Financial shell games continue at county commissioners court

Unfortunately, this was just another week of the status quo at the Hays County Commissioners Court. We are seeing some distinct patterns play out over and over, and they are costing us more than just tax dollars

Note: We're not sure what the percentage would be in a survey asking citizens what their level of trust and confidence is in their county government, but it probably wouldn't be much higher than the 9% people have in their federal government these days. Commissioners continue to show taxpayers and voters that they are still good at doing at least one thing, and that's whatever pleases them at any given moment without regard to prior stated commitments or fiscal accountability.

Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Sam at sam_brannon@hotmail.com, to County Judge Bert Cobb (the county's chief fiscal officer) at bert.cobb@co.hays.tx.us, or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the story

By Sam Brannon
Guest Commentary

At its regular meeting Tuesday Oct. 25 the Hays County Commissioners Court voiced a substantial change in policy regarding the disposition of county buildings that will be vacated as part of the move to the new Government Center on Wonder World Drive.

Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe reminded the court that taxpayers had been assured that the proceeds from the sale of these properties would be used to pay down the $70 million debt associated with the new building, and yet she joined Commissioner Will Conley and Judge Cobb in their obvious support for alternative outcomes. Commissioner Mark Jones sat mostly silent.

No longer are they interested in top dollar and a timely sale which is part of their fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. Now the court is on the record with their concerns about who buys the property and to what use it will be put. This is very disconcerting behavior.

Among the various reasons they stated for their concern was the possibility that a grandfather might buy a building for his young grandchild, and it might sit vacant for a generation. Another of the reasons offered was that a buyer may open a strip club on the square, as if the City of San Marcos had not yet considered downtown zoning. These nonsensical explanations only add insult to the injury of irresponsible financial policies.

The only rationale with any plausible credibility was the economic impact to businesses on the square. It was discussed that the City of San Marcos may decide to rent the buildings, and that the employees who office there will economically back-fill the county employees moving south to Wonder World. Perhaps, but their new found concern for small business people is shaky at best. I don’t like the decision to move the Government Center to the southestern-most part of the county because it hurt a lot of people and makes government less accessible, but this isn’t the answer.

This policy change is the equivalent of taking on millions more in debt without voter approval.

What is NOT in the Budget

Back in September I noticed that the proposed Precinct 2 building was not included in the 2012 budget in spite of it being clearly a priority to this Commissioners Court. Several weeks ago I asked Lon Shell, Judge Cobb’s Chief of Staff, why it was omitted. Lon explained it was because they didn’t have a funding source, though he confirmed they were planning to proceed with construction. When I asked where the funding would come from he said it would most likely be from the sale of the soon-to-be vacant county buildings.

I’m not sure which buildings will sell to pay for the new Pct. 2 building, and which will be held and rented out or sold to an "acceptable" buyer. But it's pretty clear that our elected officials are not interested in paying down the debt as was assured by the previous court, which also included Will Conley and Debbie Ingalsbe.

Commissioners Court Approves New Admin IV Position

Also this past Tuesday, District Attorney Sherri Tibbe and Assistant District Attorney Mark Kennedy made their case to create a new, elevated level of Administrative Assistant IV that would allow the D.A.’s office to promote and increase the pay of a particular staffer. There was only token resistance to this request before taking a vote of 4-0 (Commissioner Whisenant was out).

You may recall that for most of this year, all new hires and promotions had to come before the court for special approval. Since all requests that I’m aware of were approved during this time, the intent was clearly to give the impression of fiscal responsibility without actually having to act responsibly. Now inside of 30 days into the new fiscal year they’re creating a new salary level, one that other departments will surely find an urgent use for soon enough.

Unfortunately, this was just another week of the status quo at the Hays County Commissioners Court. We are seeing some distinct patterns play out over and over, and they are costing us more than just tax dollars.