AUSTIN, Texas — A move from Travis County commissioners could help them avoid litigation over claims they violated the Texas Open Meetings Act.
County leaders unanimously approved a motion to “approve funding in the amount of $115,000 to the district attorney for necessary security enhancements” to protect José Garza’s safety.
The move happened during Tuesday’s meeting, which could clear up a previous vote from March that led to a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The KVUE Defenders revealed in August that commissioners secretly gave Garza the money for home security enhancements. However, Paxton and government transparency experts say it all happened illegally outside of public view.
Part of the problem is that commissioners used a vague, overly broad agenda item that critics say did not adequately inform Travis County taxpayers about how their money would be spent.
At their meeting this week, commissioners revoted on the item, which Commissioner Margaret Gomez said was to set a record for what they did and to do so with transparency.
Former County Judge Bill Aleshire said they only did it after they were caught and sued.
“They’ve gone back and done what they should have done in the first place, is give proper public notice they are doing to consider these kinds of issues,” Aleshire said.
It’s still unclear exactly what the $115,000 will or already has paid for. Commissioners made no other comments about the expenditure and have fought the release of records relating to the matter.
KVUE reached out to two other commissioners and County Judge Andy Brown, who all voted in favor of this new proposal, but did not hear back.