Commissioners vindicate Davis

NEW BOSTON, Texas — A discussion item listed on the Bowie County Commissioners Court meeting agenda Monday drew immediate attention from the county’s tax assessor-collector, Josh Davis.

The agenda item made reference to a sum of $32,744 cited in a recent county audit as allegedly going unaccounted for in Davis’ office.

“I feel compelled to come before the court today, to set the record straight. I’ve received dozens of phone calls since last Friday from concerned taxpayers, and the way this agenda item is stated, it casts a negative light on my office, my staff and myself,” Davis said.

Davis went on to say that the recent outside county audit “determined and proved that said funds actually didn’t go unaccounted for” under his administration, but instead before he took office Jan. 1, 2021.

Davis went on to say that his office’s reports and bank statements show no finance missing.

“All the monies are accounted for under my administration,” he said. “My office and my staff have worked tirelessly over the last two years trying to reconcile these accounts.”

Following Davis’ presentation, commissioners approved a statement affirming that the Assessor-Collector’s office had no funds missing.

Following the court’s meeting, the County Auditor’s Office released a statement by Natalie Wellborn, a local, independent accounting consultant. It stated that a review of all records “pertaining to Josh Davis’ tax accounts between Jan. 1, 2021 through Feb. 28, 2023” showed no discrepancies.

Wellborn’s statement appears to confirm “that all funds collected during Davis’ tenure” were paid out to the appropriate accounts.

“I found no misappropriation of funds during his time,” she said. “The shortage uncovered happened during a previous tax assessor-collector administration.”

In other business, commissioners approved Vote Center locations at three county-based independent school districts for the May 6 school board elections. They included Maud, Redwater and New Boston ISDs.