Minutes for the
Travis County Commissioners Court
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Budget Mark-Up Voting Session
Minutes Prepared by the Travis County Clerk
512-854-4722 ● www.traviscountytx.gov ● PO Box 149325, Austin, TX 78714-9325
Call to Order
Meeting called to order on September 7, 2016, in the Travis County Administration Building,
Commissioners Courtroom, 700 Lavaca Street, 1st Floor, Austin, TX, Dana DeBeauvoir, County
Clerk, was represented by Deputy Robert Resnick.
Sarah Eckhardt
Ron Davis
Brigid Shea
Gerald Daugherty
Margaret J. Gómez
County Judge
Precinct 1, Commissioner
Precinct 2, Commissioner
Precinct 3, Commissioner
Precinct 4, Commissioner
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Agenda Items
1.
Consider and take appropriate action regarding FY17 Budget Mark-Up.
Members of the Court heard from:
Leroy Nellis, Former Budget Director, Planning and Budget Office (PBO)
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
RESULT:
2.
DISCUSSED
Consider and take appropriate action on the proposed FY17 Property Tax Rate, including:
a.
Set September 27, 2016, as the date that the Court will adopt the FY17 Property Tax Rate
b.
Announce two public hearings regarding the FY17 Property Tax Rate, to be held on
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, and Friday, September 23, 2016
RESULT:
DISCUSSED
Mark Up Items
1.
Review process for viewing and tracking budget mark-up changes
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
RESULT:
DISCUSSED
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 1
2.
Recap current budget status, including a. Preliminary Budget; b. Revenue and other available
funds (4th Revenue Estimate); c. Proposed tax rate (As Reviewed on August 23rd); and d.
Changes to Preliminary Budget
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
Clerk's Note: The Court noted that Public Hearings regarding the FY17 tax rate will be held on
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at 9:00 am and Friday, September 23, 2016, at 9:00 am. Those
desiring more information or wishing to comment on the FY2017 budget may visit the online
comment box on the Travis County website: www.traviscountytx.gov.
RESULT:
3.
DISCUSSED
Approve the Preliminary Budget to establish baseline for beginning budget mark-up process.
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
4.
Approve the FY17 Preliminary Budget.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Ron Davis, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
Approve Fiscal Year 2017 proposed tax rate
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
5.
Approve the FY17 proposed tax rate of $.3838 per $100.00 of taxable
valuation.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Ron Davis, Commissioner
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
Approve Changes to Preliminary Budget recommended by PBO
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
Approve the Changes to Preliminary Budget recommended by PBO, with the
exception of the $16,000.00 in one-time windfall funds for Monitoring
Economic Development Agreement Compliance with the City of Austin, and
$147,629.00 for Economic Development Programmatic Support, as
discussed in Item 14 of the September 6, 2016 Voting Session Minutes.
APPROVED [4 TO 0]
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Ron Davis
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 2
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
Approve the $163,629.00, from the Electrical Coop capital credits, allocated
to Economic Development.
APPROVED [4 TO 0]
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Ron Davis
Clerk's Note: The Court, without objection, abandoned the previous Motion and Vote so that the
Item could be reconsidered.
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
MOTION:
MOVER:
Reconsider the Vote from the September 6, 2016 Voting Session, Item 14,
with regard to the distribution of the $163,629.00 in Unclaimed Electric Coop
Capital Credits to Economic Development activities, part of which is an
interlocal agreement for $16,000.00 with the City of Austin, the other part of
which is $147,629.00, for the necessary oversight and work on Public
Improvement Districts (PIDs) and other 381 Agreements the Court has
already entered into.
APPROVED [4 TO 0]
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Ron Davis
Approve the $16,000.00 for the compliance with the Economic Development
agreements.
APPROVED [4 TO 0]
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Ron Davis
Repurpose the $147,629.00 in one-time funds to AISD Parent Support
Specialist and after school programs in Del Valle and Sunset Valley.
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Clerk’s Note: The Motion died for lack of a Second.
6.
Approve "re-budgeting" of General Fund Capital Acquisition Resources Account Fiscal Year
2016 capital into Fiscal Year 2017, and related FY 2016 budget adjustments for rebudgeted
CAR projects
Members of the Court heard from:
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve Item 6.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Ron Davis, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 3
7.
Review and approve recent Court actions impacting FY 2017 Budget (STAR Vote, ME Fee and
Security Reserve)
Members of the Court heard from:
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
8.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve Item 7, including the County Attorney Processing Site Orders
(CAPSO) donation.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
Approve staff recommendations regarding the Security Reserve.
APPROVED [4 TO 0]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Ron Davis
Consider and take appropriate action on compensation issues for FY 2017 including 2.5%
across-the-board increase for regular, classified employees, Market Salary Study benchmark
recommendations, FLSA changes, one-step anniversary increase for POPS employees, addpay recommendations and other compensation items
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Alan Miller, Assistant Budget Director, PBO
Todd Osburn, Interim Director, HRMD
Aerin-Renee Pfaffenberger, Planning and Budget Analyst, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
9.
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Tie the reserve balance to the retirement rate.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve the FY 2017 General Fund Compensation Plan, Items A-H.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Ron Davis, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
Review selected items on Budget Agenda Worksheet
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Additional Development Services Engineer (Reference #BH-7)
Members of the Court heard from:
Cynthia McDonald, Chief Deputy, Transportation and Natural Resources (TNR)
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
Chris Broussard, Business Analyst, PBO
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 4
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
Approve the request, using on-going funds.
ADOPTED [4 TO 0]
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Ron Davis
ESD4 Earmark $62,000 (Reference #New1)
Members of the Court heard from:
Danny Hobby, County Executive, Emergency Services
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve the earmark, with one-time money.
ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
Revised Southwest Sportsplex, Phase I - Option 2
Remove Hamilton Pool Bridge included in Preliminary Budget (Reference #BH-10c)
Members of the Court heard from:
Steve Manilla, County Executive, TNR
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT:
MOVER:
RESULT:
FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT:
MOVER:
RESULT:
Approve the requests.
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Brigid Shea, Commissioner
Create a $1.2 M, one-time earmark, on the condition that the real estate is
covenanted for park use in perpetuity, and that there is a significant
contribution from the City of Bee Cave.
Sarah Eckhardt, Judge
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ACCEPTED
Re-title the request as "Southwest Travis County Project" in the proposed
Certificates of Obligation (CO) issuance.
Sarah Eckhardt, Judge
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ACCEPTED
Clerk’s Note: A Vote on the Standing Motion was taken.
RESULT:
ADOPTED [4 TO 1]
AYES:
Sarah Eckhardt, Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
NAYS:
Ron Davis
Indigent Attorney Fee Increase (Reference #BH-11)
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
Roger Jefferies, County Executive, Justice and Public Safety (JPS)
MOTION:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
RESULT:
Approve the request, in the amount of $800,000.00.
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
NO VOTE TAKEN
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 5
SUBSTITUTE
MOTION:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
Consider a maximum of $750,000.00 for this request.
Bridgid Shea, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Clerk’s Note: The Court took a vote on whether to vote on the Substitute Motion before the
Standing Motion.
MOTION:
Vote on Substitute Motion before voting on initial Standing Motion.
AYES:
Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty
NAYS:
Sarah Eckhardt, Ron Davis, Margaret J. Gómez
RESULT:
DEFEATED (2 TO 3)
Clerk’s Note: The Court voted on the Standing Motion.
RESULT:
ADOPTED [3 TO 2]
AYES:
Sarah Eckhardt, Ron Davis, Margaret J. Gómez
NAYS:
Brigid Shea, Gerald Daugherty,
Groundwater Monitoring Pilot Study (Reference #379)
Central Texas Regional Groundwater Availability Study (Reference #408)
Members of the Court heard from:
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
Jon White, Director, Natural Resources Environmental Quality Division, TNR
Anna Bowlin, Division Director, Development Services and Long Range Planning, TNR
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Alan Miller, Assistant Budget Director, PBO
Tom Weber, Environmental Quality Program Manager, TNR
RESULT:
DISCUSSED
County Transportation Draft Plan Development and Phase II Public Engagement
(Reference #BH-8)
Members of the Court heard from:
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
Alan Miller, Assistant Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
Approve 1/2 of the request, in the amount of $62,500.00.
DEFEATED (2 TO 2)
Gerald Daugherty Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Judge
Sarah Eckhardt, Gerald Daugherty
Ron Davis, Margaret J. Gómez
Brigid Shea
Temporary Assignment Pay for implementing Countywide Organizational review
(Reference #New2)
Members of the Court heard from:
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve the request.
ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Ron Davis, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 6
Revised Increased Funding for Accounting Positions (Reference #BH-4b)
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve the request.
ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
10. Authorize HRMD to post new positions
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve Item 10.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
11. Approve Fiscal Year 2017 earmarks on reserves: Allocated Reserve and Capital Acquisition
Resources Reserve
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
Travis Gatlin, Budget Director, PBO
Diana Ramirez, Director, Economic Development & Strategic Investments, PBO
Chris Broussard, Business Analyst, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
Approve the earmark of $147,629.00, to assist the Director of Economic
Development & Strategic Investments, PBO, in the oversight responsibilities
and the research necessary for Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) and
Local Government Code Chapter 381 Economic Development Agreements
(Property Tax Rebate and Abatement Programs.)
APPROVED [4 TO 0]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Ron Davis, Commissioner
Sarah Eckhardt, Ron Davis, Gerald Daugherty, Margaret J. Gómez
Brigid Shea
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve the earmark list.
ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty,, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 7
12. Authorize Planning and Budget Office to adjust Unallocated Reserve and balance budget
against Allocated Reserve based on fifth (final) revenue estimate
Members of the Court heard from:
Jessica Rio, County Executive, PBO
MOTION:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Approve Item 12.
APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
Margaret J. Gómez, Commissioner
Gerald Daugherty, Commissioner
Eckhardt, Davis, Shea, Daugherty, Gómez
Adjourn
Minutes approved by the Commissioners Court
____________________________________
Date of Approval
____________________________________
Sarah Eckhardt, Travis County Judge
September 7, 2016 Minutes of the Travis County Commissioners Court
Page 8