Sheriff reports 52 inmates and several open positions; auditor flags nearly 30% sales-tax drop

At the Nov. 27 Burleson County Commissioners Court meeting, Sheriff Gene Hermes told the court the jail held 52 inmates — 46 men and 6 women — and listed staff vacancies across the department: three school resource officers, two CID positions, four dispatchers and three jailers.

The sheriff’s report was presented under departmental reports; no motions or staffing actions were recorded during the meeting text. Judge Keith Schroeder also reported that the Texas environmental regulator (transcribed as “TECQ”) had approved an On‑Site Sewage Facility application and order enabling the county to proceed with new changes, and he said an archeologist check was being done in a Precinct 2 subdivision after Realtor Jessica Armstrong reported a possible cemetery.

In financial reports, the county auditor reported sales tax receipts of $125,685 for the period, a decrease of 29.95% compared with November 2022. Staff member Jessica Lucero noted that recent changes tied to a tax election and new software affected reporting; the transcript does not supply additional detail on those system changes.

The court took no apparent executive‑session action and completed routine business, including authorizing payment of county bills before adjourning.