SAN MARCOS — Hays County residents will soon be seeing a tax rate increase after the commissioners court voted 5-0 at its Sept. 17 meeting to adopt the fiscal year 2025 budget, which includes an increase in property taxes.
The budget totals $365 million, which is approximately an $18 million or 4.8% decrease from the current budget. According to the Hays County Budget Officer Vickie Dorsett, the budget decrease is mainly attributed to the completion of voter-approved construction projects. The budget includes $225 million in maintenance & operations funds, $44.4 million in debt funds and $86.7 million in construction funds, which are primarily voterapproved road and park bond projects.
The general fund budget totals close to $158 million and has now absorbed many programs previously paid for by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, according to Dorsett. These programs include the Mental Health Court, Judicial Services, additional magistrate judges and additional school resource officers (SRO) for school campuses in Hays CISD and Dripping Springs ISD.
The commissioners court also committed $1.2 million to replace technology infrastructure and equipment, along with $5 million to address market-based salary increases for law enforcement positions included in collective bargaining. Twenty-eight new positions were added to the budget for various departments, while seven positions vacant a year or more totaling $500,000 (includes fringe) were removed from the budget.
The positions within their specific departments added to the budget are the following, according to Dorsett:
• Senior assistant auditor (Auditor’s Office)
• Paralegal (County Courts at Law
• Inventory specialist (Sheriff’s Office)
• Background investigators (Sheriff’s Office)
• 911 custodian (Sheriff’s Office)
• Emergency communications manager (Sheriff’s Office)
• Deputy (Training - Sheriff’s Office)
• Two deputies (Patrol - Sheriff’s Office)
• Administrative assistant II, facility maintenance (Jail Operations)
• Two correction specialists (Jail Operations)
• Justice clerk (Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Office)
• Juvenile diversion coordinator (Justice of the Peace Precinct 5 Office)
• Two environmental health specialists II (Development & Community Services)
• HVAC technician (Building Maintenance)
• Parks Education Coordinators (Parks & Natural Resource Department)
• Six parks specialists (Parks & Natural Resource Department)
• Family health liaison (countywide)
• Deputy constable/bailiff for precinct 2 (countywide) • Planner (Transportation Department)
• Bailiff (District Court) Four vacant emergency communication office positions and two vacant administrative assistant positions within the Hays County Sheriff’s Office were also removed, explained Dorsett. One deputy/corporal position, that was partially grant funded, was also removed, as the program was discontinued.
The court also set a tax rate of $0.35 per $100 assessed valuation — up 13.8% from the current rate, which is $0.3075 — consisting of $0.2256 for general maintenance and operations (M&O), $0.0829 for general debt and $0.0415 in road and bridge M&O.
As a component of this, the commissioners authorized more than half of the tax rate increase to be added to the road and bridge rate in an effort to ensure county roads are maintained and protected from deterioration.
“The Hays County Commissioners Court has always maintained a conservative budget approach with a dedication to our citizens to maintain a low county tax rate. However, as we continue to experience record growth, the need for additional staff, law enforcement, infrastructure and road improvements must also be maintained in order to provide our citizens a safe and thriving community,” Dorsett said.
However, the county received some pushback from local residents regarding the tax rate increase. Many spoke during the public comment period or submitted written comments to be read during the commissioners court meeting, sharing their concerns that a spike in the tax rate is not needed.
“I simply cannot afford a raise in taxes. I have been living in my home for nearly 20 years and work in Hays County as a teacher,” said resident James Reveley in a written comment. “I will be forced out of my home soon with this, along with other insurance and current cost of living expenses. Please do not do this.”
According to another resident, Mark Bennett, the current inflation and economic challenges are causing families to struggle staying afloat — and the tax rate increase would not help.
“With the current level of inflation, many families are even struggling to buy food and fuel every day. This proposed tax increase would add an increased financial burden to those families, who may be facing a threat of a tax lien or even losing their home,” he said. “We’ve heard about the homeless problem we have; we don’t want to push any more people into that situation.”
To view the budget documents, and find more information on the FY 25 budget, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/ operating-budget. The full discussion and public hearing can be found at www. hayscountytx.gov/commissioners-courtlive- stream.
The commissioners court meets next on Oct. 1.
