Travis County fiscal picture for Aug. 5, 2014

Here’s a look at Travis County’s spending habits, approved by the County Commissioners Court on Aug. 5.

Expenditures out of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget, totaling $1,943,041.39:

• $243,080 to Atchley & Associates for financial audit services for Fiscal Year 2014. Atchley & Associates also had this contract last year and received $276,955. The current contract for audit services will automatically renew on July 1 of each year for five more years, with different estimated fees and expenses for each year.
• $50,000 to hire outside counsel regarding the Steven Brand v. Travis County case. Steven Brand is suing Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Brand was fired after Lehmberg said he made racially offensive comments in court. Brand claims Lehmberg fired him after he reported she tried to pressure him into protecting an Austin Police homicide detective undergoing internal affairs investigations. Commissioners discussed the approved amount in executive session.
• $12,000 to modify a contract with Mentis Technology Solutions, LLC for the purchase and maintenance of a courtroom docket management system.
• $1,637,961.39 to United Health Care for the Travis County Employee Health Care Fund. Reimbursement payment for claims from July 18 to July 24.

The county received $997,649 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant program. CDBG provides fair housing and tenant’s rights services, social work outreach and case management services, homeowner rehabilitation loans, land acquisition for Habitat for Humanity and road improvement to substandard roads in certain low-income neighborhoods in the county.

There were no unbudgeted sources of revenue this week.