County OKs grants, receives praise for financial reporting

Hays County is applying for funds from the Texas Veterans Commission for the Hays County Veterans Treatment Court and other services.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court approved the submission of applications for two separate grants. The first, a $250,000 grant, would allow the county’s Veterans Treatment Court to add a court coordinator position and continue operations. The court allows for voluntary participation for defendants whose criminal cases are attributed to either physical or mental injuries sustained during military service. 

The second grant is for $87,573 that the county will use to expand veteran transportation services and emergency financial assistance for veterans. Currently, the county offers veterans transportation to and from appointments in the surrounding area. The grant funds will be used to hire another veteran service officer and help with fuel costs and vehicle maintenance.

In other business, the commissioners authorized the county’s Office of Emergency Services to accept the donation of a 2005 Wells Cargo Trailer for use with the hazmat vehicle. The trailer will allow the hazmat team to carry bulky equipment that do not fit on the hazmat response vehicle.

Also at Tuesday’s commissioners court meeting, the Hays County Auditor’s Office received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), and the county auditor received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from the GFOA. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting encourages state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles, and the certificate of achievement is the highest recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.