Hunt County judge and commissioners spar over FY 2025‑26 budget, tax rate and use of reserves

HUNT COUNTY — Hunt County Judge Stovall presented the county’s proposed fiscal 2025‑26 budget Tuesday and defended a proposed property tax rate increase aimed at covering a projected shortfall and funding law enforcement, facilities maintenance and capital projects. Stovall told the court the county has spent recent years rebuilding salaries and repairing deferred maintenance and that the county’s property valuation growth and recent revenue trends left the county with a projected deficit under a no‑action scenario. He said the proposed rate (0.339824 per $100 valuation as presented in staff materials) would help produce a balanced budget and fund four additional law‑enforcement positions, replace critical building systems and stabilize the county’s fund balance. The proposed budget and ensuing discussion covered: revenue projections and collection rates, how to treat frozen or deferred property values, the…