Primary Department: Probate Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Judge Franshenaka “Fran” Watson
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Financial Authorization
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Choose an item.
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Probate Court No. 5 for approval to provide car-allowance compensation to the Court Investigator, to be distributed annually over 26 pay periods from the General Fund, with an effective date of January 10, 2026.
end
Background and Discussion:
The proposed car allowance is intended to cover expenses related to the Court Investigator’s duties, including vehicle maintenance, mileage, and tolls or parking fees incurred during court-appointed investigations. The Court Investigator position is mandated under Texas Government Code Section 25.0025. While the position is eligible for mileage reimbursement, providing a fixed car allowance is projected to be more cost-effective than reimbursing monthly mileage claims submitted by the investigator.
Expected Impact:
This request will not result in any fiscal impact to the current General Fund budget. The Court Investigator currently receives mileage reimbursement, which exceeds the cost of the proposed car allowance.
Alternative Options:
The Court Investigator may continue to receive mileage reimbursement in lieu of the car allowance.
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
County Strategic Plan Objective: Choose an item.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
|
$ |
$ |
$5,500 |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
|
$ |
$ |
$5,500 |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 1/8/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/10/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Choose an item.
Contact(s) name, title, department: Akida M. Hamilton, Chief of Staff, HC Probate Court 5
Attachments (if applicable):