Maverick County Commissioners approve Audit of Sheriff’s Department Confiscated Funds

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

Maverick County Commissioners Court approved two agenda items during their meeting held on Monday, October 26,2015 in which they moved forward with auditing the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department Confiscated Funds for the years 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011- 2012 under former Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera’s administration.

Under Agenda Item No.22, Commissioners Court sought to grant an order to exempt the professional services for the independent auditor, Garza/Gonzalez & Associates contract from the competitive bidding/proposal process for the audit of the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department Confiscated Funds. Commissioners Court unanimously approved Agenda Item No. 22 to waive or exempt the Independent Auditing Firm of Garza/Gonzalez & Associates from the competitive bidding/proposal process.

Under agenda item No.23, Commissioners Court also unanimously approved the hiring of the Independent Auditing Firm of Garza/Gonzalez & Associates to audit the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department Confiscated Funds during the years of 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011- 2012 under former Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera’s administration.

During the course of discussion, Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated that the contract had been reviewed by Maverick County legal counsel, Woody Wilson, who had given the green light on it.

Maverick County Commissioner Precinct No. 1 Jerry Morales addressed the issue with Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber as to the exact years needed for the audit being sought under the agenda item.

“When I first came in, it was recommended by one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents,” said Sheriff Tom Schmerber. That was three years ago.

Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 4 Roberto Ruiz asked Sheriff Schmerber if the audit for these years had not been done before.

“No. We haven’t had a chance. I’ve been asking for it,” replied Sheriff Schmerber.

Sheriff Schmerber stated that there had been a prior meeting with the FBI and that he had made note of what was being sought to take action and do an audit on those records to the previous county auditor.

“He never came through,” added Sheriff Schmerber referring to former County Auditor Fidencio Ortiz.

Sheriff Schmerber gave a detailed explanation as to what will be looked at during the audit and the years needed for the audit.

Commissioners Court unanimously approved the audit of the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department Confiscated Funds for the years of 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 under former Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera’s administration.

Next month, November 2015, is the start of the political candidates registration for their respective party’s nomination and primary in March 2016 for the general election in November 2016. Sheriff Tom Schmerber is expected to register with the Democratic Party for re-election as Sheriff of Maverick County while former Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera is a possible candidate for Sheriff in the Democratic Party Primary of March 2016, challenging Sheriff Schmerber. The 2016 political season is upon us.