The Mountain Dispatch reports that Jeff Davis County Commissioners continue to meet for budget workshops as they work through a projected $336,000 deficit ahead of the next fiscal year, which begins in September. According to the report, at least two additional workshops are expected, with more likely.
During a recent session, The Mountain Dispatch reported that Precinct 2 Commissioner Roy Hurley suggested the county could “save tens of thousands of dollars by switching from Big Bend Telephone to Starlink,” noting ongoing dissatisfaction with BBT’s internet service performance.
Even as officials look for cost-saving measures, Jeff Davis County continues to incur substantial costs tied to its legal campaign against Big Bend Times publisher David Flash—estimated at $117,500 to $135,000 so far, with costs expected to grow if the case proceeds to trial.
Flash Case Costs Mount Amid Budget Struggles
Flash, who has published more reporting on Jeff Davis County than any other journalist in the region, has been the subject of ten separate investigations by county officials since 2023. Eight of those resulted in no charges and appear to have been launched in response to his reporting and public records requests. The remaining two charges—one of which has been dropped—were filed after Flash submitted formal civil claims against the county.
The Big Bend Times reports that the county’s pursuit of Flash has come at significant taxpayer expense:
- $45,000–$55,000: Staff time from the Texas Attorney General’s Office
- $8,000–$10,000: Cost of a visiting judge from San Antonio
- $20,000–$25,000: Time spent by local law enforcement compiling internal reports
- $6,000–$8,000: Arrest, booking, and jail processing costs from April 2024
- $20,000: Outside counsel to fight open records requests
- $1,500–$2,000: Postage, certified mail, and clerical expenses
- $10,000–$15,000: Internal coordination time across county departments
Total estimated cost to date: $117,500–$135,000
Neglected Services and Public Concern
As the county channels resources into prosecuting a journalist, several essential services remain underdeveloped or neglected:
- The sheriff’s office still lacks a policy manual
- A capital murder case was mishandled
- The county maintains no emergency alert system via social media
- Over $100,000 in hotel occupancy tax revenue was spent on a broken tourism website
- Legal notices and county job ads continue to appear in a print publication with limited reach, while the Big Bend Times has published a free, comprehensive local guide
Observers have questioned whether county officials are prioritizing personal vendettas over public service.
Flash Responds
“They’ve already spent over $120,000 trying to make me go away,” said Flash. “That money could’ve gone toward building systems that serve the public. Instead, it was used to retaliate against a reporter for doing his job.”
“Instead of building their own barn, they tried to burn mine down,” he added. “But we’re still standing—and still reporting.”
As budget talks continue and legal bills climb, the county faces growing scrutiny over how public dollars are being spent—and whether political motivations are taking precedence over fiscal responsibility.
