Travis County residents will continue to receive the benefits of multiple criminal justice programs after county officials identified alternative avenues for funding of 13 grant programs defunded by the Office of the Governor. In February, Governor Greg Abbott canceled the criminal justice grants it usually administers to the county in response to the Sheriff Sally Hernandez's stated policy of not cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement warrantless detainer requests. Commissioners Court later approved the continuation of the programs until May 15 but directed the Planning and Budget Office to explore alternative funding sources and conduct a re-budgeting process for the programs impacted by the grants. According to the county's Budget Director Travis Gatlin, in 2017 the county utilized 13 grants from the governor's office to support the county’s criminal justice system. The county offers multiple programs with these grants such as DWI court, drug diversion court, and parenting in recovery program to help people in these situations get back on the right track and avoid being placed in jail. This totaled about $1.8 million and included 18.5 full-time employees. "The programs provided important benefits to the community and served vulnerable at-risk populations," Gatlin said. "They serve over 3,400 residents and result in an estimated 4,122 avoided jail bed days, which translates to $467,800 estimate." Due to the loss of the grant funding, Gatlin said office departments identified efficiencies to reduce the cost of the programs to taxpayers without significant changes and allowed the programs to continue until Nov. 15. Analyzed costs were reduced from a little under $1.5 million to a little under $1.1 million, which is just under a 29 percent reduction or about $428,000. Six full-time employees also resigned, lessening the cost of the programs. The fiscal year 2017 program cost is a just under $800,000 from January to September, which will be funded through departmental budgets. "No one has lost their job or will lose their job as of right now," Gatlin said. "I think the fact that all the departments have agreed to internally fund this with their existing budget and make the changes this year really highlights just how important a priority these programs are." All programs and staff were recommended by the Planning and Budget Office for continuation until Nov. 15 so that a long-term solution can be identified during the fiscal year 2018 budget process. Gatlin said there a few funding options for the county to consider but the main concern was finding a revenue source for the next fiscal year. "The fiscal year begins Oct. 1 but we have to send out reduction in [work]force notices if we haven’t identified [funding] sources by June," said  Judge Sarah Eckhardt. "I'm going to suggest to commissioners that we send a request to the Travis County Stronger Together board for a one-time contribution of $133,000 to carry us through Nov. 15 to avoid sending a second round of reduction in [work]force notices to these people who have worked so hard to help so many Travis County residents." Commissioners authorized Eckhardt to draft a letter to the board of Travis County Stronger Together, which according to Commissioner Precinct 2 Brigid Shea, was formed to help fund the programs impacted by Governor Abbot's elimination of Criminal Justice Division grants to Travis County. “We approached this process deliberately and are proud to have found cost efficiencies and ways to continue these valuable justice programs through Nov. 15 at their current levels," Eckhardt said. "Travis County remains committed to programs that are effective, efficient and fair. If we had the partnership of the governor’s office, we would expand these valuable programs and provide services to even more of our vulnerable, at-risk populations. Although the governor’s partnership has been withdrawn, our work goes on serving the people of Travis County.”