Travis County, located in Texas, is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the release of records related to the use of taxpayer dollars to pay a private security firm. Despite a ruling from the Texas Attorney General’s office ordering the release of these records, the county is fighting to keep them confidential.
The Travis County Auditor has filed a lawsuit against the Office of the Attorney General in response to a public information request made by local news outlet KXAN over six months ago. This lawsuit marks a rare instance of the Auditor’s office challenging an open records decision from the AG’s office.
The records in question pertain to a vendor registered with the county under the business name “Group For Horizon Entertainment Inc.” Upon investigation, KXAN discovered that the vendor is actually a Houston-based private security firm operating under the name “Ranger Guard.”
According to auditor records, this was the first time that county funds were used for “security services” for District Attorney José Garza’s office since he assumed office in 2021. In March, payments totaling nearly $27,000 were authorized by Travis County Judge Andy Brown and the county auditor’s office for security services provided to Garza’s office.
When questioned about the use of county funds for security services, Travis County spokesperson Hector Nieto emphasized the county’s commitment to the safety and security of all elected and appointed officials and employees. However, specific details regarding any security risks or threats were not disclosed.
Through the Travis County Financial Transparency Portal, KXAN uncovered two payments made in March for security services for Garza’s office. The first payment occurred just before the primary election, and shortly after Garza reported feeling intimidated and harassed by a group of individuals while campaigning.
In response to the allegations of intimidation, Luis Rodriguez, the leader of the group mentioned by Garza, denied any intention to intimidate supporters and claimed that their actions were aimed at engaging with voters and presenting alternative perspectives.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it provides security and close patrol services to elected officials upon request if a valid threat is identified. However, details surrounding any potential threats against Garza last March remain unclear, as the TCSO has yet to respond to inquiries about the matter.
The issue of security and the allocation of public funds for private security services have been discussed in confidential executive sessions during commissioner court meetings, limiting public transparency. As a result, KXAN sought vendor records from the auditor’s office to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the use of taxpayer funds for security purposes.
Timeline: Record Request Leads to Lawsuit
In early March, KXAN submitted a records request to the county auditor’s office seeking information on “Group For Horizon Entertainment Inc.” Despite a prompt initial response acknowledging the request, subsequent attempts to follow up on the status of the request went unanswered for over two weeks.
On March 25, the Travis County Attorney’s Office forwarded the request to the Office of the Attorney General of Texas for review. The county requested that certain information be withheld due to concerns about potential physical harm to a county official if released.
After reviewing the county’s request, the AG’s office ruled on May 30 that the information should be disclosed, as the county failed to demonstrate a substantial threat of physical harm. Despite this ruling, Travis County Auditor’s Office filed a lawsuit challenging the decision, delaying the release of the records.
As of September 9, no hearing has been scheduled in the case, leaving the resolution of the dispute uncertain. Kelly Shannon from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas explained that such cases can drag on for months or even years, with varying costs to taxpayers depending on legal fees and the complexity of the case.
In an effort to understand the implications of cases like this on taxpayers and the frequency of open record rulings being contested in court, KXAN reached out to the AG’s office for further information. Updates on this aspect of the story will be provided once a response is received.