[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6546756,"mediaKeyId","3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094","parentId",3522275,"title","Court approves one-time waiver to speed hiring for budget officer after executive session","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2877000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094&start=2877&end=2877","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094/thumbnail_2877000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546756/Hays-County/Texas/Court-approves-one-time-waiver-to-speed-hiring-for-budget-officer-after-executive-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546756-747806b590928d2c03abc4ec5bbdad80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497499&Signature=TSy3aWThzpvuMhkpytlU5yPL1p5hwOpc9vR9e-bHraTtj427TVWJJ2P1TF02Ks1r1BrDdUSOm9BrMoue8gz25YtXftcFPkgAfNnTKuEIDtEWZvuckQyqAqV1tw~o0ZIWuUxLtq6JJCDseX28O41QFnDUJP8Mp9D3midt4-5GHako5piS1AmoaaUKbbx09kCe3~BRCPKA-7NnuvQEFOZaDJRSvqdR5gBbK28VH~CMJZbkni8CPic0x0lf~NhWwx4h4WOkl~Yt9gk6HFszhClgLtdcZq3fb6WoxkZHybmv~3Zr0y6Bn59KHw8zT1vjs7If4njySJtLxllWz9iq7IA5Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hays","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","Following executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code sections 551.071 and 551.074, the Hays County Commissioners Court voted to approve a one-time waiver of county personnel rules to facilitate filling the budget officer position.

Commissioner Smith moved to approve a one-time waiver of section 2 a 1 1 8 of the county's personnel policy relating to the six-calendar-month waiting period for retiree rehires and to waive the county’s two-week job posting requirement as it relates to salary exceptions for the hiring or appointment of a new budget officer until the position is filled. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Cohen, Smith, Inglesby, Hammer and County Judge Becerra voting yes.

The court made clear the waiver applies only to this specific hiring effort while the position remains open; no further personnel actions or salary specifics were taken in open court at the meeting. The executive session items cited in open court were H-1 (consultation and deliberation regarding the employment and duties of the county administrator) and H-2 (consultation and deliberation regarding appointment, employment, reassignment and duties of the budget officer).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hays - Special Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After executive session, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved a one-time waiver of a six-calendar-month waiting period for retiree rehires and a two-week job-posting requirement related to salary exceptions to allow appointment or hiring of a new budget officer.","taxTitle","Hays County, Texas","taxId",9291,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6546761,"Hays County discusses outsourcing payroll, requests vendor demos but tables formal action",234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094&start=234&end=234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094/thumbnail_234000.jpg","/articles/6546761/Hays-County/Texas/Hays-County-discusses-outsourcing-payroll-requests-vendor-demos-but-tables-formal-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546761-0b4a5eae9db3c490a80f3489b83b0c16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497499&Signature=cc1rVBqjUp~2DNbWoU7zkBK3VkIU5fiSJTIVKEbp9TbQob~gY6cqeTsI5iSbuSrGWtRGzUt8EhwqJ3pp3AZT15apR4Unt85m1dMz0kFntaMpfQCVD-B8-CyA098jmXYiTVO653anuTCPOxNZa~KVw4u7oc5ZaozQnE7KYOh1G7gwqSNJuiCUpctYMoku3K-p3bAnJ8sbqwr40ef8pE~NXLtUTWn3VqYPzqYAJLbn7GGdPNVS6WiCiuy3R41487TK1JwNN5g2g1Fv3baKJJvSK4DJqJy6-2DXQizrBeaMb4-uvP73UwjmIRozlTU3rRAvJxNZDxZKNBzn8RRqKITm5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hays County Commissioners Court discussed whether to explore outsourcing county payroll functions but did not authorize immediate contracting. Tre asurer Kathleen Tenorio and other officials described potential benefits of outsourcing; purchasing staff recommended a stepwise review using cooperative purchasing contracts. After extended discussion the court tabled formal action and directed staff to continue information-gathering and demonstrations rather than issue a full request for proposals immediately.

Treasurer Kathleen Tenorio told the court she had contacted peers in other Texas counties and said outsourcing can reduce costs and limit some payroll liabilities. She estimated vendor savings discussed with other treasurers at roughly 30% and described vendor capabilities including employee self-service portals, year-end W-2 processing, tax filings and garnishment handling. Tenorio said outsourcing could provide technology investments the county has not made and could shift front-line processing off county staff.

County Auditor Marisol Gabriel Alonso and others cautioned that outsourcing does not eliminate the need for internal reconciliation and audit work. Alonso said New World entries still must be reconciled, that timesheets and payroll change notices (PCNs) would still require county review, and that an outsourced vendor would still need to integrate with the county general ledger. Alonso noted the county would still need staff with SQL or data analyst skills to ensure vendor data hits the correct GL accounts and to perform reconciliations. She emphasized the county’s existing issues—such as payments posted to the wrong reporting quarter when checks were backdated—stem from input and process practices that outsourcing alone would not fix.

Purchasing Agent Stephanie Hunt recommended first seeking demonstrations from vendors available through purchasing cooperative contracts rather than issuing a formal RFP immediately. She said demos and vendor conversations would clarify integration capabilities and costs without the time and expense of a full RFP; an RFP could follow if the court decides to pursue contracting.

Other commissioners raised concerns about staff morale after recent payroll reorganizations, and several urged that the county auditor lead any internal process review before outsourcing. Deputy/staff who work on payroll noted UKG (formerly Kronos) has not been fully implemented despite roughly $125,280 spent on the system, and that ongoing UKG–New World integration work remains necessary.

Outcome: the court discussed a motion related to purchasing developing specifications in conjunction with the auditor and treasurer for an RFP on third-party payroll processing but elected not to take immediate contracting action. Judge Becerra stated the item would be tabled; purchasing and the auditor will pursue demos and further analysis and return to the court with findings.","County officials debated outsourcing payroll functions, with the treasurer favoring a third-party review and the auditor warning reconciliation and oversight duties would remain. Purchasing recommended vendor demos via cooperative contracts; the court tabled formal action.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6546765,"Hays County delays FY2026 budget adoption two weeks after auditor requests more time",219,118000,337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094&start=118&end=337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3522275-01863065b490ea8b27ca7da1430a9094/thumbnail_118000.jpg","/articles/6546765/Hays-County/Texas/Hays-County-delays-FY2026-budget-adoption-two-weeks-after-auditor-requests-more-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546765-4f9c6d226a55d4157f59b8f6791e86a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770497499&Signature=TvmbOgQc37u~TfWUd7qrRkmTMQQ2MM0wfSFd9X82~95VoXsOylyr8E3ccQ1LBh75jFpVklo08mnOBrcishtdjOpKZML0YdmN5PJqCgpRYy4ZuZHXy-9P0OFLJe-tgTMeHaZtVTXTAlS3rpe0Ta0Vi~9WrKxyXe6j71poTtdQV88M--kZKiFbS~lRwwj1Mh4wWelI41h9qBWaMZXdDtcw1YLIHejF5PuhEkVL1-~7rY~NelN8sYFkoK2dhgEm-oGAaHzwRqV2-GCt-VnELuRsZQm~gWnQtc4Q3FT3dRzQYVFZJyqzACe2QcHLVhvyYtmYFHPUXiQjZ0XIq34RQOyeRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a special called meeting of the Hays County Commissioners Court, the court approved moving the fiscal year 2026 budget adoption timeline from May 23 to June 6 after the county auditor said additional reconciliations were needed.

Hays County Auditor Marisol Gabriel Alonso told the court that when she reviewed the budget modules in the New World financial system several items had not been calculated or entered, including position budgeting, capital equipment schedules, rollovers of grant budgets, special revenue fund expenditures and debt expenditures. She asked the court for two additional weeks to complete calculations, reconcile entries and ensure the requested budget is entered accurately into New World.

Alonso said the time extension would allow staff to perform necessary reconciliations and data entry so the budget presented to the court reflected accurate expenditures and balances. The court approved the calendar amendment on a roll-call vote: Commissioners Cohen, Hammer, Inglesby and Smith and County Judge Becerra all voted yes.

The motion to amend the FY2026 budget calendar was presented as a short timing adjustment to the adoption schedule to allow staff to finish work in the financial system; no changes to the substance of budget workshop presentations were made at the meeting.

Court action and next steps: the court recorded the roll-call approval of the amended calendar; the auditor and department staff will complete the reconciliations and return to the schedule set by the court.","The Hays County Commissioners Court approved a two-week shift in the fiscal year 2026 budget calendar after the county auditor said key entries were missing from the New World financial system and asked for additional time to reconcile figures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Court approves one-time waiver to speed hiring for budget officer after executive session

Hays County discusses outsourcing payroll, requests vendor demos but tables formal action

Hays County delays FY2026 budget adoption two weeks after auditor requests more time