The Attorney General of Texas
September 13, 1978
JOHN L. HILL
Attorney General
Honorable Joe Resweb-er Opinion No. H- 1242
Harris County Attorney
Harris County Courthouse Re: Control of the preparation
Houston, Texas 77002 of county warrants.
Dear Mr. Resweber:
You ask:
Can the Harris County Commissioners Court assign the
preparation of Harris County Flood Control warrants,
prior .to auditing and final disposition, to either the
County Clerk or the Harris County Data Processing
Department?
Control of the preparation and processing of county warrants is vested
by statute in the County Auditor of Harris County. V.T.C.S. art. 1656a. In
counties having a population of 190,000 or more the auditor is to “prescribe
the system of accounting for the county and the forms to be used by the
District Clerk,~ the District Attorney and all county and precinct officers. . .
in the collection and disbursement of county revenues.” He is given power to
“adopt and enforce such regulations . . , as he may deem essential to the
speedy end proper collection and checking of, and accounting for, the
revenues and other funds and fees belonging to the county. . . .” -See Attorney
General Opinion C-218 (1964).
The Harris County Commissioners Court has no authority to assign the
preparation of Harris County warrants to any officer or department, since the
county auditor has responsibility for the preparation of the warrants. See
V.T.C.S. art. 1650. The rule is the same for the preparation of warrants for
the Harris County Flood Control District. Article 8280-120, section 8 makes
applicable to the district “all existing [sItate fllaws . . . applicable to . . . the
receipt and disbursement of, and accounting for, public funds in Harris
County.”
SUMMARY
The Commissioners Court of Harris County has no
authority to assign the preparation of Harris County or
p. 4944
Honorable Joe Resweber - Page 2 Cl-1242)
Harris County Flood Control Iktrict warrants to any officer
or department, since the co&y auditor has responsibility
for preparation of the warrank
Very truly yours,
Attorney General of Texas
APPROVED:
C. ROBERT HEATH, Chairman
Opinion Committee
p. 498