Maverick County Attorney Recovers $610,000 in Grant Funds After Auditor Refused To Seek Reimbursement
County Attorney’s Office Secures Funding After Former Auditor’s Controversial Decision
The Maverick County Attorney’s Office has successfully recovered $610,000 in grant funds that should have been reimbursed to the county but were denied due to a unilateral decision made by former County Auditor Raul Trevino. This reversal ensures that crucial county programs, particularly law enforcement initiatives, remain fully funded without shifting the burden to local taxpayers.
Former Auditor’s Refusal to Request Reimbursement
Trevino refused to submit reimbursement requests to the state for eligible grant funds through the Operation Lone Star grant, citing cost allocation concerns. However, research into the issue has revealed that a cost allocation plan must first be proposed and formally approved by the Maverick County Commissioners Court before it can be applied. No such plan was ever presented for adoption, meaning Trevino’s justification for withholding reimbursement was not based on an officially sanctioned policy.
Cost Allocation Methodology (CAM). A grantee may develop a CAM to equitably distribute costs among its various funding sources based on factors such as FTE ratios, square footage, usage rate, etc. The CAM must be written and approved by the entity’s Executive Director or Chief Financial Officer and be consistently applied to all costs specified in the CAM. For public entities, this methodology is referred to as a Cost Allocation Plan (CAP). The CAP operates the same as a CAM and is written by the entity’s Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, or Auditor and approved by the entity’s governing board (Board of Directors, City Council, etc.) The methodology included in the CAM or CAP needs to be supported by auditable documentation to determine accuracy in the allocation of costs to each fund source.
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Maverick County Attorney Jaime Iracheta had previously clashed with Trevino over this misinterpretation, arguing that the decision had no legal or financial basis. Despite pushback, Trevino stood by his decision and ultimately resigned unexpectedly, leaving behind a letter explaining why he refused to request the reimbursement. His resignation has raised further questions about financial management within the county and why such a significant decision was made without oversight or consultation with the Commissioners Court.
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Impact on Law Enforcement and Operation Lone Star
One of the most critical grants affected by Trevino’s decision was Operation Lone Star, a state-funded initiative that supports border security efforts in Maverick County. This program provides vital resources to law enforcement agencies working to combat illegal crossings, human smuggling, and organized crime along the border.
By failing to seek reimbursement for these funds, Trevino put local law enforcement at risk of losing crucial financial support. Why is this important? Because without intervention, Maverick County taxpayers could have been forced to cover the shortfall. The County Attorney’s Office acted swiftly to correct this and ensure that the county received the funding it was rightfully owed.
County Attorney’s Office Intervenes to Recover Lost Funds
Despite the former auditor’s refusal, County Attorney Jaime Iracheta and Operation Lone Star (OLS) Project Director Jaime “AJ” Iracheta took immediate steps to recover the funds. Their efforts resulted in the successful reimbursement of $610,000, correcting the financial mismanagement that had previously left these funds unclaimed.
This recovery was achieved through a thorough reassessment of grant eligibility and expedited submission of reimbursement requests. The action taken by the County Attorney’s Office not only protected taxpayer dollars but also ensured that critical public services remained fully funded.
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Questions Remain About the Former Auditor’s Actions
Trevino’s decision to unilaterally block reimbursement requests has left many unanswered questions about his motives and reasoning. His unexpected resignation, followed by the discovery of his letter justifying his actions, has fueled speculation about why he refused to comply with standard financial procedures.
Without an officially approved cost allocation plan in place, his justification for withholding reimbursement lacks foundation. The Commissioners Court was never given the opportunity to review or approve such a policy, further highlighting the lack of transparency surrounding his decision.
The Maverick Take
Maverick County cannot afford to let individual bureaucratic decisions interfere with responsible financial management. Grant funds exist to support public services, and when a county official chooses to block reimbursement without legal grounds, it directly harms the community.
Operation Lone Star is a critical asset to local law enforcement, providing funding necessary for border security and crime prevention. The refusal to submit reimbursement requests placed that funding at risk, jeopardizing efforts to protect Maverick County residents from illegal activity along the border.
The swift intervention by the County Attorney’s Office ensured that Maverick County taxpayers were not left covering the financial gap. Moving forward, the Commissioners Court must implement stricter oversight and accountability measures to prevent future unilateral decisions that could jeopardize county funding.
The successful recovery of $610,000 in grant funds demonstrates the importance of proactive leadership and financial responsibility. Maverick County must prioritize transparency and fiscal discipline to ensure that taxpayer dollars are managed effectively and that essential county programs receive the funding they deserve.
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