Hunt County officials debate $7 million shortfall in proposed FY2026 budget; judge signals likely tax-rate increase to cover sheriff request

Judge Stovall presiding over the Hunt County Commissioners Court said the county faces a projected deficit of $7,047,019 in a no-new-revenue FY2026 budget and that he likely will file a higher proposed tax rate Friday to avoid service cuts.

The judge said the shortfall is driven primarily by higher requests and carryover costs in several departments and by amounts pushed forward from last year. “We have to catch up the $2,000,000,” he said, referring to overspending that carried into the current budget cycle, and added that he would probably file a proposed rate that covers the sheriff’s request so “our deputies and law enforcement people [are] safe.”

The discussion matters because the court must file a proposed budget and tax-rate notice this week; the judge said publication rules limit raising a rate later, so he may propose a higher rate now and reduce it if cuts are found.

Most important figures and drivers

- Projected deficit under a no-new-revenue calculation: $7,047,019 (as stated by the judge). -…