Last night, Judge Gerald Robinson attempted to secure an additional $571,664.29 for his office to cover expenses. The Quorum Court denied the request, prompting him to post on social media this morning criticizing the decision. Below is a screenshot of his post. Let’s examine the finances of the County Judge’s Office to understand why this request was made.
County government budgets are divided into funds, departments, and groups. For example, line 1000-100-2005 breaks down as follows:
1000 is the fund (County General), which defines the source of the money.
100 is the department (County Judge).
2000 identifies the group, in this case “Supplies.”
2005 is the specific line item, here used for food purchases by the County Judge’s Office from the General Fund.
The balance of an individual line does not matter; only the group balance does. For example, lines 2005 and 2007 draw from the same group total. However, funds cannot be moved between groups (e.g., from 2000 to 3000) without Quorum Court approval.
1000 Group | Personal Services
Covers employees, benefits, and payroll.
Original budget: $463,194.68
Additional appropriation: $3,289.50 (bonus pay ordinance, July)
Spent: $244,393.51
Remaining balance: $222,090.67
This group is well-funded and should last through the year.
2000 Group | Supplies
Intended for day-to-day supplies and equipment.
Original budget: $120,600
Spent: $32,089.96
Remaining balance: $88,510.04
Having 73% of this budget remaining in the tenth month suggests over-funding. It may warrant reduction next year. Despite this, Judge Robinson requested an additional $342.09 for this group, which is inconsistent with the remaining balance.
Within this group, line 2024 (Maintenance and Service Contracts) retains $79,268.58. Robinson cited unpaid vendors such as Wayne Bixler, Beyond Clean, and Bowman Pest Control. These likely qualify under maintenance or service contracts. In fact, Bowman Pest Control has often been paid from this line. So why are these vendors not being paid now?
3000 Group | Other Services and Charges
This group includes services and technology purchases.
Original budget: $159,462
Spent: $186,754.84
Remaining balance: -$27,292.84
Requested appropriation: $176,523.19
Spending a group into the negative constitutes spending without an appropriation, which is illegal.
Key expenses:
Line 3002 – Management Consulting: $17,812.50 to BSG Communication for phone system consulting.
Line 3003 – Computer Services: $57,534.36, nearly all to Debose Technologies and Innovations (Elager Debose), who has a felony conviction (case 63CR-23-643). This raises questions about data security.
Line 3009 – Other Professional Services: $87,123.26 paid to attorneys Terry Wynne, Casey Castleberry, Quattlebaum Grooms & Tull, Burt Newell, and $250 to the Chamber of Commerce.
These legal costs—driven by Robinson’s ongoing lawsuits—have burdened taxpayers with $87,000 in legal fees. His current request seeks to transfer another $87,123.26 into this same line, which would create a $35,000 surplus for further legal spending.
4000 Group | Capital Outlay
Starting budget: $135,000
Transferred in June to line 5003 (Note Principal)
Remaining balance: $0
5000 Group | Debt Service
For loans and leases.
Original budget: $672,865
Additional appropriation: $135,000
Total appropriation: $807,865
Spent: $763,062.50
Remaining balance: $44,802.50
Major lines:
5003 Note Principal: $67,687.87
5004 Note Interest: $223,693.38
5007 Simmons Bank Loan Payment: $471,681.25
In total, $763,000 in loan payments have already been made. Yet Robinson seeks another $283,148.87 for additional payments. The county now owes over a million dollars annually on loans, likely for building projects Robinson often highlights. But if these loans were predictable, why did he budget only $672,865? He created this shortfall himself by under-budgeting.
The Quorum Court has repeatedly sought explanations for the County Judge’s overspending, only to be met with resistance. Their role is to oversee county finances, not rubber-stamp every request. Robinson’s claim that he need not answer their questions contradicts the principle of public accountability. Thirteen Justices of the Peace were elected to ensure that accountability exists.
Any financial problems in the County Judge’s Office are self-inflicted. Vendors awaiting payment have every right to be frustrated; but the cause lies in mismanagement, not inaction by the Quorum Court.
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