Guide to County Purchasing: The County Purchasing Agent

The Texas Local Government Code (Section 262.001) allows a county to appoint a purchasing agent under different scenarios depending on its size and preference.

Agent Appointed by Purchasing Board (Section 262.011) - In a county with a population of 150,000 or less, the board is composed of the judges of the district courts in the county and the county judge.

In any other county, the board is composed of three judges of the district courts in the county and two members of the commissioners court, unless the county has fewer than three district court judges, in which case the board is composed of one district court judge and one member of the court.

Agent Selected by Commissioners Court (Section 262.0115) - In a county with a populations of more than 100,000, the commissioners court may employ a person to act as county purchasing agent.

Under the supervision of the commissioners court, the purchasing agent shall carry out the functions prescribed by law for a purchasing agent under 262.011 and for the county auditor in regard to county purchases and contracts and shall administer the procedures prescribed by law for notice and public bidding for county purchases and contracts.

County Auditor as Agent (262.012) - The commissioners court of counties with a 25,000 population or less may employ a county auditor jointly with one or more counties and may require the auditor to act as the purchasing agent for the county.

(b) In a county with a population of 41,680 to 42,100, the county auditor shall act as the purchasing agent for the county.

However the county appoints a purchasing agent, the role is basically the same. The agent is responsible for procuring all goods and services needed by the county to perform its essential functions and ensuring that those goods and services are procured in compliance with the County Purchasing Act. The agent is responsible for accounting for all county property and maintaining an accurate inventory of that property. The agent is also responsible for the disposition of seized and abandoned property and the auction of surplus and salvaged property. When appropriate, the purchasing agent is responsible for warehouse management, recycling, and cooperative purchasing agreements.