STAFF REPORT
Hays County Commissioners have tentatively approved a budget for the next fiscal year that slashes spending by 16 percent.
The county’s proposed budget of $205 million is $38 million less than the previous year’s budget. No raises will be given to most county employees or elected officials. Law-enforcement officers, who are part of collective bargaining, will receive a two percent raise.
The Commissioners Court also approved a proposed tax rate of 46.92 cents per $100 of property value, which is one-ten-thousandth of a cent lower than the current tax rate of 46.93 cents.
Commissioners expect to adopt a final budget and set the final tax rate on Sept. 20 following a public hearing.
The budget for the 2012 fiscal year includes $72 million in general operating funds, $19 million in debt service and $114 million in construction funds, which are primarily voter-approved park and road construction projects.
Much of the budget reductions are being made because the county has less debt to pay off in the coming year. But commissioners also reduced spending on social services and eliminated some employee positions.
Among the lost jobs are two vacant school resource officer positions in the sheriff’s office and two security positions. The budget also adds two jobs for new parks employees to be hired in spring 2012 as new county parks open.
The county budget is largely funded by property taxes. Property values in the county increased by 2.7 percent this year, with the average home rising in value from $162,445 in the 2011 fiscal year to $163,206 in the 2012 fiscal year.
The commissioners’ planning documents for the 2012 budget year are available online at co.hays.tx.us. From the county’s home page, hover over the “Government” link and click on “FY 2012 Budget Planning.”
The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
