On Oct. 21, the Texoma Area Paratranist System board of directors voted to request emergency funding from the Texas Department of Transportation to help cover operations and to repay some of the $4 million owed to vendors, the IRS and the organization's management company.

However, on Oct. 30, TxDOT told the board that it "does not have the discretionary funds available at this time. However, [TxDOT] will continue to process all reimbursements for which TAPS is entitled."

Collin County Commissioner Chris Hill, recently elected president of the TAPS board, said in previous discussions that the funding would be used to pay off the debts owed and spend the next two years repaying TxDOT and any other governmental entities that supplied emergency funding.

During the Oct. 26 Collin County Commissioners Court meeting, Hill disclosed to commissioners that he did not feel comfortable asking the court for emergency funding unless TxDOT committed funds first. Hill said he feared a contribution of tax dollars without TxDOT funding in place would only support the organization for a few weeks.

Hill plans to update the court during the Nov. 2 meeting, which will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Jack Hatchell Administration Building, 2300 Bloomdale Road.