Burleson County leaders note jail staffing gaps and approve related budget amendments

County officials on Dec. 11 approved a package of FY2023 budget amendments and heard an update from Sheriff Gene Hermes that the county jail held 49 inmates (44 male, 5 female) while multiple departmental vacancies remain. The Commissioners Court unanimously approved consent-agenda budget adjustments covering several departments, including the Sheriff and the county jail.

The sheriff told the court the department has open positions across multiple units — two patrol, three dispatch, two jailers, two school resource officers and two CID positions — which he presented as operational needs. Commissioners did not record specific dollar amounts in the minutes for staffing actions; the consent agenda included budget amendments for the Sheriff and Jail among many other departmental changes.

Separately, the court postponed action on a bid from Atlas Foundation Repair for repairs at the Sheriff’s Department. The motion to postpone was made by Commissioner Robert (Bobby) Urbanosky and seconded by Commissioner Vincent Svec; the court voted unanimously to delay the item. The minutes reference attachments for the bid and for the budget amendments but do not record the substance of the Atlas bid or the reasons for postponement.

The court also approved routine payments and adjourned. All recorded motions during the meeting that required votes were adopted unanimously by the five members present.