Gaines County Veterans Services: No County Officer at Present; the County Judge's Office Refers

No officer now. The county's Veterans Services page: "Gaines County is currently without a VSO, for a referral on assistance or more information please contact the County Judge's Office at (432) 758-4058, [email protected] or Courthouse Room 201." It also lists the Texas Veterans Commission's Lubbock office, (806) 472-3490, whose claims counselors help any veteran free (see the Texas entry), and the State's veterans portal. The page still gives the office's own address and numbers - "Gaines County VSO, 101 South Main, Mailing Address: P.O. Box 847, Seminole, Texas 79360, PHONE: (432) 758-4010, FAX: (432) 758-4036" - and TexVet's county list names Johnny Hernandez at (432) 758-4010; with the county saying it has no officer, call the Judge's office first. The search. On November 5, 2025 the Commissioners Court appointed a committee - County Judge Cindy Therwhanger, the County Auditor and Commissioner Murphree - "to review and interview the Veteran's Service Officer application and present to court for approval". On January 14, 2026 the Judge reported that "The interviews for a Service Officer are being conducted today." No minutes through September 23, 2026 record an appointment. How the county funds it. The FY 2027 approved budget's General Fund department 24, "Veterans Service Officer", is $22,910 (against $22,373 for FY 2026; FY 2025 actual $82,019.77, when a full-time officer's salary was paid): $17,985 of "Salary - Extra Help", $1,380 of FICA, $1,240 of retirement, $740 of workers' compensation, $1,500 for office supplies and small amounts for postage, conference and equipment. The salary listing shows "VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER - POSITION OPEN PT". A county of under 200,000 people is not required to keep an officer (Government Code 434.032; see the Texas entry).