At their regular meeting on Monday, DeWitt County Commissioners limited the spending by Precinct 1 Constable Kelly Phelps, who will leave office on December 31, to 25% of the budgeted funds for that office.
“The local government code allows for adoption of spending limits for certain county and precinct officers who have not been re-elected,” Judge Daryl Fowler said. “A so-called lame duck official.”
Fowler said the order protects the next office holder from losing their whole budget in the first three months of the fiscal year, which is October through December. The policy previously adopted by the court sets the limit at 25% of the yearly budget for that office. Anything over that amount must be approved by the commissioner’s court. The court has issued similar court orders in previous years for lame-duck officials to protect the county expenditures.
Phelps did not prevail in the March primary election as a candidate for Precinct 1 County Commissioner. His term as Precinct 1 Constable ends on December 31, but he is no longer performing the constable duties due to medical issues.
Fowler proposed that the court discuss in its next meeting a statute that might allow an elected official to complete an affidavit that they elect to reduce their compensation when they can no longer fulfill their duties.
Commissioners also approved the appointment of two alternate election judges for the Nov. 5 general election: one at the Gibson Center and one at the Central Counting Station.
They also approved a resolution adopting the Competitive Sealed Proposal for the construction of a Precinct 4 barn facility. The project was previously a straight bid.
More items from the court agenda will be covered next week.
