County rejects public defender grant for a second time

Lingering issues on a grant application meant to fund a public defender’s office led Hays County Commissioners May 10 to reject a second attempt at approving the item.

The move happened when no other commissioner seconded a motion by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra to approve the application. It was the second discussion on the Texas Indigent Defense Council (TIDC) grant in roughly a week’s time. County commissioners shot down the application in a similar fashion at the May 7 meeting. The grant application was due May 10.

The TIDC grant provides 80% funding to participating counties and reduces the level of funding for counties over several years.