Brazos County commissioners discussed the county’s property insurance coverage at its April 7 meeting, questioning whether officials should seek out competitive bids for a policy expected to cost around $500,000 this year.
What you need to know
During Commissioners Court, Precinct 3 Commissioner Fred Brown raised concerns about approving participation in the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool without regularly comparing prices on the open market.
“When you’re talking about a half-a-million dollar expenditure, it wouldn’t hurt for us to go out in the open market and get some bids,” Brown said, adding the goal was to ensure taxpayers are receiving the best value.
A closer look
County Risk Manager Leslie Contreras explained that TAC operates differently from traditional insurance providers. The nonprofit organization pools resources from counties across Texas to provide property, liability, law enforcement and vehicle coverage tailored specifically to county governments.
Contreras said the arrangement offers stability private insurers may not guarantee, particularly after major claims or natural disasters.
She pointed to severe weather events in 2020 and 2021, noting how private carriers drop clients following large losses, while TAC continued coverage because member counties collectively share risk.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Chuck Konderla described TAC as acting like a “shock absorber,” saying the predictable coverage outweighed potential short-term savings from cheaper policies.
Still, Brown emphasized the importance of periodically reviewing costs and performance.
“I just want to know that we’re getting a good deal,” he said.
Contreras noted property insurance costs are expected to rise industry-wide this year, though final premium amounts will not be known until TAC completes its renewal process later on.
The takeaway
The court ultimately took no action to change coverage and is expected to continue participating in the TAC program.
Also on the agenda
This discussion was followed by several infrastructure-related approvals, including a $660,000 contract connected to planning work for the county’s future courthouse annex.
