Legal Services

	"We keep getting bids from a resident who owes the county money in unpaid property taxes. Can we refuse to do buisness with them?"

May the county refuse to enter into a contract with a person indebted to the country?

Yes, pursuant to Local Government Code §262.0276. The commissioners court may adopt rules permitting the county to refuse to enter into a contract or other transaction with a person who owes a debt to the county. If these rules are adopted, it is not a violation of the competitive bidding statutes to refuse to award a contract to or enter into a transaction with an apparent low bidder or successful proposer that is indebted to the county. For more information on the County Purchasing Act, see our publication Basics of the County Purchasing Act and Competitive Bidding.