(Texas Scorecard) – A public official will receive over $100,000 of home security at taxpayer expense, and the governmental body giving it to him didn’t discuss it in public.
According to KVUE, the Travis County Commissioners Court recently approved a $115,000 budget request by District Attorney Jose Garza for undisclosed security improvements at the latter’s home. The request came in response to the disclosure of the DA’s home address on social media.
While the financial expenditure was, perhaps, understandable, how it was approved raises additional questions.
During the commissioner’s court’s March 19 meeting, item #36 called for commissioners to “Receive briefing and take appropriate action regarding Travis County security and information security issues.” The item was sponsored by Commissioners Jeff Travillion (D-Pflugerville) and Ann Howard (D-Lakeway).
Following the discussion behind closed doors, commissioners approved the expenditure in a unanimous vote.
While it is legal for elected officials to use campaign funds for personal security, using public funds for these purposes is highly unusual.
Former County Judge Bill Aleshire (D) told KVUE that for this particular expenditure commissioners “violated the open meetings act” because the agenda item wasn’t specific and “did not alert the public that they were considering spending money on one particular public official’s security, let alone the possibility that some portion – or all of – $115,000 was being used to make improvements to his personal property.”
Concerned Travis County taxpayers may contact County Judge Andy Brown at (512) 854-9555.
Garza faces token Republican opposition on this fall’s General Election ballot.
