Travis organizational review inches forward

Travis County Commissioners Court took a tentative first step Tuesday in a process that could transform a large section of county bureaucracy. At their regular voting session, commissioners approved a resolution that directs County Purchasing Agent Cyd Grimes to start shopping for consultants to “conduct an organizational review” of the departments that answer to the court. Grimes told the commissioners that the review would likely cost more than $200,000. The consultant would be tasked with assessing the current organizational structure at divisions such as Transportation and Natural Resources and the Planning and Budget Office. A proposed second phase that would have implemented those findings was removed after concerns were raised at last week’s meeting about committing the commissioners to recommendations sight-unseen. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt replaced that with instructions for the consultant to merely make recommendations on how to implement its recommendations. Commissioner Gerald Daugherty was the sole “nay” in the 3-1 vote, with Commissioner Ron Davis absent.