County files proposal for FY ‘27 budget

Donley County Commissioners filed a proposed $4.47 million budget this week for fiscal year 2027, an overall decrease of about $100,000 compared to the current budget.

The proposed budget approved on Monday increases several line items, and County Judge John Howard notes that the county’s proposed tax rate is higher than the current rate, the first increase in several years. Declining revenues in traffic fines is a principal reason that taxes will be going up, Howard said, calling it “necessary to support the budget.”

“We expected to see about $500,000 in traffic fines, but it has been closer to $300,000,” Howard said.

Less highway patrol activity means lower revenues for the county, the judge said.

“We’re now months without an area DPS sergeant here,” he said. “There are DPS shortages across the state.”

Also affecting the budget is a carryover from the current budget that is about $100,000 less than projected.

The county’s total proposed tax rate for FY 2027 is $0.684567 per $100 valuation compared to the current rate of $0.558867. The proposed rate will bring in $303,444 more than last year’s budget. An estimated $2,582,425 will be collected in property taxes with fees, fines, grants, and other sources bringing in the additional revenue.

Looking towards the future, Howard notes that this coming fiscal year will be the last payment in lieu of taxes from the wind farm near Jericho, which amounts to $200,000. The wind turbines will come on the tax roll and be subject to ad valorem taxes for fiscal year 2028, but it remains to be seen what their value will be after depreciation.

Howard also says that the Texas Association of Counties has let its members know they expect the Texas Legislature to crack down hard on local governments taxing authority in the next session.

“The likelihood is the Legislature will box us in on our ability to raise taxes in the future,” Howard said.

The county is also facing increasing costs in the upcoming budget. County officials and employees will see raises with exception of the members of the commissioners’ court. This is the fourth year that commissioners and the county judge have not had their local salaries raised. 

Health care costs are another big expense for the county, going up about seven percent or close to $1,000 per employee, Howard said.

The county has eliminated two fully time positions in the new budget – a highway safety officer position that was previously funded by a grant and a position that had been split between the treasurer’s office and the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1&2 office. 

Commissioners will hold public hearings on its proposed budget as well as the tax rate on August 24 at 9 a.m. See the public notice in this week’s Enterprise for more information.