Court opposes unfunded State mandates

Oct. 8 declared Aviation Day

County commissioners took to business Sept. 27, taking the bull by the horns to speak as they approved three resolutions of opposition regarding unfunded mandates passed by the State legislature.

“Unfunded mandates are a big topic in the State, and they just keep getting handed down to the counties,” said County Judge Don Kirkpatrick.

In general, the resolutions opposed the laws that were enacted by the State Legislature that have the effect of imposing mandatory financial obligations of all Texas counties. The commissioners approved the resolution while also discussing state funding for indigent criminal defense and opposing the appraisal caps and revenue of the state.

“These mandates have to come under control,” Commissioner Pct. 4 Tim West said.  “Last year, the county spent over $600,000 in criminal indigent defense that should have been spent by the state.”

County Judge Don Kirkpatrick said that the cost keeps rising for taxpayers, but the State’s portion of funding indigent defense stays the same.

 “In 2001, the cost for criminal indigent defense was $94.4 million. In 2016, the cost has progressed to $238 million for expenditures of indigent criminal defense. The state pays $28 million and Texas counties pay $210 million. So, you can see that the cost keeps rising, but the state expenses stay the same,” said Judge Kirkpatrick.  The commissioners then approved a resolution that the State of Texas fully fund indigent criminal defense. Commissioners also passed a resolution to oppose appraisal and revenue caps. 

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