Hays County Commissioners Court Sets FY 2017 Budget Review Dates

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX – At Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting Hays County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., revealed a recommended Fiscal Year 2017 budget of just over $174.9 million that maintains the current tax rate of .4670. The current FY 2016 County budget is just under $178.4 million.

The Commissioners Court also scheduled public workshops to discuss proposed expenditures with elected officials and department heads and suggest changes to the recommended budget. The County’s fiscal year begins October 1, 2016, and by law the Commissioners Court must approve a budget and set the tax rate for the County by September 30.

As part of its regular agenda, the Commissioners Court will hold budget workshops as needed on August 16 and August 23 at 1:30 p.m. at County Courthouse, 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos. Public hearings on the tax rate and budget will be scheduled for September. All meetings are open to the public and streamed live on the County’s website.

Among the judge’s budget recommendations are $500,000 for miscellaneous jail improvements, $1 million for civic center improvements so that the property can be sold and $1.5 million for renovations to the Precinct 3 building. In the capital assets category, $900,000 is scheduled to replace law enforcement vehicles, $106,000 to upgrade District Courtroom 7 to full functionality for jury trials, and $222,000 for software to address financial transparency, county wide custom reporting and electronic storage options. The Judge’s recommended budget also includes raises for eligible law enforcement positions under the County’s collective bargaining agreement, $18,000 for a merit pool for department heads and a three percent merit pool for all other employees to be distributed at department head discretion. No funds were budgeted for elected officials’ raises.

All budget and planning documents are available online by choosing the Financial Transparency icon on the County’s website at www.co.hays.tx.us. The Commissioners Court video of the budget presentation is here. A printed copy of the recommended budget is available for review in the County Auditor’s Office at the County Government Center, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos. For questions about the budget, contact any member of the Commissioners Court or County Auditor Bill Herzog at 512-393-2283.