Hays County Commissioners Hold Final Budget Workshop, Set Tax Rate Public Hearing

Corridor Staff

The Hays County Commissioners held their third and final budget workshop for the Fiscal Year 2021.

Commissioners received presentations on requests from the Hays County Court at Law offices, Office of Countywide Operations, Constable Precinct #3, and office of Human Resources.

The Hays County Court-At-Law offices are requesting one lead court administrator position to give each court two administrators, increasing the Indigent Defense fund and miscellaneous needs.  

Judge Tacie Zelhart, County Court At Law #3, said she wanted the commissioners to consider budgeting for the potential need to purchase a license for Zoom in the future.

According Zelhart, the office of court administration (OCA) has negotiated a deal to provide all Texas Courts with Zoom from March 2020 to March 2021.

“I think we need to plan ahead,” Zelhart said. “I believe the county, from the district courts all the way down, can probably get a better rate.”  

Zelhart noted it was efficient and easier for members of the community, such as the older resident and guardianship cases, find it easier and more convenient to visit their attorney’s office and appear in court from there.

Judge Chris Johnson, County Court At Law #2, said the courts are holding jail dockets every week via zoom, which has lowered transportation costs and risks for transporting inmates; they are hoping to keep the virtual dockets going after COVID.

The judges acknowledged that the county didn’t have to go with zoom and can look at alternative service providers if they want.

Zelhart said the Lead Court administrator would be promoted from within the office, who is already doing the job and deserves the pay.

The Hays County Office of Countywide Operations requested two additional employees for the solid waste services.

Tammy Crumley, Director of Countywide Operations, said the county currently has four employees throughout its two Recycling Stations; currently, she has been forced to close stations due to being understaffed or had to have employees come into work sick to maintain due to staffing issues.

Hays County Constable Precinct #2 Michael Torres’s office requested two replacement vehicles to replace vehicles that have growing repair issues.

Human Resources requested to regrade a county employee of 20 years to 114 from her current position.

Commissioners discussed a number of budget amendments including:

• Adding one new deputy constable & necessary equipment to Precincts #1, 4 and 5
• Adding two replacement requests for Constable Precinct #2
• Adding one motor unit for Constable Pct. #4
• Adding $838,904 for outsourcing contracts
• Regrades for new staff and position regrades for operations
• Adding a pretrial bond officer
• Adding one program director for the jail
• Added $15,600 for Cite & Divert Program
• Adding CECC Director for $100,000
• Adding lead administrator for county court at law

The judge’s recommended tax rate is .4186.

Commissioners voted to set a public hearing for a tax rate ¼ of a cent higher, .4212, than the judge’s recommended budget, which added $500,000 to the budget.

Commissioners are slated to approve the tax rate and the court’s proposed FY 2021 budget on September 22.