JAIL SOLELY BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING HELD PRETRIAL BY THIS COUNTY.

RONALD RON FARNSWORTH. HOLD ON, TO WHO? CHRIS, DR. CHRIS, YOU SIGNED UP FOR 66. SO, I GET IT.

SO, LET ME, LET'S DO THIS. I'M GOING TO HOLD THAT. IS ANYBODY ELSE ON 61? ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEM 61? HEARING NONE. A THROUGH J. ALL RIGHT.

IS THAT ACCEPTED? THAT'S IF THERE'S IF THAT'S AN AMENDMENT, FINE, BUT IT INCLUDES ITEMS A THROUGH J INCLUSIVE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO TO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

WHEN'S THE DEADLINE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THE POLLING, THE EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY POLLING SITES? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE STILL WORKING TO GET SOME MORE IN PRECINCT RIGHT. SO, ONE THING THAT I HAVEN'T BROUGHT TO THE COURT YET IS OUR ELECTIONS COORDINATOR THAT EVERYONE WORKS WITH RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A STROKE. NO. SO, WE'RE STEPPING IN AND TAKING CARE OF HIS PORTION OF THE JOB TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE LOCATIONS. THERE'S I WOULD SAY THE DEADLINE I WOULD SET WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST. BECAUSE THE NOTICE IS EVERY TIME WE CHANGE THE NOTICE, IT JUST CAUSES MORE AND MORE CONFUSION WITH THE VOTERS WITH WHETHER WE'RE REMOVING OR WHETHER WE'RE ADDING. BUT I AM STILL ADDING OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, OR TRYING TO ADD ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.

OKAY, SO, MY OFFICE WILL WORK WITH YOU FOR PRECINCT LOCK BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE CONTINUING MORE AND MORE SCHOOLS ARE CONTINUING TO PULL BACK.

SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ONE SCHOOL THAT EMAILED YESTERDAY, SO, YOU'RE ONE UP, AND THAT'LL BE MY PRESENTATION.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED TURNOUT? I WOULD IMAGINE YOU'RE EXPECTING PRESIDENTIAL-LEVEL TURNOUT, BUT WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED TURNOUT? WELL, IN CONVERSATION WITH MY STAFF WHO'S BEEN IN THIS OFFICE FOR MANY YEARS, WE FEEL AS THOUGH WE MAY BE OVERPLANNING, THAT THE TURNOUT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS GREAT AS SOME PREDICT THAT IT WILL BE, BUT WE'RE

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

[04:20:01]

PLANNING AS IF IT WERE. I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A PERCENTAGE TODAY, COMMISSIONER, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET SOME INFORMATION TO YOU.

BASED UPON MY BACK-OF-THE-NAPKIN ANALYSIS, WE ARE OFFERING FOR EARLY VOTING 50 IS IT 57 EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, WHICH IS AT THE APEX OF WHAT THE COURT HAS DONE DURING PRESIDENTIAL-LEVEL ELECTIONS. AND THE PRIMARY HISTORY THAT WE JUST HAD WHERE WE HAD A REALLY BIG WHERE WAS THAT RANKED IN TERMS OF OUR TURNOUT? IT WAS 2.5%. 2.5 TIMES, I'M SORRY, HIGHER THAN IN THE PAST.

RIGHT. OKAY. SO, IT WAS 2.5%.

SO, IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY AROUND THE ELECTION. AND I WOULD JUST SAY WE NEED TO DO A COUPLE OF PROJECTIONS IN CASE THE COURT NEEDS TO KIND OF REVISE THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS TO MAYBE 60-SOMETHING, JUST TO ACCOMMODATE POPULATION GROWTH.

CAN YOU TALK TO THE ISSUE OF THE JAIL? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE JAIL LOCATION? BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE GOOD TO GO.

I TOOK, I TOOK A STEP BACK TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PICTURE WHEN IT CAME TO JAIL-BASED VOTING. I EVEN SPOKE TO ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT TEXAS WHO'VE IMPLEMENTED IT, AND ACROSS THE BOARD, THEY JUST IN CONVERSATION SAID THAT IT WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR A LAWSUIT IF WE GO TO JAIL-BASED VOTING.

SECONDLY BASED ON WHAT? WHAT KIND OF LAWSUIT? WELL, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT WHO I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO, SO, I'LL HAVE TO TALK IN A GENERIC TERM. ONE OF THE ELECTION OFFICIALS I SPOKE TO SAID THAT IN THEIR COUNTY THERE WAS SOME ILLEGAL ACTIVITY HAPPENING AT THE JAIL-BASED VOTING, MEANING THAT NOT EVERYBODY IN THE JAIL WAS ALLOWED TO VOTE, ONLY THOSE THAT THE SHERIFF SAID WOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY, THEN I WANT THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AHEAD OF TIME. I DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO A SITUATION THAT I DON'T FEEL THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR. I ALSO, SPOKE TO MANY WE WERE JUST AT CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, SO, I SPOKE TO ALL THE LARGE COUNTIES ABOUT JAIL-BASED VOTING, AND OF THE TOP 5, ONLY 2 OF THEM STILL ARE PRACTICING JAIL-BASED VOTING. THE COUNTY THAT BEGAN IT, THEY STARTED IN 2020 AND THEY ABOLISHED IT IN 2023.

SO, JUST CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EXTRA-LARGE COUNTIES, THERE WAS NO NOTHING GOOD SAID ABOUT JAIL-BASED VOTING.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN BEXAR COUNTY, I THINK WE NEED TO BE 100% ALL ON THE SAME ON THE SAME LEVEL, NO SECOND-GUESSING. IF THIS ELECTION IS AS LARGE AS THEY SAY IT'S GOING TO BE, I WOULD PREFER TO ATTEMPT JAIL-BASED VOTING ON A SMALLER-SCALE ELECTION.

SO, WHEN I TOURED THE JAIL ON ANOTHER UNRELATED MATTER TO VOTING PER SE, I DID GO STOP INTO THE LOBBY WHERE THE PROPOSED LOCATION WOULD BE, AND CHIEF JANSEN, HEAD OF OUR JAIL FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, HAD MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER WANTS TO COME VOTE CAN VOTE, WHICH ISN'T UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR SETTING ANYBODY UP FOR A LAWSUIT. IF A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN ANOTHER PLACE SAYS ONLY REPUBLICANS OR ONLY DEMOCRATS OR ONLY PEOPLE WITH A MISDEMEANOR OR WHATEVER CRITERIA, THAT OBVIOUSLY DOES OPEN YOU UP FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS.

BUT IF IT'S A GENERAL CALL, AND I THINK SPECIFICITY IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT? IF OUR FOLKS UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATION AND HAVE EXPRESSED ANYBODY WHO IS ELIGIBLE WILL BE ABLE TO COME DOWN, DOESN'T THAT ASSUAGE THE ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE COME UP? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT BEXAR COUNTY IS PREPARED TO KICKSTART JAIL-BASED VOTING FOR NOVEMBER. SO, I DON'T SUPPORT IT FOR NOVEMBER, BUT I DO SUPPORT IT FOR 2027.

WE NEED TO HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MY DEPARTMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THERE'S SOME SECURITY CONCERNS. THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT MY DEPARTMENT HAS THAT WE HAVE TO TRAIN OUR WORKERS ON. AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION IS HOT ON THE LIST. SO, ADDING AN ADDITIONAL ISSUE THAT COULD ARISE, I WOULD PREFER TO REVISIT IT IN 2027. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SECURITY CONCERNS.

THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE ISSUES

[66.a. Discussion and appropriate action regarding a special presentation from the Elections Administrator detailing updates on Bexar County Election Department's preparedness for the November 2026 General Election.]

THAT NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

AND I DON'T WANT TO DO IT IN AN OPEN SESSION, SO, WE'LL FOLLOW UP THERE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. LET'S NOW GO TO ITEM 66. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LATE FILE.

I THOUGHT I DID THAT EARLIER FOR YOURS.

NO, I DON'T THINK WE DID THAT FOR ALL OF THEM. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ALL. SO, LET ME SO, THERE'S A MOTION TO APPROVE ALL 8 FILES. SO, LET

[04:25:01]

ME PUT ON RECORD THAT STARTS WITH ITEMS 64, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ON ACCEPTING ALL LATE FILES AS NOTED. ANY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? WE NOW WILL CONSIDER. LET US NOW TAKE UP ITEM 66A, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FROM THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR DETAILING UPDATES ON BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT PREPAREDNESS FOR THE NOVEMBER 2026 GENERAL ELECTIONS, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, IT'S NOTED. BUT YEAH, MAY I? DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A NOTE? THAT'S ACTUALLY COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S ITEM INITIALLY, SO, I WAS GOING TO DEFER TO HIM. I JUST CO-SPONSORED THE ITEM.

WOULD THERE BE ANY OBJECTIONS TO ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? THEY HAVE BEEN PATIENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THEM UP. DR. WELDY, WELCOME BACK. I NOTICED THAT MR. RON FARNSWORTH HAS YIELDED YOUR. TIME. IS MS. HALL STILL HERE? NO? OKAY, MS. HALL, YOU'VE LEFT. HOW ABOUT MABEL GAVALOU? YOU'RE HERE. ARE YOU YIELDING? OKAY. MS. GAVALOU, YOU YIELD YOUR TIME. KATE, KEEP TRACK. HOW ABOUT CAITLIN SNOW? I THINK IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S YIELDED THEIR TIME? WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO DR.

WILDY. DR. WILDY, YOU HAVE 9 MINUTES. YOU MAY PROCEED.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO, I HANDED YOU A COPY OF MY PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL LIST OF 14 ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. SO, THEY ARE KIND OF GOING AROUND.

EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER DESERVES ACCESS TO THE BALLOT, AND EVERY LAWFUL BALLOT DESERVES TO BE COUNTED ACCURATELY. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE WELTY. I'M A BEXAR COUNTY PRECINCT CHAIR, ELECTION CLERK, POLL WATCHER WHO OBSERVED THE BALLOT BOARD PROCESS, AND CO-CHAIR OF MY PARTY'S ELECTION INTEGRITY AND VOTER PROTECTION COMMITTEE, AND A RETIRED FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT.

TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF. WE ARE JUST 62 DAYS FROM THE START OF EARLY VOTING, AND TIME IS RUNNING SHORT. IN MARCH, I CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND IDENTIFIED SYSTEMIC OPERATIONAL CONCERNS WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE. THESE INCLUDED INADEQUATE TRAINING FOR ELECTION STAFF, POLL WORKERS, COMMUNICATION FAILURES, ISSUES WITH PROVISIONAL BALLOTS, VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTE-BY-MAIL ISSUES, EQUIPMENT, AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING. I EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS MYSELF. HAVING WORKED AS AN ELECTION CLERK, INCLUDING WORKING A 16-HOUR ELECTION DAY BECAUSE MY POLLING LOCATION DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FUNCTIONING VOTING MACHINES. IN APRIL, OUR PARTY CHAIR AND I MET WITH THE ELECTIONS OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR AND HER ENTIRE LEADERSHIP STAFF. WE WERE ASSURED THAT THESE ISSUES WOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

WE WERE TOLD A SURVEY WOULD BE SENT TO ELECTION JUDGES AND CLERKS. I'M AN ELECTION CLERK.

I DID NOT RECEIVE THAT SURVEY.

THE 2 JUDGES THAT I WORK WITH DID NOT RECEIVE THAT SURVEY, AND THE OTHER CLERK THAT I WORK WITH ALSO, DID NOT RECEIVE THAT SURVEY.

TODAY, ALL 14 PRIORITY ITEMS REMAIN OUTSTANDING, AND ALL BUT ONE, THE ISSUE OF TEAMS, FALLS INTO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE LIST THAT I PROVIDED IN MARCH DIDN'T JUST IDENTIFY PROBLEMS, WE DOCUMENTED THEM, WE OFFERED RECOMMENDATIONS, WE MET WITH THE ELECTION OFFICE, AND WE REPEATEDLY OFFERED TO HELP. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REAL. SO, BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM BEING NUMBER 66, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT COULD NOT BE HERE OR HAD TO LEAVE. SO, I WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ONE OF THEM, AND I DID GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THE 8 CONCERNS SHE BROUGHT UP. HER NAME IS SYBIL MORGAN.

SHE IS A PRECINCT CHAIR. SHE'S A RETIRED DOCTOR. AND SHE IDENTIFIED 8 VOTERS WITHIN HER PRECINCT. SHE WAS ONE OF THEM THAT HAD CONCERNS.

SO, THIS IS HOW SYBIL'S STORY GOES. SYBIL DID NOT RECEIVE HER WAS FOLLOWING UP ON HER MAIL BALLOT AND CONFIRMING WHETHER OR NOT IT HAD BEEN RECEIVED.

SHE WAS AT A POLLING LOCATION. SHE ASKED THE ELECTION JUDGE TO CHECK ON THE STATUS. THE ELECTION JUDGE DID. THE ELECTION JUDGE REACHED SOMEBODY BACK AT BEXAR ELECTIONS WHO CONFIRMED THAT HER MAIL-IN BALLOT HAD IN FACT BEEN RECEIVED, SO, SHE OPTED NOT TO VOTE.

IN FOLLOWING UP ON HER HUSBAND'S MAIL BALLOT THAT WAS KIND OF IN A SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE, SHE MADE A SECOND CALL HERSELF TO BEXAR ELECTIONS, CONFIRMED THAT HER HUSBAND'S HAD NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED, BUT HERS

[04:30:01]

IN FACT WAS RECEIVED. LATER, SHE RECEIVED A LIST, HER NAME AND HER HUSBAND'S NAME WASN'T ON IT, INDICATING SHE HAD NOT VOTED FOR THE MARCH 3RD, 2026 ELECTION. SHE SINCE THEN HAS FOLLOWED UP WITH BEXAR ELECTIONS AND FOUND OUT THAT HER VOTE FOR NOVEMBER 2025 ALSO, DID NOT COUNT.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A DISENFRANCHISED VOTER. I'M TRYING TO CONNECT THE DOTS HERE BECAUSE I'VE MENTIONED THAT THE TRAINING OF BEXAR ELECTIONS STAFF IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IF A JUDGE CALLS BEXAR ELECTIONS STAFF AND THEY ERRONEOUSLY TELL A JUDGE THAT SOMEBODY HAS VOTED, WHEN THEY HAVEN'T, IN FACT, VOTED, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AS A TRAINING ISSUE.

SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF CONNECT THE DOTS. SHE HAD 7 ADDITIONAL VOTERS THAT I WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE SCENARIO.

I GAVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THAT, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THE COURT WOULD ACTUALLY FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE VOTERS. EACH ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN DISENFRANCHISED.

IN SOME CASES, IT WAS BECAUSE AN ELECTION JUDGE DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU COULD HAVE A SIMILAR NAME, WHEN THEIR REGISTRATION CARD WAS TRUNCATED, AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S ALMOST LIKE BASIC CLERK 101. I KNOW I WAS TAUGHT THAT AS A CLERK, WHERE YOU HAVE THE SIMILAR NAME, IT'S RIGHT IN THE POLL PAD. BUT THAT PERSON WAS NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE. AND LIKE I SAID, YOU HAVE THE LIST. I EXPERIENCED AT MY OWN POLLING LOCATION 2 YOUNG MEN THAT CAME IN THAT HAD REGISTERED EITHER THROUGH WHEN THEY SIGNED UP FOR THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR THROUGH A SCHOOL PROGRAM. THE FIRST ONE WAS NOT GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE PROVISIONALLY, THOUGH I THOUGHT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE MY ELECTION JUDGE CALLED BACK TO BEXAR ELECTIONS AND WAS TOLD HE WASN'T REGISTERED, AND THAT WAS ALL THAT THEY COULD DO.

AFTER THE SECOND ONE, AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT THIS YOUNG MAN WAS NOT WAS NOT VOTING IN THE PARTY THAT I IDENTIFY WITH, BUT I'M VERY I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO VOTE AND HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, REGARDLESS. SO, I INTERVENED ON THAT ONE. I ACTUALLY CALLED BACK TO BEXAR ELECTIONS, EVEN THOUGH MY JUDGE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE PERSON WASN'T REGISTERED. SORRY, TOO BAD, SO, SAD, WAS ESSENTIALLY THE THING. I SAID, THAT IS NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER. I SPOKE WITH LATONYA, WHO IS THE SUPERVISOR FOR REGISTRATIONS, AND WE CONFIRMED THAT IN FACT BOTH OF THOSE VOTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE PROVISIONALLY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID FOLLOW THE YOUNG MAN'S BALLOT. THE SECOND ONE DID VOTE PROVISIONALLY, BUT HIS VOTE DID NOT COUNT, AGAIN BECAUSE OF A JUDGE'S TRAINING ISSUE.

THEY HAD NEVER GONE OVER THE PROVISIONAL PAPERWORK WITH OUR JUDGES. THEY DIDN'T HAVE SAMPLE FORMS. WHAT HAPPENED WAS SHE DIDN'T KNOW TO CHECK THE BOX. SHE CHECKED THAT HE WASN'T REGISTERED. SHE DIDN'T CHECK THE BOX THAT SAID THAT HE HAD SIGNED UP THROUGH DPS. SO, HIS VOTE DID NOT COUNT. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LINDA MALDONADO, PRECINCT CHAIR, COULDN'T BE HERE. SHE DID AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, AND THIS IS WHAT SHE ASKED FOR.

SHE ASKED FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DEMOCRATS WHO HAD APPLIED FOR A MAIL-IN BALLOT AND HAD VOTED, MEANING THEIR BALLOT HAD BEEN RECEIVED.

WHAT SHE ENDED UP GETTING WAS A LIST OF 9,000 NAMES, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE ELECTION STAFF WHO PULLED THE LIST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE PULLING. SHE GOT NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAD APPLIED FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS. SO, IMAGINE THAT. SO, SHE HAS A LIST OF 9,000 NAMES SHE THINKS ARE PEOPLE WHO VOTED. SHE'S TRYING TO FOLLOW UP WITH PEOPLE IN HER PRECINCT AND IN FACT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

FORTUNATELY, SHE'S A VERY EXPERIENCED PRECINCT CHAIR.

SHE RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY THE PROBLEM. BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER PRECINCT CHAIRS OR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS RECEIVED THOSE SAME KINDS OF LISTS IN ERROR AND MAY HAVE ERRONEOUSLY TOLD SOMEBODY THEY VOTED WHEN THEY DID NOT. AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT SHE RECEIVED THAT SAME LIST 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES.

OKAY. SO, THESE CASES INVOLVE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM, VOTE-BY-MAIL, PROVISIONAL BALLOTS, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND ELECTION DATA.

BUT THEY POINT TO THE SAME UNDERLYING CONCERN, OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS, QUALITY CONTROLS THAT ARE NOT WORKING CONSISTENTLY. COMMUNICATION REMAINS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

VOTERS AND STAKEHOLDERS REPORT UNANSWERED PHONES, INCONSISTENTLY STAFFED FRONT DESKS, AND PROBLEMS THAT REMAIN UNRESOLVED. BECAUSE OF TIME, I'M JUST GOING TO GO ON TO WHAT MY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE. I'M ASKING THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: IMMEDIATELY AUTHORIZE AND FUND ELECTIONS OFFICE STAFF. THEY NEED STAFF. THEY HAVE A BACKLOG OF OVER 3,000 REGISTRATION CARDS, NOT TO MENTION DPS VOTER REGISTRATIONS, 1,000 OF WHICH COME IN EACH DAY AND ONLY 500 OF WHICH CAN BE WORKED BECAUSE OF STAFF. THEY REQUIRE AN INDEPENDENT OPERATIONAL AUDIT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE

[04:35:02]

NOVEMBER ELECTION. THAT ASSESSMENT SHOULD EXAMINE STAFFING AND WORKLOAD, MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AMONG OTHER THINGS. ESTABLISH A DEDICATED VOTER ISSUE RESOLUTION HOTLINE AND CASE TRACKING PROCESS BEFORE EARLY VOTING. OUR VOTERS DESERVE THIS. HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING ON THE ENTIRE VOTE-BY-MAIL PROCESS. THERE'S SOMETHING VERY, VERY WRONG WHEN THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DO NOT RECEIVE THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOTS. AND HOLD THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNTABLE. THIS FEEDBACK IS INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS. WITH SO, MUCH UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE ELECTIONS BOTH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HAVE 62 DAYS. EVERY DAY WITHOUT ACTION IS ONE LESS DAY TO REDUCE THESE BACKLOGS, ANSWER VOTER QUESTIONS, TRAIN ELECTION WORKERS, AND CORRECT OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS AND RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

THE VOTERS OF BEXAR COUNTY DESERVE MORE THAN ASSURANCES.

THEY DESERVE ADEQUATE STAFFING.

THEY DESERVE ANSWERS. THEY DESERVE A PLAN. THEY DESERVE MEASURABLE PROGRESS, AND THEY DESERVE ACCOUNTABILITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY DESERVE AN ELECTION SYSTEM THAT ENSURES EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER CAN VOTE AND EVERY LAWFUL BALLOT IS COUNTED ACCURATELY. THANK YOU.

IT APPEARS THAT I HAVE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. I'M CALLING UP CECE. IS ELSA BOCANEGRA STILL HERE? SHE'S NOT.

SHE'S NOT? OKAY. NO, SHE'S GOT TO BE PRESENT. OKAY. NOW THERE'S OTHERS FROM THE IT APPEARS OTHERS.

ARE THEY ASKING TO BE TALKING INDIVIDUALLY? THAT'S CAITLIN SOLIS, GLORIA GONZALEZ, VICTORIA MOLINA, AND ANDREW CAMACHO. ARE Y'ALL STILL HERE? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY? ALL RIGHT. SO, MS. TORRES, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE SAKAI. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS CECE TORRES. I AM ONE OF 2 TRAINING COORDINATORS WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT. I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING YOU GUYS, BUT I'M GLAD AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHED A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT ABOUT WHAT THE INTERNAL PROCESSES LOOK LIKE ON OUR DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THE EXTERNAL STRESSORS HAVE IN TERMS OF EFFECT ON THE TWO OF US. THE TRAINING DIVISION IS A TEAM OF TWO, AS I MENTIONED. TOGETHER WE MANAGE THE FULL LIFECYCLE OF POLL WORKER PREPARATION FOR MORE THAN 4,300 POLL WORKERS. THIS INCLUDES APPLICATION, REGISTRATION, EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, DATABASE MANAGEMENT, AND TRAINING FOR ALL 4,300 INDIVIDUALS. OUR WORK EXTENDS FAR BEYOND STANDING IN A CLASSROOM. WE DEVELOP OUR OWN MATERIALS CUSTOMIZED TO BEXAR COUNTY'S VOTING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT, AND THEY ALIGN WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS. WE FACILITATE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 16 TO 85 AND PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SESSIONS TO ENSURE THAT EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARTICIPATION REMAINS A STANDARD IN OUR OFFICE. WE ALSO, MANAGE ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND SPECIAL PROJECTS SUPPORTING OTHER AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT INCLUDING PROCESSING VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS, ACTING AS ELECTION DAY TECHNICIANS, AND WORKING THE OCCASIONAL POLL SITE. WE ALSO, TAKE TIME TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE WONDERFUL NONPROFIT AND CITIZEN-LED ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT OUR MISSION. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE LACK THE RESOURCES, STAFF, AND SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH A STREAMLINED AND SECURE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH OFTEN LEADS TO MORE ON OUR STAFF'S PLATE AND AN INCREASE IN PUBLIC CONFUSION.

SINCE LAST JULY, WE HAVE FACILITATED MORE THAN 120 TRAINING SESSIONS, PROVIDING NEARLY 15,000 AVAILABLE SEATS IN OUR OFFICE. THIS IS ACROSS DAYTIME, EVENING, WEEKEND, VIRTUAL, AND SPECIALTY FORMATS.

OF THOSE 15,000 SEATS, WE HAD A TURNOUT OF LESS THAN 30%. INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE LOW VOTER OR THE LOW TURNOUT, MY APOLOGIES, IT WAS ASSUMED THAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE RESOLVED BY SIMPLY ADDING MORE TRAINING SESSIONS.

INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT COULD EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE SOLUTION OR THE PROBLEM, EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE, THEIR OWN LINE OF THOUGHT, AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS.

HOWEVER, PERCEPTION IS NOT ALWAYS REALITY. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW OPERATIONS AND OUTCOMES CAN SUFFER WHEN THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK AREN'T INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION TOWARDS SOLUTIONS.

NONETHELESS, THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT PLANS ON DELIVERING FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION ALONE. WE ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO PROVIDE 92 TRAINING SESSIONS. THIS SCHEDULE REQUIRES MY COUNTERPART AND ME TO PROVIDE A. APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS OF TRAINING, 5 TO 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR 7 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS, FOLLOWED BY 2 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF 12-HOUR EARLY VOTING DAYS, FOLLOWED BY A 20-HOUR ELECTION DAY. THAT AMOUNTS TO AN ESTIMATED 280 HOURS OF OVERTIME. I AM ONE OF 3 EXEMPT FULL-TIME SALARIED EMPLOYEES, NON-MANAGERIAL, SO, THOSE HOURS ARE EXPECTED TO BE UNCOMPENSATED, NO COMP TIME, NO OVERTIME PAY. I ALREADY WORKED I'M SO, SORRY,

[04:40:01]

AM I OUT OF TIME? NO. KEEP GOING. I HAVE ALREADY WORKED MORE THAN 300 HOURS OF OVERTIME IN THE LAST 6 ELECTIONS. THAT IS NOT ONLY TIME FROM MY LIFE, BUT TIME THAT I HAVE SPENT WATCHING MY COWORKERS SACRIFICE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES. THE DEEPER ISSUE IS NOT SIMPLY WORKLOAD, IT'S CAPACITY AND GROWTH.

UNDER ADMINISTRATOR KREWE AND DEPUTY FISCHER, OUR STAFF HAS ACCOMPLISHED EXTRAORDINARY THINGS WITH RELATIVELY LIMITED RESOURCES. WE DELIVER QUALITY ELECTIONS. GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP. THANK YOU SO, MUCH. WE DELIVER QUALITY ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE STAFF THAT IS SKILLED, DEDICATED, AND SELFLESS. BUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OPERATING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO.

THANK YOU SO, MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

CAITLIN SOLIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE SAKAI. MY NAME IS CAITLIN SOLIS, AND I AM A TEMPORARY CLERK IN THE MAILROOM AT THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE.

ELECTION INTEGRITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE PARAMOUNT TO OUR OFFICE.

IN THE MAILROOM, WE ARE A KEY PART OF THE ELECTIONS OFFICE, AND WE PROCESS UPWARDS OF 40,000 MAIL-IN BALLOT APPLICATIONS EVERY YEAR. WE RECEIVE APPLICATIONS TO VOTE BY MAIL ON A DAILY BASIS, NOT JUST AROUND ELECTION TIME.

PROCESSING APPLICATIONS INVOLVES A MULTI-STEP PROCESS TO ENSURE ACCURACY AND ELIGIBILITY. IN ADDITION TO THOSE DUTIES, WE ANSWER CALLS FROM VOTERS, ELECTION WORKERS, AND VOLUNTEER DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRARS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE APPROACH EACH VOTER LIKE A CASE MANAGER. WE TAKE DOWN THEIR NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH, LOOK UP THEIR REGISTRATION INFORMATION, AND CHECK TO SEE IF EVERYTHING IS CURRENT OR IF ANY SOMETHING IS MISSING OR NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE, WE CANNOT CHANGE OR ALTER ANY OF THEIR INFORMATION. ONLY VOTERS CAN DO THAT, BUT WE CAN FACILITATE THE PROCESS. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR A CALL TO LAST UPWARDS OF 45 MINUTES. A CALL THIS MORNING FROM AN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER STATIONED IN OKINAWA TOOK 20 MINUTES. WE ARE HERE TO SERVE, SO, EVERY TIME SOMEONE CALLS, WE HAVE TO PIVOT FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING AND FOCUS SOLELY ON THEIR CONCERN. A VOTER'S CONCERN IS NOT CONSIDERED RESOLVED UNTIL WE HAVE RECTIFIED THE ISSUE.

FOR EXAMPLE, VOTERS LIVING IN THE U.S. RECEIVE MAIL-IN BALLOTS 30 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND AT TIMES THEY FORGET THEY VOTED BY THE TIME THE ELECTION ROLLS AROUND AND SHOW UP AT THE POLLS WANTING TO VOTE.

WE THEN HAVE TO DROP EVERYTHING AND QUICKLY LOCATE THEIR BALLOT AMONG THOUSANDS OF OTHER BALLOTS TO CONFIRM THAT WE DO INDEED HAVE THEIR BALLOT. WE ALSO, RECEIVED MANY CALLS FROM VOTERS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR VOTE COUNTING IN NOVEMBER. I WISH EVERYONE CARED THAT MUCH ABOUT VOTING. I REALLY DO. WE REASSURED THEM THAT HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENSURE PEOPLE CAN EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

BEHIND THE SCENES, THOUGH, WE ARE SPREAD VERY THIN. AS WE ONLY HAVE 2 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IN THE MAILROOM. WITH ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME STAFF, WE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE EVER-INCREASING DEMAND AND BETTER SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. GLORIA GONZALEZ.

HI, I'M GLORIA GONZALEZ.

I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR LIKE 7 MORE THAN 7 YEARS. I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE HAD TO BE CALLED BACK FROM OUR VACATION, NOT JUST ME, OTHER COWORKERS. SO, WE HAVE OUR WEEK OF VACATION AND WE HAD TO GET CALLED BACK. SO, NOW WE'RE WITHOUT VACATION. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR HOURS. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT TO SHOW. IF YOU PAY ME, THAT'D BE GREAT. THAT WOULD HELP ME ON ANOTHER PAYMENT ON MY HOUSE. OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT I'M NOT TAKING THE VACATION, I'M NOT TAKING THE TIME, AND IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU COUNT ON, YOU KNOW. OKAY, A WEEK I GET TO DO MY YARD, GET TO DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE AT HOME, BE WITH MY KIDS, WHAT HAVE YOU.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT, THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO GET THAT REST. WE GO TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, WE HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, GO DRAW YOUR BLOOD, GO DO WHATEVER, AND THEN WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO WORK. BEFORE, WE COULD TAKE THE WHOLE DAY OFF. NOW WE HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE OFFICE. SO, I'M JUST SAYING, I LOVE MY JOB. I REALLY DO.

BUT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF THAT REST TOO. SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. VICTORIA MOLINA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

[04:45:01]

MY NAME IS VICTORIA MOLINA.

I'M A VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESSOR.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. I WANT TO SHARE THE CHALLENGES OUR TEAM HAS BEEN FACING AS WE WORK TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S ELECTION RESPONSIBILITIES.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, OUR OFFICE HAS CONSISTENTLY WORKED LONG, LONG DAYS, OFTEN WELL BEYOND 8 HOURS. WE ACCUMULATE MANY HOURS EACH WEEK AND IT IS COMMON FOR OUR WORKLOAD TO PUSH OVER TO PUSH OVER FORTY HOURS.

HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH THESE HOURS ARE WORKED, WE ARE NOT RECEIVING OVERTIME PAY.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE ADDITIONAL HOURS WE HAVE ACCUMULATED BECAUSE WE ARE IN ELECTION MODE. THE DEMANDS OF THE ELECTION CYCLE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS, RESPONDING TO VOTERS. AND MEETING IMPORTANT DEADLINES MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO TAKE TIME OFF WITHOUT FALLING BEHIND OR IMPACTING COURT OPERATIONS. WE ARE RECEIVING VOTER APPLICATIONS FROM MULTIPLE RESOURCES: ONLINE SUBMISSIONS, MAIL FORMS, WALK-INS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND STATE-LEVEL AGENCIES. THE VOLUME CONTINUES TO RISE, AND OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS SIMPLY DO NOT MATCH THE WORKLOAD WE ARE FACING. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING THE PUBLIC AND SUPPORTING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, BUT WE NEED MORE PERSONNEL TO CARRY OUT THESE RESPONSIBILITIES EFFECTIVELY.

OUR TEAM IS DEDICATED, HARDWORKING, AND PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO, BUT THE LEVEL OF STRAIN IS UNSUSTAINABLE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COURT TO CONSIDER INCREASING STAFF IN OUR DEPARTMENT SO, WE CAN MEET IT MEET THE ELECTION REQUIREMENTS, MAINTAIN ACCURACY, AND PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING OF THESE CONCERNS. I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING US ENSURE SMOOTH AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY. THANK YOU.

ANDREW CAMACHO.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ANDREW CAMACHO. I STARTED WORKING FOR BEXAR COUNTY AS A TRISTAR TEMP IN AUGUST OF 2024, AND AS OF APRIL OF THIS YEAR, I HAVE BEEN A T-99 EMPLOYEE AT THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT WITH THE GOAL OF BUILDING MYSELF A CAREER IN THIS FIELD.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, I'VE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES OUR DEPARTMENT FACES IN MAINTAINING A CONSISTENT PROCESS IN OUR WORK WHEN IT COMES TO MAIL BALLOTS. WITH ONLY 2 FULL-TIME COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN THE MAIL DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE STRUGGLED TO MANAGE THE THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS AND APPLICATIONS THAT MUST BE SCANNED, PROCESSED, AND MAILED BY HAND. AS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO IS LIMITED TO PERFORMING CERTAIN TASKS DUE TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TITLE, I FOUND MYSELF WORKING UP TO 90 HOURS A WEEK, WITH 50 OF THOSE HOURS COMING FROM OVERTIME JUST TO HELP MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE WORKLOAD, NOT JUST DURING ELECTIONS BUT YEAR-ROUND.

WITH MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES UNDER THE SAME RESTRICTIONS BUT WITH A STRONG DESIRE TO DO MORE, OUR HANDS ARE STILL TIED WHEN IT COMES TO THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE OF OVERSEAS VOTERS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BALLOT BOARD, AS MANY OF THE DUTIES LACKING MUCH-NEEDED ASSISTANCE ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES. ME AND MY COWORKERS CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK WE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES FOR ELECTIONS. YET OUR TEAM FALLS OUT OF BALANCE AS THE SHEER CAPACITY OF THESE ELECTIONS DEMANDS FULL-TIME OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE DOOR TO A STRONGER, MORE STABLE PROCESS IN OUR WORK. THIS HELP IN POSITIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, BUT MOST OF ALL NEEDED. AS THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION WILL ONCE AGAIN FACE US WITH THE OBSTACLE OF WORKING BEYOND THE LIMIT TO ENSURE EVERY ONE OF THE EXPECTED 40,000 MAIL BALLOTS AND APPLICATIONS ARE HANDLED WITH THE MOST PRIORITY ONE BY ONE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO DO MORE IN ELECTIONS AND I HOPE OUR WORKLOAD IN THIS DEPARTMENT IS RECOGNIZED IN THE RIGHT WAY.

THANK YOU. VALERIE REIFERT.

HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M VALERIE REIFERT. I AM COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S APPOINTEE TO THE ELECTION AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AND I ALSO, SERVE AS VICE CHAIR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMISSION. AND I WOULD ACTUALLY LOVE TO SEE THE ELECTIONS OFFICE FUNDED AND ABLE TO HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES TO HELP THE OFFICE RUN EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. MICHELLE'S ASK, THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR, HER ASK FOR THE STAFF TO WORK 12-HOUR DAYS HAS COST THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMISSION OUR SECRETARY. LATONYA BURTON IS OUR SECRETARY, AND BECAUSE OF THE HOURS THAT SHE HAS HAD TO PUT INTO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE, SHE'S NOT BEEN ABLE TO SERVE ON THE MLK COMMISSION. AND AS WE'RE GOING INTO OUR 40TH MLK THIS NEXT YEAR, THIS COMING YEAR, WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A FULL-SEASONED TEAM GETTING US THERE, AND NOW WE'RE MISSING A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF OUR TEAM NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE LATONYA THERE. SO, WE

[04:50:02]

SEE THE EFFECTS ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, FAR AND WIDE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ELECTIONS OFFICE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO BRING UP OLD STUFF, BUT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE EFFORTS TO UTILIZE THE COUNTY JAIL AS OPPOSED POLLING LOCATION HAVE CEASED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SITE WAS SEEN AND APPROVED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THIS BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS AN UNCONVENTIONAL POLLING LOCATION, AND I'M ACTUALLY UNSURE HOW IT EVEN QUALIFIES AS AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION AND SATISFIES ELECTION LAWS, RIGHT? LIKE MS. CAREW BROUGHT UP LAWSUITS POTENTIALLY IF DONE AT THE JAIL. WELL, AT THE COURTHOUSE, YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PARK. SO, THAT IS ALREADY VOTER SUPPRESSION AS IT IS. AND THEN IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S AN UNCONVENTIONAL POLLING LOCATION. AS A MEMBER OF THE JAIL-BASED VOTING COALITION, WE ARE AND HAVE BEEN READY AND WILLING TO HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE TO GET THIS POLLING LOCATION OFF THE GROUND. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EASE MINDS IF ANYONE BELIEVES THAT JAIL-BASED VOTING IS PUSHING THE WOKE AGENDA. AS ASHLEY SAID, MOST PEOPLE WHO VOTE AT THE JAIL DO END UP VOTING REPUBLICAN, AND THAT'S IN TEXAS, OUT OF TEXAS. THOSE ARE JUST THE STATISTICS. THIS EFFORT IS ABOUT ALLOWING ACCESS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION. I FOUND WILLING JUDGES AND CLERKS, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO WORK THE ELECTION.

THE JAIL-BASED VOTING COALITION CAN ACT AS A COMMITTEE TO HELP WITH ANYTHING. I HAVE ACCESS AND CREDENTIALS TO ENTER THE JAIL AS I GO 3 TIMES A MONTH AND TEACH A CIVICS CLASS IN THERE, AND I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE GETTING FOLKS REGISTERED, ACQUIRING IDS, AND WHATEVER ELSE IS NEEDED TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTING THEIR LIVES.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE ELECTION THIS YEAR AND NOT PUSH IT OFF TO NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? LIKE, I'M A VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATE MYSELF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D BE VOTING FOR NEXT SPRING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, OR IF WE'D BE VOTING FOR ANYTHING AT ALL. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS ELECTION AND THE PEOPLE AT THE JAIL VOTING, IT'D BE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTING THEM. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP FOR 61 OR 66? MS. CAREW, YOU'RE BACK. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I JUST WANTED TO FIRST THANK THOSE WHO CAME TO TESTIFY. VERY INFORMATIVE.

WELL, I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME DIALOGUE, BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS ITEM INITIATED IN COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S OFFICE.

I THINK HIS NAME WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OFF THE ITEM. SO, CERTAINLY WANT TO DEFER TO YOU, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING FIRST.

GO AHEAD. WELL, IF YOU'RE OKAY, I'LL START.

SO, MICHELLE, LET ME I GUESS LET ME JUST START BY, I GUESS, GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO SOME OF WHAT YOU HEARD. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE SOME EITHER DEFICIENT RESOURCES OR MAYBE YOU'RE GETTING READY TO STAFF UP I THINK THE IMPETUS FOR PUTTING THIS ON WAS TO KIND OF HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PREPARATION FOR THIS NOVEMBER ELECTION SPECIFICALLY, AND THEN ALSO, GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US IF YOU ARE LACKING SOME RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, I THINK, I HATE TO SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COURT, BUT I THINK WE ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT IT'S RUN SMOOTHLY, EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY.

SO, I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY INITIALLY TO MAYBE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PREPARATIONS FOR NOVEMBER. I THINK YOU HAD AN INTERNAL WHAT YOU TOLD ME, INTERNAL DEADLINE OR GUIDE TO GET IT PREPARED BY SEPTEMBER 1ST, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 10 DAYS AWAY OR SO.

SO, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PREPARATIONS GOING INTO NOVEMBER? SURE. A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED ARE IN THIS PRESENTATION. WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO DO THE PRESENTATION FIRST? SURE.

OKAY. AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? NO, YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO, AS MENTIONED, OUR GOAL TO BE PREPARED FOR THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION, OUR DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 1ST.

SO, MY TEAM DID WORK THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TO NOT JUST BE PREPARED FOR NOVEMBER 3RD. THEY HAVE SECURED LOCATIONS, THEY'VE HIRED CLERKS, THEY HAVE DONE WE'RE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING OUR BALLOT. SO, OUR GOAL IS TO BE READY BY SEPTEMBER 1ST SO, THAT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1ST AND OCTOBER 19TH WE'RE ABLE TO NOT BE IN A HURRY, NOT BE IN A RUSH. WE WANT TO BE READY TO GO. SO, SOME KEY DATA ABOUT THIS UPCOMING ELECTION IS THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL RACES AS YOU CAN SEE. 5 FEDERAL, 47 STATE, AND THEN OF COURSE WITH THE COUNTY THERE'S 30 RACES AND THAT INCLUDES ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES. CURRENTLY OUR

[04:55:04]

BALLOT IS LOOKING TO BE 17 INCHES LONG. WHICH IS A VERY LONG BALLOT. AS I WAS MENTIONING, OUR GOAL IS TO BE READY BY SEPTEMBER 1ST.

WE'VE LOCATED AND SECURED 57 EARLY VOTING POLLING LOCATIONS.

WE ARE STILL LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS ABOUT LOCATIONS IN THEIR AREAS, SO, THERE'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL SITES FOR EARLY VOTING, PARTICULARLY FOR VOTERS THAT ARE FURTHER OUT FROM DOWNTOWN. AS OF YESTERDAY, OUR ELECTION DAY SITES RAISED UP TO 301. IS THIS A BIG ELEPHANT? IT IS. BUT WE'VE TACKLED MORE THAN THIS.

IN THE PRESIDENTIAL OF 2024, THERE WERE 307 SITES AND WE HAVE 301. THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THIS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN UP AGAINST A BIGGER CHALLENGE.

ALONG WITH PREPARING FOR THE ELECTIONS, WE HAVE THE BALLOT PREPARATION.

WE'VE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED NEW TABULATION EQUIPMENT. OUR TECH DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY BUILDING THE BALLOT, SENDING IT BACK TO EACH ENTITY TO HAVE THEM PROOF IT. AUGUST 24TH IS THE LAST DAY FOR ENTITIES TO HOLD A DRAWING FOR THEIR BALLOT, SO, ONCE THEY HAVE THEIR BALLOT DRAWING, THEY'LL GET THAT TO US. AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE PREPARING FOR OUR LOGIC AND ACCURACY TEST THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE.

WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE MAIL BALLOTS TO THE OVERSEAS AND MILITARY VOTERS.

THAT DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 19TH, AND WE'RE PREPARING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30,000 BY-MAIL BALLOTS. SO, THE PURPOSE BEHIND PREPARING FOR THE ELECTION BY SEPTEMBER 1ST WAS SO, THAT THERE'S NOT RUSHED. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IF I'M GOING TO DO IT, I'M ALL IN. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. STAFFING AND TRAINING. EARLY VOTING POLL SITES ARE 100% STAFFED. OUR ELECTION DAY POLL SITES ARE 50% WITH A DEADLINE OF OCTOBER 1ST TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE 100% STAFFED WE WILL HAVE SOME MILESTONES IN BETWEEN, BUT WE ARE ON TARGET TO BE PREPARED FOR ELECTION DAY BY OCTOBER 1ST. AS CECE MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, WE DO HAVE 92 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. A NEW TRAINING THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORTH IS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

DURING THE ELECTION COMMISSION MEETING IN JUNE, WE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR ELECTION JUDGES BRING TO OUR ATTENTION SOME ISSUES THAT BROUGHT FEAR, AND SO, WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THAT FEAR. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE OPERATIONS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WHO SUBMITTED TO YOU ALL A PLAYBOOK AND IT WAS APPROVED IN COURT.

SO, WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THEM. THEY'RE COMING.

WE'RE HAVING LARGE TRAINING SESSIONS AT THE FREEMAN COLISEUM SO, THAT WE CAN HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE THERE AT THE SAME TIME TO GIVE THEM THE DIRECTION AS TO WHO DO YOU CALL IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. JUST THIS MORNING I RECEIVED AN EMAIL WANTING TO KNOW WHO, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO KNOW? THIS IS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW. AND THIS PARTICULAR TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS A MANDATORY TRAINING. WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL SECURE ABOUT VOTING, WHETHER YOU'RE IN LINE OUTSIDE OR YOU'RE INSIDE MANNING THE POLLS. WE HAVE THE JUDGE RECERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT'S REQUIRED IN ORDER TO BE A JUDGE AT A POLLING LOCATION. YOU HAVE TO BE RECENTLY CERTIFIED. SO, WE HAVE RECERTIFICATIONS, 44 CLERK TRAININGS, AND 22 EQUIPMENT REVIEW. EACH ONE OF THOSE EQUALS ABOUT 14 HOURS OF TRAINING. AS CECE MENTIONED IN HER SPEECH, THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT WE RECEIVED WAS THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO BE TRAINED. AND JUST IN HER 5-PERIOD, WE'RE ALMOST SURPASSING THE NUMBER OF CLASSES THAT WE'RE OFFERING.

THE SAD SIDE IS THE TURNOUT IS ONLY 30% OF OUR JUDGES REALLY APPEAR AT THESE TRAININGS, YET THEY COMPLAIN THAT THEY DON'T FEEL TRAINED OR PREPARED FOR ELECTION DAY OR EARLY VOTING WHEN WE CLEARLY HAVE A FULL CALENDAR OF OPPORTUNITIES FROM MORNING INTO THE EVENING. VOTER ACCESSIBILITY, AND I SENT A FOLLOW-UP ON THIS, I APOLOGIZE, IT HAS THE NUMBERS BROKEN DOWN BY EACH COMMISSIONER, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THIS AND I DIDN'T BRING MY PHONE UP HERE TO BE ABLE TO GO OVER THAT, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE IT TO YOU ALL. THIS IS JUST A RECAP ABOUT VOTER ACCESSIBILITY ON ELECTION DAY. SOMETHING THAT I WAS LISTENING TO IN THE LAST NUMBER, NUMBER 61, WAS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS TO REACH THIS, THEN WE'LL LOOK AND POSSIBLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SITES. BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THE COIN, YOU GUYS WANT ME TO ADD ONE MORE SITE AT THE JAIL. SO, I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME CONVERSATION TO BE HAD ABOUT WHAT'S THE BEST FOR BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS. COMING SOON TO ELECTIONS, WE'RE GETTING A NEW WEBSITE THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST. WE ARE HAVING A NEW WEBSITE AND DOMAIN CHANGE FROM .ORG TO .GOV. AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT I FEEL WILL BE BENEFICIAL IN NOVEMBER IS A LIVE WAIT TIME ON OUR WEBSITE. SO, WHEN VOTERS ARE PREPARING TO HEAD TO THE POLLS, THEY CAN GO TO A MAP AND THEY'LL HAVE IT'LL BE SIMILAR TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT: RED, YELLOW, GREEN. IF IT'S RED, THEN THERE'S A LONG LINE. AND

[05:00:01]

IF IT'S GREEN, IT MEANS COME ON, THERE'S NOBODY IN LINE.

SO, WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT.

WE WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH TARRANT COUNTY, WHO USES THE SAME POLL PADS THAT WE DO.

THEY WERE ABLE TO SHARE WITH BCIT THEIR PROGRAMMING, AND IT'S IN RIGHT NOW THEY'RE CURRENTLY BUILDING IT. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE IT IN PLACE BY SEPTEMBER I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION. BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

BUT I DO WANT TO BRING THAT FORTH BECAUSE WE LISTENED TO WHAT THE VOTERS WERE SAYING.

YOU GUYS HEARD IT. YOU GUYS SAW DURING THE PRIMARY THAT AT SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS, VOTERS WAITED UP TO ALMOST 3 HOURS AFTER 7:00 TO VOTE. SO, WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, I BELIEVE THAT I WANTED TO JUST JUMP INTO ELECTION OPERATIONS. WE HAVE 2 DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK HAND IN HAND WHEN IT COMES TO PREPARING FOR THE ELECTIONS. IT'S THE TECH DEPARTMENT IN OUR WAREHOUSE DEPARTMENT.

IN OUR TECH DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE PREPARING THE TABULATION EQUIPMENT, PROGRAMMING THE BALLOT, THEY'RE TESTING THE EQUIPMENT, THEY'RE TESTING THEIR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE CHANGED OUR CHAIN OF CUSTODY. AT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT CHAIN OF CUSTODY, SO, WE'VE UPDATED THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY TO BE MORE MODERN WITH OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY AND BE ABLE TO FILL IN INFORMATION ON ONE SHEET. THEY ARE PROGRAMMING AND DISTRIBUTING THE POLL PADS. AND DISTRIBUTING BALLOT BINS. AND WHEN I WANTED TO TOUCH ON BALLOT BINS, I WANTED TO BRING TO THE FOREFRONT THAT LAST SUMMER WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BALLOT BINS.

AND THERE WAS A PART TO WHERE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO EMPTY OUT A PREVIOUS ELECTION BECAUSE THEY WERE OVERLAPPING.

WITH THE HAVA FUNDS, WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL 350 BALLOT BINS. SO, WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON ALL OF OUR LOCATIONS. WE'VE DETERMINED THAT ONCE THEY HIT ABOUT 2,000, THAT'S ABOUT THE MAX THAT EACH BIN CAN HOLD.

SO, OUR TECH TEAM WILL BE MONITORING THE POLLING LOCATIONS TO DETERMINE WHEN THOSE BALLOT BINS NEED TO BE SWAPPED OUT. OUR TECH DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY SITES.

THEY HIRE AND TRAIN ALL OF THE ELECTION DAY TECHNICIANS WHO ARE OUT AMONG THE COUNTY TO ASSIST. THEY ASSIST WITH PRINTING THE MAIL BALLOTS FOR OUR MAIL BALLOT TEAM AND TABULATION OF THE MAIL BALLOTS AT NIGHT. THEY'RE ALSO, RESPONSIBLE FOR ELECTION NIGHT AUDITING.

SO, ONE OF THE MEMBERS ON THE TECH TEAM HIRES A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND AUDIT FOR PART OF THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY TO ENSURE THAT THE SEAL NUMBER THAT WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT BOX IS THE SAME ONE WHEN IT CAME IN. WE'RE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL THAT WAS SET BY THE STATE. OUR WAREHOUSE, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY TESTING AND PLANNING ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOTING EQUIPMENT, THE ALLOCATION. WE HIRE A MOVING COMPANY TO DELIVER OUR VOTING EQUIPMENT LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY AND EARLY VOTING. THEY DISTRIBUTE THE SEQUENTIALLY NUMBERED BALLOTS THAT ARE REQUIRED AT EACH POLLING LOCATION, AND THEY DETERMINE HOW MANY TO SEND TO EACH ONE OF THOSE.

THEY ASSEMBLE ALL OF THE KITS AND OUR ELECTION DAY AND EARLY VOTING CARTS.

SO, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OUR WAREHOUSE, THE CARTS ARE THE LARGE 6-FOOT-TALL METAL CONTAINERS THAT ARE TAKEN OUT TO EACH LOCATION. AND TO ADD TO THAT, THERE'S NEW REGULATIONS FOR A RISK-LIMITING AUDIT AFTER THE ELECTION.

FOR THIS ELECTION, IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'LL BE MANNING THAT AND THE POST-ELECTION HAND COUNT AUDIT. SO, THE WAREHOUSE AND THE TECH TEAMS, AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'RE DEEP IN ELECTIONS. MY RECOMMENDATION FOR ALL OF THESE WOULD BE TO PROVIDE US WITH 4 ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESSORS, 2 MAIL CLERKS, 2 ADDITIONAL LIAISONS, AND I AM IN DESPERATE NEED OF AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.

ANOTHER THANK YOU.

THE OTHER ASK THAT I HAVE IS FOR US TO LOOK AT THE INVENTORY CLERK AND THE VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESSORS TO RECLASSIFY THEIR JOBS. THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS ENTRY-LEVEL, AND THEY'RE ANYTHING BUT ENTRY-LEVEL. THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING ALL OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS, KNOWING THE ELECTION CODE, WORKING WITH THE DEPUTY VOTER REGISTRARS, MANNING THE FRONT OF THE OFFICE. WITHOUT THE VOTER REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT, WE WOULD REALLY BE IN A BAD PLACE. BUT I DID WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK MY TEAM BECAUSE, AS THEY MENTIONED, WE DO LONG HOURS. SOME DID GET CALLED BACK FROM VACATION BECAUSE THE JOB IS NEVER-ENDING. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE REASON WHY THE CHANGE FROM MY PREDECESSOR TO NOW IS THAT VO-TECH USED TO AUTOMATE THE DPS APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTOMATION. USING THE TEAM SYSTEM, EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS TO BE INDIVIDUALLY ENTERED.

ON OUR MAIL BALLOTS, TEAM DOES NOT HAVE A BULK REPORTING SYSTEM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO JUST ENTER IN ALL OF THE VOTER ID NUMBERS AND MARK THEM ALL AS RECEIVED. IN REGARDS TO THE VOTERS WHO HAVE CLAIMED THAT WE TOLD THEM THEIR BALLOTS WERE THERE BUT THEY'RE NOT SEEING THAT THEY WERE COUNTED, THAT IS A TEAM ISSUE. WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE DEVELOPERS OF TEAM LAST WEEK AT THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE'S AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUST TELL THEM AND TALK ABOUT EVERY ISSUE THAT WE'RE HAVING, AND THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE PROBLEMS EXIST.

BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST.

SO, IT'S NOT FOR A LACK OF US PUTTING IN THE HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE VOTING BY MAIL, IT'S FOR A LACK OF A GREAT

[05:05:01]

VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM. AND THAT IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO CAME.

THANK YOU, MICHELLE, FOR THE PRESENTATION, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR OFFERING REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP US RUN A SMOOTH ELECTION. AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING AND EVERYTHING THEY'RE GOING TO DO. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT MY DESIRE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COURT SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT IN THE WAY THAT IT TRADITIONALLY HAS, WHICH IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT STAFFING NEEDS, THIS COURT HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED THE STAFFING NEEDS. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS. HE'S DONE EXCELLENT WORK ON ELECTIONS, HELPING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATOR WHEN THERE WERE ISSUES, AND I SAID WE NEED A TAG TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE SUPPORT FOR THIS ELECTION.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY ANTICIPATING A BIG ELECTION. OUR PRIMARY AT 2.5 TIMES. I MEAN, WE WANT AS MANY PEOPLE TO VOTE AS POSSIBLE. BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE QUESTIONS I JUST WANT TO GET TO FOR CLARITY'S SAKE. SO, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ABOUT 1,000 DPS VOTER REGISTRATIONS COME IN A WEEK. DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT, OR IS IT A DAY? TOWARDS THE DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, WE GET 01,000 A DAY.

OKAY, SO, IT'S 1,000 A DAY.

AND THE CAPACITY, JUST HUMANLY POSSIBLE, OF THE STAFF IS TO PROCESS ABOUT 500 A DAY? ON A GOOD DAY, YES. THAT'S WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS.

YEAH. SO, THAT'S PART OF THE REQUEST FOR THE EXTRA STAFFING IS JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE THERE'S PROBABLY A BACKLOG. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BACKLOG LOOKS LIKE.

I WOULDN'T CALL IT A BACKLOG.

RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE ABOUT 3,000 DPS APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY IN QUEUE, THAT'S ABOUT 2 WEEKS' WORTH OF WORK.

SO, TO CALL IT A BACKLOG, I WOULDN'T. THAT'S JUST OUR EVERYDAY WORK.

OK. WELL, IT ONLY BECOMES A BACKLOG AT THE POINT THAT WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT OCTOBER REGISTRATION DEADLINE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE. SO, WE WANT TO TRY TO GET AHEAD OF IT AND GET YOU THE STAFFING THAT'S NECESSARY. BECAUSE AT THE CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS, IT APPEARS AS IF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIT OF A LAG IN THE PROCESSING JUST BY HUMAN CAPABILITY. SO, I THINK THAT THE KEY DATE IF WE WERE TO PUT I THINK WE HAVE TO BASICALLY TRY TO GET WE CAN GIVE DIRECTION TODAY BECAUSE IT'S IN THE ACF. BUT SEPTEMBER 1ST WOULD PROBABLY BE THE TIMELINE THAT YOU NEED FUNDING TO BE RATIFIED. IS THAT BASICALLY RIGHT? THAT'S 100% CORRECT.

OK. SO, WE NEED TO PUT A PLACEHOLDER ON THE NEXT AGENDA FOR THAT THAT GAP IN STAFFING. SO, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.

I THINK THAT'S YOUR STAFF HAS ILLUMINATED THE ISSUE QUITE WELL, AND YOUR DETAIL OF TEAMS' LACK OF EASY USE OF DATABASING THE MAIL BALLOTS IS A CHALLENGE WE HAVE NOT HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND I DON'T THINK ANY LARGE COUNTY I THINK ALL THE OTHER LARGE COUNTIES ARE USING LIKE VR, IS THAT SOME OF THEM ARE STILL USING VOTECH SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CLOUD-BASED, AND BEXAR COUNTY WAS CLOUD-BASED, SO, OUR SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT VR SYSTEMS PURCHASED VOTECH. SO, YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THEY'RE ALL UNDER THE VOTECH UMBRELLA, THE VR SYSTEMS UMBRELLA.

THEY'RE ALL UNDER A PRIVATE SECTOR VENDOR? WE ARE THE LARGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS THAT IS NOT UNDER THAT'S CORRECT.

WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT FOR THE RECORD? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO, BEXAR COUNTY, WE HAVE A RESOURCE ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO THE HUMAN ABILITY TO MANAGE THE AMOUNT OF MAIL BALLOTS. 30,000 IS YOUR ESTIMATE FOR HOW MANY MAIL BALLOTS.

SO, YOU HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION IN YOUR SLIDE FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF.

WAS IT 2 THAT I SAW? YES. SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CALL ISSUE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT IS DIFFICULT. WE DID HEAR FROM YOUR STAFF, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THESE CALLS, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IN A LARGE TURNOUT WHERE WE HAVE THIS TEAM SYSTEM THAT'S ANTIQUATED ON MAIL BALLOTS, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO, MUCH CAPACITY ON REGISTRATION, THAT SOME SORT OF INFORMATIONAL HOTLINE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE TRAINED PEOPLE ANSWER THE PHONES, HELP ELECTION JUDGES TO TROUBLESHOOT IF THERE'S A LACK OF BALLOTS OR THERE'S AN ISSUE OF SOME SORT WITH A VOTER. AND I DON'T THINK I SAW THAT IN A RECOMMENDATION. SO, COULD

[05:10:03]

YOU GIVE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COURT FOR, OR WOULD YOU AND COULD YOU GIVE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COURT ON DEDICATED PEOPLE TO EXPAND THE PHONE CONNECTIVITY? BECAUSE OFTEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HUGE TURNOUT OF VOTERS, YOUR ELECTION PEOPLE ARE CALLING, PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE CALLING, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE CALLING, AND YOU MAY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO JUST THE CAPACITY OF EVERYONE TO ANSWER THE LINE. I MEAN, I COULD ENVISION AT LEAST 5 FOLKS ADDITIONALLY. ARE THERE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR PHONE BANK? ON OUR PLAN FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, WE ARE OPENING UP OUR PHONE BANK TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THE ADDITIONAL PHONE CALLS THAT ARE COMING IN. WE HAVEN'T REALLY DECIDED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN, BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE'RE PROVIDING THE SAME TRAINING TO OUR TEMPORARY CLERKS IN OUR OFFICE THAT OUR ELECTION JUDGES AND CLERKS GET.

SO, OUR TRAINING DEPARTMENT NEXT WEEK WILL BE DOING TRAINING WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THEM WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE STANDING ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY INTERNALLY.

WE'RE ALSO, GOING TO BE PROVIDING THEM WITH, SIMILAR TO AN FAQ, LIKE IF THIS QUESTION COMES IN, HOW TO ANSWER IT ON PAPER.

SO, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO GIVE THE COURT BY SEPTEMBER 1ST THAT NUMBER? AND IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, YOU COULD GIVE US THAT INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, MAYBE BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK WOULD BE HELPFUL? ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO INTO THE TRAINING ISSUE, BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF CHANGE IS PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF THE CULTURE THAT PROVISIONAL BALLOTS PROBABLY WON'T COUNT. I THINK IN LIGHT OF THE ISSUE WITH THE BOX THIRD DOWN THAT DPS MAY HAVE BEEN THE ENTITY REGISTERING, THERE SHOULD BE AN EXTRA AWARENESS IN THE TRAINING, AND I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU AND ACTUALLY COME UP WITH AN AGREED-UPON LANGUAGE THAT CAN BE PRESENTED TO OUR ELECTION CLERKS AND ELECTION JUDGES AND OTHER STAFF AT THE OFFICE THAT IT'S ANTICIPATING THESE KINDS OF QUAGMIRES, QUESTIONS, MISSING THINGS BECAUSE TEAMS IS DOING WHAT IT'S DOING, OR JUST BECAUSE THE ELECTION HAS A LOT MORE OBSTACLES THAN NORMAL. SO, YOU WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON GETTING SOME LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE TO FOR TRAINING PURPOSES? ABSOLUTELY. AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT, BECAUSE DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD, WE DO HAVE TEMPORARY STAFF WITHIN OUR OFFICE WHO MIGHT NOT BE 100% UP TO SPEED ON ALL THINGS ELECTIONS. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME STAFF COME IN TO LEARN THIS. BECAUSE AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING, WE'RE CURRENTLY JUST CHASING OUR TAIL, RIGHT? AFTER EVERY ELECTION, WE'RE BRINGING IN NEW PEOPLE.

WE'RE HAVING TO START THE WHOLE TRAINING PROCESS OVER. AND IT'S A NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.

BUT BRINGING ON FULL-TIME STAFF, I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE MORE COMMITMENT.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING. I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE WAITED HERE ALL DAY. WE HAVE I HAVE PROBABLY 45 OTHER ISSUES THAT I COULD SORT THROUGH, BUT I THINK WE CAN DISTILL IT DOWN AND VERY QUICKLY MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE YOU'RE EXPRESSING A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US ON STAFFING, ON TRAINING, ON ALL THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BROUGHT UP. AND WE'RE GIVING OURSELVES TO SEPTEMBER 1ST TO BE READY TO COME BACK TO COURT WITH SOME OF THE THINGS SHORED UP THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I WILL DO BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER. OR THIRD, IS TO MAKE SURE THIS ELECTION AND I DON'T THINK I'M I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST MYSELF. I THINK THIS ENTIRE COURT WILL BE JUDGED HISTORICALLY ON HOW WELL WE MANAGE THIS ELECTION. I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ELECTION. I THINK WE'VE SET OURSELVES UP, NOT YOU, BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT WE'RE THE BIGGEST COUNTY WITHOUT A PRIVATE SECTOR VENDOR, WE'VE SET OURSELVES UP TO BE THE EPICENTER OF QUAGMIRES THAT COULD HAPPEN, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF STAFF, BUT BECAUSE TEAMS HAS SHORTENED THE CHARACTERS AND THE NAME IS CUT OFF OR WHATEVER DATABASE ISSUES BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO SORT THROUGH BALLOTS AND ALL THESE KINDS OF THINGS. AND WE TRIED TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW, ON THE AGENDA IN A WAY THAT WOULD PREVENT THOSE KINDS OF QUAGMIRES, BUT I THINK LAWYERS ARE LOOKING AT SAN ANTONIO AS THE EPICENTER FOR THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG, BUT LET'S TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN INFRASTRUCTURALLY RIGHT. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO CAME WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF DEMOCRATIC VOTING AND FOR STICKING WITH US ALL DAY.

SO, I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

REMIND ME, WHEN IS THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST VOTE BY MAIL? OCTOBER 23RD.

[05:15:08]

OCTOBER 23RD? YES. THAT'S THE LAST DAY TO GET IT INTO OUR OFFICE.

SO, THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST IT WOULD BE WELL, THEY REQUEST IT ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE 22ND. IT'S OUR DUTY TO MAIL THEM THE APPLICATION, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN OUR OFFICE ON THE 23RD.

OKAY. AND THEN YOU HAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF YOUR JUDGES DON'T GO TO TRAINING. SO, ARE YOU SAYING IT'S NOT MANDATORY FOR THE JUDGES TO GO? WE, WE WILL PUT ON OUR SITE, LIKE, IT'S MANDATORY THAT YOU ATTEND.

BUT NOT ALL OF THEM WILL SHOW UP. AND UNFORTUNATELY BUT DOESN'T THAT DO A DISSERVICE? BECAUSE THEN IF THERE'S ISSUES, THEN THEY'RE DELAYING THINGS OR THEY GIVE WRONG INFORMATION TO VOTERS.

IT IS A DISSERVICE.

SO, CAN YOU NOT MAKE IT MANDATORY, OR IS THAT LIKE A WE MAKE IT MANDATORY, BUT THEY ARE ALSO, ADULTS, RIGHT? SO, IF THEY DON'T COME, WE CAN'T DRAG THEM TO CLASS TO MAKE THEM ATTEND. NOW, MY LIAISONS, THEY DO CONTACT THEIR JUDGES IF THEY SEE THAT THEY'VE NOT ATTENDED. A CLASS, THEY'LL REACH OUT. WE DO HAVE A NEW POLL WORKER PORTAL THAT WE COULD SEND OUT TEXT MESSAGES TO REMIND THEM ABOUT TRAINING, TO REMIND THEM ABOUT ANYTHING ELECTIONS.

SO, IF YOU MAKE IT MANDATORY AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEN MAYBE Y'ALL SHOULD DO IT EARLIER SO, YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP TO THIS, THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO WORK THAT DAY AND WE HAVE AMPLE TIME TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE. THAT'S JUST MY 2 CENTS. ALSO, WHY IS IT GOING FROM .ORG TO .GOV? IT'S A REQUIREMENT.

OKAY. AND THEN LASTLY, IF THERE ARE ALL THESE ISSUES WITH STAFFING, WHY WASN'T THIS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION EARLIER? WELL, I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. NOW, WE'RE NOT WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS NOT ALL THAT WORKS. WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN OUR OFFICE ABOUT 30 TEMPORARY STAFF. SO, WHEN WE HAD THE BACKLOG BACK IN OCTOBER THAT WE HAD 50 OR 60 STAFF MEMBERS THEY'RE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO COME HELP US.

THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, MOVED ON OR FOUND A FULL-TIME JOB.

SO, THE BIG TEMPS RIGHT NOW IS BRINGING THEM IN, HIRED BY THE STATE TO GET ACCESS TO TEAM. WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO JUST GO AND BE CERTIFIED IN THE TEAM SYSTEM. THAT'S OUR LARGEST OBSTACLE. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT COME IN AS TEMPS, AND AFTER THEY TAKE THE CLASS, WHICH IS ABOUT HALF A DAY LONG, THEY DON'T COME BACK AFTER LUNCH. SO, FINDING HELP IS THE HARDEST PART.

ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER MOODY? YEAH, JUST A FEW FOLLOW-UPS FROM BEFORE. BUT FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING HERE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE RUN A SAFE, FAIR, EFFICIENT ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER. SO, APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR STAFF'S DOING. I KNOW IT'S A BUSY TIME FOR EVERYBODY IN YOUR OFFICE. THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WE ALSO, HAVE TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT CHANGE AND INJECTS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE CHANGES WHILE THE SYSTEM'S RUNNING NEAR REDLINE, YOU KNOW, IT ONLY BECOMES THAT MUCH HARDER FOR YOU ALL.

WHEN WE'RE MAKING THOSE ASKS AND REQUESTS.

I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE ELECTION DAY SITES.

DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF LIKE THE ELECTION DAY SITES THAT HAVE THE FEWEST NUMBER OF VOTERS OR HISTORICALLY HAD THE FEWEST NUMBER OF VOTERS? WE CAN CERTAINLY RUN A REPORT ON THAT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING HERE WITH ME AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME SITES THAT HAVE VERY LITTLE TURNOUT, BUT THEY ARE ALSO, IN RURAL AREAS.

OKAY. SO, IT TURNS INTO A GEOGRAPHIC CORRECT.

VERSUS UTILIZATION. I WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT POINT AGAIN. IT COMES DOWN TO, I GUESS, A BALANCE BETWEEN AN OPERATIONS ANALYSIS HERE BETWEEN REDUCING DRIVE TIME VERSUS REDUCING WAIT TIME. RIGHT? BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE FEWER ELECTION DAY SITES, WE HAVE MORE POLLING EQUIPMENT, MORE STAFF, LIKELY LESS WAIT TIME, RIGHT? VERSUS MORE ELECTION DAY SITES, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE FEWER BALLOT BOXES, FEWER STAFF, THEY'RE MORE SPREAD OUT, BUT THERE'S A BALANCE THERE THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

AND OBVIOUSLY THERE COMES MORE RISK WITH MORE SITES VERSUS FEWER SITES ON ELECTION DAY, RIGHT? AND SO, I HOPE YOUR TEAM, YOUR OFFICE IS THINKING ABOUT THAT AND THE COURT'S THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WE MAKE REQUESTS TOO. BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT. THERE'S ONLY SO, MANY PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY WHO CAN VOTE IN ANY 30-MINUTE INCREMENT BASED ON HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, BALLOTING EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE.

WE JUST PURCHASED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT WITH THE HAVA GRANT MONEY. I KNOW.

I KNOW. BUT THERE'S ONLY SO, MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN GO THROUGH ALL THE EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? SO, IT TURNS INTO HOW BROADLY WE SPREAD THAT OUT, WHETHER THAT'S OVER, YOU KNOW, 250 SITES, 300 SITES, 400

[05:20:01]

SITES, RIGHT? IF WE SPREAD IT OUT FURTHER, THEN THERE'S JUST FEWER EQUIPMENT AT EACH SITE, RIGHT? AND THEN THE POTENTIAL THAT THERE'S A LINE DEVELOPS AT THAT SITE. SO, I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. AS WE GO FORWARD. I WILL JUST SAY FROM MY EXPERIENCE, EARLY VOTING IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE WAY TO GO. I HAVE NEVER WHEN I VOTED EARLY, I'VE NEVER HAD TO WAIT MORE THAN LIKE 10 MINUTES, AND I'VE VOTED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THE ONE TIME IN THE LAST LIKE 10 YEARS WHERE I HAD A LONG WAIT WAS ON ELECTION DAY. SO, HIGHLY RECOMMEND GET OUT THERE AND VOTE EARLY. LAST THING I'M GOING TO BRING UP THOUGH IS I SAW IT IN THE BUDGET TODAY, AND I KNOW WE PREVIOUSLY HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT COMES UP ANNUALLY, BUT THIS PLAN YOUR VOTE SA WEBSITE. SO, I WANT TO KNOW, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT YOU ARE UPDATING OUR WEBSITE. IS THAT AFTER THE ELECTION? NO, IT HAS TO BE UPDATED BY SEPTEMBER 1ST.

ARE YOU IN CONTACT WITH WHOEVER IS DOING THE PLAN YOUR VOTE SA WEBSITE? YES.

OKAY. SO, HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT INCORPORATING THAT GOING FORWARD SO, WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE WEBSITES OUT THERE THAT WE'RE FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIONS? I KNOW THAT I'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S STAFF AND WITH THE DEVELOPER OF THAT SITE. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CORRECT INFORMATION IS ACROSS BOTH OF THEM. AND OVER TIME, I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY EVEN REDIRECT THAT SITE TO BEXAR COUNTY'S SITE.

BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC. SO, FOR US TO ELIMINATE IT JUST AUTOMATICALLY, I THINK WOULD REALLY UPSET A LOT OF VOTERS. SIMILARLY TO WHEN ONE OF OUR FACEBOOK PAGES WAS DEACTIVATED AND YOU GUYS GOT ALL THE PHONE CALLS ABOUT IT.

LIKE NOBODY TOLD US IT WAS GOING TO BE DEACTIVATED. SO, I BELIEVE OUR PLAN IS TO MAINTAIN THE SECOND WEBSITE AND SLOWLY TRANSITION TO JUST ONE.

YEAH, I MEAN, BUT WE'VE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR A COUPLE YEARS. SO, IT WAS UNDER MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT THIS YEAR. SO, I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE MADE PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT OR NOT AT THIS POINT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS THE GOAL, COMMISSIONER. BUT AS MICHELLE MENTIONED, I THINK THE CONCERN WAS WITH THE EXISTING SITE KIND OF PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM OTHER FOLKS WHEN IT HAS SO, MUCH TRAFFIC AND NOT HAVING THIS ONE READY TO GO BY NOVEMBER, THAT WAS, I GUESS, THE CONCERN. BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU'RE RIGHT. I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE ONE SITE, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS NOVEMBER ELECTION.

WELL, I MEAN, IF WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT 90 DAYS, THEN I'M FINE WITH THAT. I JUST DON'T WANT THIS TO CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY. AND WE GO FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND IT'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. IT'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. SO, I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE INCLUDE THAT FULL AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET OR NOT, THAT WE START HAVING THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW I MEAN, LISTEN, IF THERE'S GOOD INFORMATION THERE, LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET THAT INFORMATION. YEAH, IT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POINT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY SITE. BUT IF THERE'S OTHER INFORMATION THAT CITIZENS FIND VALUABLE IN THE SECOND SITE, THEN LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE IT INTO THE BARE SITE AND HAVE ONE GOOD SITE INSTEAD OF 2 COMPETING SITES NECESSARILY.

SO AND I THINK THE OTHER LIMITATION, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, IS I THINK THE PLAN YOUR VOTE SITE HAS INFORMATION ABOUT OFFICES AND CANDIDATES, AND I THINK YOUR KIND OF RESTRICTED IN WHAT YOU CAN PUT ON.

YEAH, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE THAT ON OURS.

WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

BUT I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION WE'VE GOT TO FLESH OUT. AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN ONGOING FOR SOME TIME. I THINK WE JUST FIGURED THAT OUT RECENTLY, THAT YOU COULDN'T HAVE CERTAIN THINGS ON THE GOVERNMENT SITE. SO, BUT YEAH, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE? JUDGE, LET ME JUST I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

MICHELLE, THANK YOU, AND A LOT OF YOUR FOLKS THAT ARE HERE.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU PUT UP KIND OF YOUR FINAL SLIDE, THERE WERE SEVERAL POSITIONS.

HAVE THOSE BEEN SENT OVER TO BUDGET STAFF TO START COSTING THOSE OUT? IF NOT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE IF THERE ARE SOME CRITICAL FUNCTIONS TO ALLEVIATE ALLEVIATING WHAT SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES WERE TESTIFYING TO, THEN WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT. I MEAN, YOU WERE HERE ALL DAY, SO, YOU KNOW THE BUDGET CIRCUMSTANCES WE'RE UNDER, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT. ELECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED, YOUR FOLKS HAVE WHAT YOU NEED.

SO, IF YOU CAN GET THAT OVER TO BUDGET SO, THAT THEY CAN COST THOSE OUT, WE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE, PRIORITIZE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN AND CAN'T DO BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER OR

[05:25:01]

OCTOBER.

BUT IF YOU CAN DO THAT FOR IN PRETTY QUICK ORDER, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU. AND I UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET ISSUE. I'M NOT TRYING TO BOMBARD YOU ALL AND BRING, YOU KNOW, A CHRISTMAS WISH LIST.

BUT THIS IS MORE THAN A WISH.

IT'S A NEED.

YES, COMMISSIONER MURDY.

AND I WANT TO JUST ENSURE FOR THE RECORD, YOU FULLY SUPPORT THE UTILIZATION OF THE COMP TIME? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT COMP TIME IS BEING HONORED AND EVERYTHING WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT? I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT, COMMISSIONER MOODY, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS. AS I MENTIONED, WHEN DURING OUR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY PUT IN, THEY EARNED ENOUGH COMP TIME TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE WHOLE SUMMER OFF IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO.

BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DOG. WE HAVE TO PUT THE BUSINESS NEEDS IN THERE AS WELL. SO, YES, THEY'RE TAKING COMP TIME.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH TIME AS THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE TAKEN OFF. I DID SUBMIT A MEMO TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE REQUESTING DOES SOME HOURS BE ROLLED OVER JUST DUE TO THE BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK ELECTION THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO TAKE THEIR TIME OFF? WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT, RIGHT? AND I FOR ONE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING ANYBODY'S COMP TIME, RIGHT? IF THEY'RE PUTTING IN THE EXTRA TIME, THAT WE'RE AT LEAST HONORING THAT, MAKING SURE WE FIND A WAY TO LIKE ROLL IT OVER, AND THEN COME MID-NOVEMBER TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY

[62. Discussion and appropriate action requesting approval for the use of $ 103, 100 in unexpended salary funds, due to position vacancies and underfilled captain positions, or identified funding through the Fleet Acquisition Fund, as suggested by the Bexar County Budget Department or funds collected from the Texas Transportation Code, 542.402, to purchase two BMW Police Motorcycles and motorcycle equipment in the amount of $51,550 each / $103, 100 for two.]

TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THAT TIME OFF.

I KNOW WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF.

ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT WRAP UP AGENDA ITEM 66? ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO 62. DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF $103,100 IN UNEXPENDED SALARY FUNDS DUE TO POSITION VACANCIES, UNDERFILLED CAPTA POSITIONS, OR IDENTIFIED FUNDING THROUGH THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND AS SUGGESTED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY BUDGET DEPARTMENT FOR FUNDS COLLECTED THROUGH FROM THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE 542.402 TO PURCHASE 2 BMW POLICE MOTORCYCLES AND MOTORCYCLE EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,550 EACH, $103,100 FOR 2. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MODDY. YES, CAPTAIN? CAPTAIN GOWAN, COULD WILL HE BE ABLE TO PRESENT, RIGHT? HE YIELDED. I THOUGHT YOU YIELDED TIME TO NO, NO, NO.

THIS IS AN ITEM FOR THE AGENDA, 62, SO, HE WAS GOING TO PRESENT. I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY SHARED SOME OF IT, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST COVER AGAIN THE HIGH LEVEL FOR THIS ITEM.

WAS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE CONSTABLE'S PRESENTATION? PRESENTATION OF CITIZENS BE HEARD.

CAN I ASK SOMETHING BEFORE WE GET INTO A PRESENTATION? SO, WE'RE ON 62, RIGHT? OKAY, SO, IT SAYS IF UNEXPECTED IN UNEXPECTED UNEXPENDED SALARY FUNDS. SO, TINA, TANYA, HAVE THESE FUNDS ALREADY BEEN EXPENDED? YES, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT THE PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION WILL GO OVER BUDGET BY ABOUT $40,000 RIGHT NOW. OKAY, SO, THIS IS THE SAME ITEM. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT, I THINK, 3 TIMES ALREADY. IT'S ALREADY BEEN VOTED DOWN, AND NOW THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN EXPENDED. SO, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TIME CONSUMPTION HERE.

SO, THERE'S IT'S BEEN VOTED ONCE BY THIS COURT, AND THIS COURT HAD QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT ITEM. SINCE THEN, THE CONSTABLE HAS COME BACK AND ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS. I BELIEVE IT'S STATED THROUGH THIS ITEM THAT THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPTION AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND. AND IF PEOPLE HAVE ISSUE WITH THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND, I'VE ALSO, COMMITTED TO BACKSTOPPING THAT WITH CAPITAL DOLLARS FROM THE PRECINCT 3 FUND. SO, THE FUNDING IS NOT AN ISSUE HERE.

IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT CONSTABLE WHEN THEY HAVE A REQUEST RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, IN MY OPINION, THE POTENTIAL FOR COST SAVINGS, YOU KNOW, CONSTABLE TALKED ABOUT ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME THROUGH TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT'S JUST CREATED NATURALLY THROUGH THAT. HOWEVER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES THAT ARE ACTUALLY CHEAPER THAN TAHOES.

I'M GOING TO HAVE A POINT OF ORDER HERE, COMMISSIONER. I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN UP AND DOWN VOTE.

SO, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THIS MATTER. I'M GOING TO ALLOW CAPTAIN TO ADD ANYTHING THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID.

IF YOU GOT ANYTHING TO ADD, THEN I'M GOING TO ASK FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE. SO, CAPTAIN, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SAY? SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW

[05:30:01]

THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL OR THE TWO WHEELS. THAT WAS DONE OVER 115 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY TOOK MOTORCYCLES AND REPLACED THEM FROM HORSEBACK. WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR SOME TOOLS THAT THIS COURT HAS GRANTED US TO DO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM THE CITIZENS AND REQUESTS THAT WE GO OUT AND ENFORCE THOSE TRAFFIC LAWS THAT THEY REQUEST US. WE GET A LOT FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.

WE GET A LOT FROM OUR WEBSITE. AND WE GET A LOT FROM EMAILS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH TO DO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

ALL WE'RE ASKING IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US TO GET INTO THOSE AREAS OF THE 116 SCHOOL ZONES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO PRECINCT 3 TO DO INTERSECTION TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE IN A TAHOE.

SO, THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DO IS TO GIVE US THOSE TOOLS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU HAVE ALLOCATED US TO DO, WHICH IS TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY TO CALL FOR A VOTE? WELL, SHOULD WE HAVE A DISCUSSION? SO, I WAS JUST HIGHLIGHTING AGAIN THE, THE POINTS THAT THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THIS COURT IN THE PAST, TRYING TO AGAIN HIGHLIGHT THE ANSWERS THAT THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE HAS PROVIDED, UM, WITH REGARD TO COMMISSIONER, POINT OF ORDER. I GOT A MEMO HERE.

OUR GOAL IS TO BRING THIS ITEM TO COURT ON AUGUST 18TH UNDER COMMISSIONER MOODY'S NAME FOR AN UP-AND-DOWN VOTE. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE AN UP-AND-DOWN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A CONTINUED CONVERSATION? ANY MOTION REQUIRES A DISCUSSION.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY HAD IT, AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD A PRIOR VOTE. I'M WANTING TO CALL A QUESTION.

JUDGE, IF I MAY, THIS BRINGS UP A BIGGER POLICY ISSUE FOR THE COURT, BECAUSE, AS COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES JUST INDICATED, THE BASIS FOR THIS ACF, AND THE ACTUAL MOTION, THERE'S NO FUNDING LEFT, AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED. SO, THERE'S NO WAY THAT BUDGET COULD HAVE DONE A FISCAL ANALYSIS. PART OF THAT BASIS WAS TRAFFIC FINES, WHICH THE COURT COULD NOT ACTUALLY DO A FUNDING ANALYSIS BASED ON PROJECTED FEE REVENUE WITHOUT VIOLATING THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE. SO, I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. THE FUNDING HAS ACTUALLY EXPIRED, AND THERE'S NO FUNDING. THAT PRESENTS AN ISSUE. THE ITEM HAS MATERIALLY CHANGED. THE COMMISSIONER IS RIGHT THAT HE COULD PROCEDURALLY BRING THE ISSUE, BUT THE COURT CAN'T JUST CONSIDER ITEMS IT'S PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED IF THE BASIS FOR THAT CONSIDERATION IS ALREADY EXPIRED. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE COURT HAS ALREADY APPROVED A CONTRACT, IT THEN CAN'T COME BACK AND RECONSIDER THAT APPROVAL IF THERE'S ALREADY VESTED RIGHTS AT ISSUE. SO, THE FUNDING IS AN ISSUE. YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP BRINGING ITEMS WELL, I DISAGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT BECAUSE IT SAYS RIGHT HERE IN THE ITEM, OR IDENTIFIED FUNDING THROUGH THE FLEET ACT ACQUISITION FUND. SO, IT IS IDENTIFYING ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING, IS IT NOT? THE LANGUAGE YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY A FUNDING SOURCE. YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE AT ISSUE, INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL TRAFFIC FINE INCOME TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

WE'VE NEVER USED THAT AS A BASIS FOR THIS.

THAT WAS IN THE CONSTABLE'S PRESENTATION.

THE CONSTABLE HAS SAID FROM A BROADER FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN WE DO TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, YES, THERE'S SOME RESIDUAL REVENUES THAT COME WITH THAT, BUT THAT WAS NEVER THE ARGUMENT FOR THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THE MOTORCYCLES.

BUT THE ACF SHOULD IDENTIFY THE FUNDING SOURCE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE COURT'S APPROVING. WHEN YOU IDENTIFY MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES, YOU'RE NOT APPROVING A SOURCE OF FUNDING, YOU'RE APPROVING POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES. I MEAN, HOW DOES BUDGET DO A FISCAL ANALYSIS ON MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES? AND THEY THE COMMISSIONER JUST ASKED IF THERE WAS FUNDING IN THE ACCOUNT, AND TINA JUST SAID THE FUNDING HAS BEEN EXPIRED. THAT WAS THE BASIS OF THE FUNDING.

THAT WAS SHE RESPONDED TO THE SALARY FUNDS QUESTION.

SO, IS THERE ANOTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING? YEAH, IT SAYS RIGHT HERE, OR IDENTIFIED FUNDING THROUGH THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND.

DID YOU REVIEW THAT FUNDING? YEAH, SO, THERE IS FUND BALANCE IN THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND.

HOWEVER, THAT FUND BALANCE IS BUDGETED FOR THE PURCHASE OF CARS THAT HAVE ALREADY THE COURT HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF. SOMETIMES THE CAR PURCHASES, SO, THE FUNDS STAY IN FUND BALANCE. SO, IF YOU WERE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THERE, IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THAT'S THE ISSUE.

AND WE'VE OFFERED TO REPLACE THAT, USING CAPITAL DOLLARS FROM PRECINCT 3.

THAT'S NOT WITHIN THIS ITEM.

THAT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED IN YOUR BACKUP. THE BACKUP WAS INSUFFICIENT.

YOU DIDN'T USE WE'RE CALLING A VOTE ON A QUESTION YOU SUBMITTED AS BACKUP ACF'S AGENDA ITEMS, AND YOU DIDN'T REVIEW ANY OF THESE ISSUES. I CALL IN QUESTION. IS THERE A SECOND ON THE QUESTION? THERE'S A

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SECOND ON THE QUESTION. YOU NEED IT'S YOU HAVE A PRIVILEGE MOTION, JUDGE, AND THE PRIVILEGE MOTION REQUIRES I'VE CALLED A QUESTION REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS APPROVAL.

THAT IN ORDER TO IMPEDE ON THE RIGHT OF ONE MEMBER UNDER ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, THAT'S INCORRECT.

THE PRIVILEGED MOTION CUTS OFF DEBATE. HE CALLED FOR A VOTE, RIGHT? WHICH IS CUTTING OFF A DEBATE. IT'S CALLING THE QUESTION.

THAT'S NOT A PRIVILEGE. SO, HE DIDN'T CALL THE QUESTION; HE CALLED FOR A VOTE.

SO, SLIPPERY SLOPE.

I'M CALLING FOR A VOTE.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOUR VOTE. ON THE IS THERE WELL, FIRSTLY, HE IS RIGHT. HE IS RIGHT. IF YOU'RE CALLING OFF DEBATE, I'M TELLING YOU THIS ITEM IS NOT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE COURT. YOU ASKED FOR IT. YOU CALLED FOR AN OPINION ON WHETHER THE COURT SHOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERING THIS. I'M TELLING YOU, AS A MATTER OF YOUR QUESTION, IT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ON THE AGENDA. COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS RIGHT. IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER IT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO CUT OFF DEBATE AND CALL A VOTE, THEN HE IS CORRECT. THAT IS A PRIVILEGE. THAT DOES REQUIRE 2/3. I'M TELLING YOU IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN CONSIDERED.

ALL RIGHT. SO, DO WE WANT TO CALL THE QUESTION, OR DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE? NOW, I THINK THE COURT SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. MY OPINION IS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, BECAUSE OF THE DEFICIENCIES I'VE IDENTIFIED, INCLUDING THE LACK OF FUNDING, AND ALL THE ITEMS THAT WEREN'T REVIEWED IN THE ACF, BUT THAT'S MY OPINION. IF YOU DECIDE THAT IT'S RIGHT FOR CONSIDERATION, THEN COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS CORRECT. IF YOU'RE GOING TO CUT OFF DEBATE, IT REQUIRES 2/3 VOTE. I'M TELLING YOU, I DON'T THINK THE ITEM IS RIGHT FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER THE CURRENT POLICY.

THEN I WILL SUSTAIN MY OWN QUESTION. I WILL SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A 2/3 VOTE.

FOR COMITY'S SAKE, C-O-M-I-T-Y, IT'S IMPORTANT TO JUST MAINTAIN FAIRNESS AMONG THIS BODY FOR LONG-TERM SAKE. AND THERE ARE OFTEN I DIRECT STAFF TO IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING, WHICH MEANS THAT THE BUDGET LINE ITEM, THE FUND, CAN REVIEW A NUMBER OF FUNDS THAT COULD BE SELECTED AND IT'S LEFT BY THE COURT TO THE STAFF. IN ESSENCE, THIS MOTION IS IDENTIFYING 3 OF A MULTITUDE OF FUNDS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ACF YOU'RE CORRECT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ACF ASKED THE COURT TO DO. IF YOU READ THE ACF, THE MOTION, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT ASKED.

YOU'RE CORRECT, THOUGH, COMMISSIONER, BUT USUALLY THE MOTION IS TO DIRECT STAFF TO IDENTIFY FUNDING, WHICH THIS DID NOT.

I APOLOGIZE IF I'M NOT SEEING THE BACK. I DON'T REALLY THINK THIS IS WORTH A DIVISIVE MOMENT. I THINK WE CAN KEEP THE PEACE. WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT IT, SO, I'M PREPARED TO VOTE ON IT. I DON'T ANYWAY, I'M PREPARED TO VOTE.

WELL, I THINK, COMMISSIONER, I AGREE, BUT I THINK PROCEDURALLY I THINK THE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.

THE WAY THAT STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO FORCE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA, I THINK THAT THIS AGENDA BELONGS TO THE COURT, AND THE COURT NEEDS TO DECIDE IF IT'S OKAY WITH THIS ITEM BEING BROUGHT FORWARD IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS. IF THE COURT DECIDES IT WANTS TO DIRECT STAFF TO BRING IT BACK AND IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING, THAT'S ONE THING. IF IT WANTS TO VOTE ON THE ITEM, UP OR DOWN, THAT'S ANOTHER THING, AND OVERLOOK THE PROCEDURAL DEFICIENCY.