Titus County adopts $18,086,243 FY2026 budget and approves 0.3861 tax rate

Titus County Commissioners Court on Aug. 2025 approved a $18,086,243 budget for fiscal year 2026 and adopted a tax rate of 0.3861, the voter-approval rate the court said was needed to cover public safety radios, road repairs and cybersecurity costs. The action passed by unanimous vote.

The budget and tax-rate votes followed remarks from Judge Cooper and several commissioners outlining cost pressures and items added back into the budget. Judge Cooper said the county needed updated radios and in‑car software for law enforcement after years without replacements and that “those radios don't work in 3 of our schools, maybe 4.” He tied the equipment requests to officer safety and to communication problems inside some concrete and metal buildings.

Why it matters: the court said the expanded budget pays for policing equipment and software, increases for road and bridge materials, cybersecurity insurance and a multimillion-dollar street-repair project. The court also reported increases to inmate food costs and to the county's health-insurance line.

Key facts approved and discussed - Budget total approved:…