The Hill County Commissioners Court held budget hearings last week after County Judge Justin Lewis proposed a budget that he said provides tangible benefits to the community while adhering to budgetary principles.
The proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1 was filed by the judge Friday, August 2. He worked with Auditor Susan Swilling and Treasurer Rachel Parker on this year’s numbers.
While the final numbers and tax rate for the coming year will be approved by the commissioners court later this month, the judge has proposed that the county adopt the no-new-revenue tax rate this year. That rate would raise the same amount of revenue as last year and result in a three-cent reduction in the overall rate.
“This adjustment will offer a direct relief to our residents while still enabling us to maintain the essential services and programs that support our county’s growth and well-being,” the judge wrote in a letter accompanying his proposal.
Another notable aspect of the proposal is the judge’s plan to adjust the county’s reserve balance. The county is required to save an amount equal to 25% of general fund expenditures in its reserves, but Hill County’s policy has been to keep 35% in reserves. Currently, the county’s reserves stand at 44%.
“I believe it is time that we start lowering the amount held in reserve to put those taxpayers’ funds to work for the citizens of Hill County over the next several budget years,” the judge said.
To start the process, the proposal reduces the reserve balance to 41% for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, with the funds distributed throughout different areas of the county budget.
The judge’s draft of the overall budget includes estimated FY 2025 revenues of $30,412,683 and expenditures of $32,793,395. The projected beginning balance in the general fund is figured at $9.2 million.
A 3.2% cost-of-living increase for county employees is included in the proposed budget.
Elected officials and department heads made their annual presentations to the court last week, and most had no major requests this year.
The outcome of the county’s payroll study conducted by Evergreen Solutions last year came up in several conversations. Precinct 4 Constable Kevin Cordell told the court that he doesn’t feel that Evergreen put constables in a pay bracket that aligns with their duties and asked for salary increases.
Questions also arose about the indigent services and bailiff pay. Lewis pointed out that the indigent services office juggles a lot of duties, including inmate healthcare, services for the homeless, transportation services and pauper burial. He also agreed that bailiff pay should be brought in line with other deputies’ pay.
Lewis said he has included funding in the proposed budget for another payroll study to correct some of the inequities in the last study.
The judge also addressed the need to rein in spending in the sheriff’s office, which makes up the largest portion of the county budget. Pointing out that the topic was financial and not political, Lewis said that the county is putting the majority of its new revenue into the sheriff’s office, and that is not sustainable and not fair to taxpayers.
Of the approximately $775,000 in new revenue the county had this year, Lewis said that around $733,000 of that had to be put into the sheriff’s office to correct budgetary issues.
“They’ve been over budget the past couple of years, and we can’t continue to have that,” Lewis said.
He said that the county has put an additional $2 million in the sheriff’s budget since 2022 and is spending more than it ever has on that department.
“I propose that after October 1, I’m just going to refuse to vote for anything that violates their budget,” he added. “I’m going to take some tough lines. I can’t allow this to happen to the taxpayer anymore.”
The judge did recognize the efforts of Shane Hooten for bringing the jail’s budget under control, and he said Chief Deputy Scott Robinson has recently done some good with the budget.
Lewis said that he has already had discussions with Hunter Barnes, who will take office as sheriff in January, and the incoming chief deputy about the budget issues.
“I have very high hopes with great conversations I’ve had with the incoming folks that they know what needs to be done to work within these boundaries and try to get us to a place where we’re providing services to the citizens of Hill County, we’re respectful of the tax money, and we’re moving the entire county forward,” Lewis said.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing and vote on a budget and tax rate Tuesday, August 27. Due to state legislative changes, the commissioners court is no longer required to formally propose a tax rate or hold a hearing on a rate that doesn’t exceed the no-new-revenue rate, but Lewis said he intends to hold a public hearing during the meeting anyway to give citizens the opportunity to provide input.
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