Hays County Judge Gives Presentation On Preliminary FY 2020 Budget, Sets Budget Workshop Dates

On Tuesday, the Hays County Commissioners Court received a brief presentation regarding the Judge’s recommended budget for FY 2020 and set three budget workshops.

Judge Ruben Becerra told commissioners the budget wasn’t 100 percent, but he wanted to keep with the set calendar.

Becerra said he was grateful to the hours and work the Hays County auditor’s office had put in so far to help him with the budget and the hours that will continue to be spent on it in the upcoming weeks. 

According to Becerra, he wasn’t able to lower the current tax rate without doing a lot of “operational theatrics” he didn’t feel were “useful or effective for the county at this time.”;however, he was able to balance the county’s budget at the current tax rate.

Becerra noted residents would still see an increase in their taxes due to appraisal values. 

In the preliminary proposed Judge’s recommended budget, the county has projected $718,000 in capital projects for flood water system expansions, capital assets $256,000, which is tied to fire, weather mapping and live flood response software, $875,000 in equipment for the county’s “new” jail and public safety buildings and more.

Becerra said they’ve projected $260,000 for salary increases for law enforcement positions, $905,000 for cost of living adjustments and 1 percent merit holds for employees and department heads.

“The reason I did that was so we could guarantee that everyone that is working for the county could get a cost of living adjustment but still leave the department heads indiscretion to modify or add to it for thank yous and good jobs kind of things,” Becerra said. “But I’ve capped it for anyone who makes over $100,000 not to participate in the program.”

Becerra said the budget at the moment includes $3 million in new positions for the jail and Hays County Sheriff’s office; with the renovations made to the jail and the new law enforcement center voters approved in 2016, the County Sheriff’s Office will need additional staff and equipment.

The commissioners’ court will hold budget workshops at 10 AM on August 6, August 13 and August 20. Members of the public are invited to attend.