By Taylor Tompkins
Hays County Commissioners approved the fiscal year 2014 budget Tuesday, funding a water resource project, local nonprofits and law enforcement salary expenses.
Commissioners approved a finalized $151 million county budget, $23 million less than the previous fiscal year’s budget. The budget provides a financial plan for the county from Oct. 1, 2013 through September 31, 2014. Commissioners voted on last-minute changes in their Sept. 17 meeting, including providing funding for local nonprofit entities and hiring of two new deputy constables.
Commissioners approved to move up to $5,000 in funding from savings for signage to honor a fallen local law enforcement officer Randall Wade Vetter. A six-mile stretch of IH-35 will be dedicated as a memorial highway for the trooper who was shot and killed in August 2000.
Commissioners voted 3-2 to allow the Hays County Constable Precinct 1 office to hire a new deputy and provide a car and equipment for the officer. Judge Bert Cobb and commissioner for Precinct 3 Will Conley cast the dissenting votes.
Constable for Precinct 1 David Peterson asked to move up the hire date for a new deputy to Oct. 1, instead of the planned April date, and funding for equipment for the additional deputy to provide security to the county courthouse. Commissioners said a reserve vehicle could be used for the additional officer, instead of a new one. The commissioners gave the precinct $35,330 on this item.
“My office is real busy,” Peterson said. “We have a lot going on. Citations, warrants, subpoenas, evictions, it doesn’t stop.”
A similar deputy constable position was approved for Precinct 2, and the start date was also moved to Oct. 1.
Commissioners unanimously voted to increase pay for Precinct 4 commissioner Ray Whisenant’s, who abstained from the vote. Whisenant said when he was voted into office he did not expect a pay raise.
“When I got elected to this position, I knew what I was going to be paid,” Whisenant said.
Commissioners gave additional one-time funding of $12,500 to the Hays-Caldwell Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council. Executive Director Grace Davis, said the group needed the funds to keep the council’s prevention programs in schools. Davis said the county pays $.58 per each of the 30,000 students in Hays County schools.
“Our concern is that as our county grows, we know that we are in need of additional funds,” Davis said. “We appreciate the funds that the county has already allocated to us.”
The budget includes about $1.1 million set aside for a collective bargaining agreement which was approved in 2008 by voters. Under the agreement, the county can pay for salary increases in line with the local market.
The commissioners also approved the same tax rate from the previous fiscal year for the upcoming one. The rate of $.4690 per $100 valuation allows for $.3006 to go to county General Maintenance and Operating Expenses, $.1246 to the Debt Fund and $.0438 to the Road & Bridge Fund, according to a news release from the county.
The commissioners will put any revenues above the $151 million budget in savings.
Hays County budget by the numbers
FY 2014 $151 million
FY 2013 $174 million
FY 2014 tax rate per $100 valuation $.4690, which breaks down to…
• $.3006 for county General Maintenance and Operating Expenses
• $.1246 for the Debt Fund
• $.0438 for the Road & Bridge Fund
