The Fisher County Commissioners Court resumed discussions from February regarding the allocation of SB-22 funds for law enforcement upgrades. After receiving clarification from the state and updated financial figures from the sheriff’s department, the court gave its approval last week.
In 2023, Senate Bill 22 (SB-22) established a Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program to provide financial assistance to sheriff’s departments, constable’s offices, and district and county attorney’s offices in rural Texas counties. The program’s goal is to ensure adequate law enforcement coverage and legal representation across the state.
Eligible counties were able to apply for salary supplements and additional funding beginning in January 2024. Moving forward, counties and prosecutors’ offices can use these funds for salaries, additional personnel, or equipment.
Counties that already meet the minimum salary requirements are still eligible to apply for funding to cover new positions or equipment. However, some expenses are not eligible for reimbursement, including software, contract employees, overtime, and office equipment. This has raised concerns among local officials regarding the eligibility of certain requested purchases.
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts oversees the program, ensuring compliance with Local Government Code 130.911, which outlines salary requirements and approved uses of funds for rural law enforcement agencies. Fisher County submitted its list of proposed purchases to the Local Government Transparency Analysts for review. The analysts reported that some of the requested items might not qualify for reimbursement under SB-22 guidelines.
Sheriff Dickson reported that, at present, only one vehicle in the department’s fleet is equipped with a functional dashboard camera. He explained that the remaining six vehicles either lack cameras entirely or have non-operational units. Additionally, LensLock, the company currently providing service for the department’s body cameras, also offers dashboard camera systems.
During the February meeting, discussions about SB-22 funding for dashboard cameras, radios, concealable body armor, and additional personnel for the sheriff’s department were tabled for further review. Commissioners had been unclear as to whether these expenses qualified for reimbursement through the program.
After hesitating to approve certain upgrades during the previous month, officials received clarification on how SB-22 funds could be spent.
Sheriff Dickson explained that upgrades related to safety, such as emergency light bars, radios, and dashboard cameras, are eligible, while items like push bars or upgraded bumpers are not.
When the court revisited the matter last week, Sheriff Dickson requested that the court approve funding for the more affordable service provider. Utility Inc., a Georgia-based company with clients throughout Texas, has received positive feedback from agencies such as Harris County, which has partnered with the company in recent years and reported few issues. The company, Utility Inc., offers an integrated system that works seamlessly with deputy body cameras. Sheriff Dickson provided additional justification for his request for concealable body armor, explaining that it would allow deputies to maintain a lower profile at community events while still ensuring officer safety.
Although not the lowest bidder, Utility Inc. offered a significantly lower cost compared to current vendors and other top competitors.
Additionally, Dickson pointed out that several competing vendors included additional installation fees, whereas Utility’s bid was all-inclusive.
Sheriff Dickson noted that establishing a service agreement with Utility Inc. would be easier to maintain if SB-22 funding is discontinued in the future. As discussions turned toward upgrading the department’s newest and least equipped vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, officials also considered future vehicle purchases. Officials also discussed the possibility of trading one of the older Tahoes for a preferred pickup truck. The department could then donate the surplus Tahoe to the senior citizen center for use in transporting meals to local residents, although no decisions were made at that time.
With a clearer understanding of how SB-22 funds could be allocated, and confirmation that the proposed expenditures met the program’s eligibility criteria, commissioners unanimously approved the law enforcement purchases. As the 89th Texas Legislature continues in Austin, lawmakers will make final decisions in the coming months about whether the state will continue funding the SB-22 program.