By Sahar Chmais

Hays County commissioners will allocate up to $5 million of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to create a Public Defender’s Office (PDO).

After a long debate on whether ARP funds are viable to use on a PDO in Hays County, the allocation passed unanimously. The creation of a PDO has been in the works for about three years, and today, the commissioners nudged the project a little closer to the finish line.

Having a PDO will streamline and speed up the judicial process in Hays Cou...