More than $1.5 million in outstanding fines have accumulated in violations and warrants and are missing from city coffers.

Beth Smith, Hays County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace and the person who oversees Buda’s municipal court, said July 18 everything “seemed to be running smoothly in the court.”

Smith praised court clerks for going “above and beyond” when pursuing collections, making phone calls and sending letters informing violators of their unpaid fines.

According ...