(a) The commissioners court may pay the necessary expenses of the commission.
(b) The commissioners court may make agreements with governmental agencies or private organizations and may appropriate funds from the general fund of the county for the purpose of:
(1) erecting historical markers and monuments;
(2) purchasing objects and collections of objects that are historically significant to the county;
(3) preparing, publishing, and disseminating, by sale or otherwise, a history of the county;
(4) hiring professional staff and consultants;
(5) providing matching funds for grants; and
(6) funding other programs or activities as suggested by the Texas Historical Commission and the commissioners court.

(c) The Texas Historical Commission may make grants available to the commission, subject to the budgetary authority and approval of the commissioners court, to carry out the purposes of this chapter.