Commissioners approve $67,000 hospital-district increase for juvenile center after process debate

The Nueces County Commissioners Court voted 4–1 on Jan. 18 to accept a $67,000 increase from the Nueces County Hospital District to cover additional health-care costs at the county Juvenile Justice Center. Johnny (representing the hospital district) told the court the district’s board had approved the extra funding at a November meeting and that the additional dollars correct an omission from the budget adopted last fall.

Several commissioners praised the hospital district’s willingness to help but said county policy prohibits any individual official or staff member from soliciting the hospital district for sums above $10,000 without prior court approval. Commissioner Chesney said the district’s action “violated our process” and cast the lone ‘no’ vote to register that concern. Johnny said the district had acted to cover a documented deficit and would coordinate with the court to avoid future process issues.

Judge Connie Scott and other commissioners said they appreciated the district’s support and urged staff to follow the court’s policy going forward. The motion to accept the amendment passed 4–1; the court asked county staff to clarify and document the steps for future requests so the district and the court act in the required sequence.