GROVETON — Amid pleas for funding for the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office and to support community projects in Nigton, the Commissioners Court approved a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year.
At the Sept. 8 meeting, commissioners approved a $12,932,548.69 budget for the fiscal year which has removed a deputy sheriff position and trimmed as much as possible to make up for funding shortfalls that has plagued the county in the past couple of years.
As part of the approval process, the county held a public hearing on the proposed budget, which mainly centered on expenses incurred by the AgriLife Extension office.
Also, in a public forum prior to the meeting, Jacques Ballard, area representative for Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, discussed concerns over proposed budget cuts to the Sheriff’s Office.
Ballard said that his organization understands the county has a duty to the people of the county to be fiscally responsible, but budget cuts could be interpreted as defunding the police.
Understanding that rural counties cover vast geographical areas, with less personnel, it could increase the time it takes to reach an emergency and ultimately could mean the loss of 24-7 police coverage, Ballard said.
“I’m asking you give the sheriff resources to do his job,” he said. “I’m pleading with you all to do the right thing.”
Latoya Walker-Hernandez with the Nigton Historical Development Project, along with other concerned residents of the area, sought funds for their outreach programs, mostly from unclaimed capital funds.
No action was taken in either case, and the balanced budget was passed.
The court also approved a of .539, or 53.9 cents per $100 property valuation. While the number didn’t change over the 2025 rate, the revenue will increase 1.73 percent for a total of $131,933 based on increases in property valuation.
Additionally, the court approved the slate of elected officials’ salaries, with no changes over last year.
In other business, the court:
