Erath County adopts 2025–26 budget, sets no-new-revenue tax rate and approves series of routine measures

The Erath County Commissioners Court on Sept. 22 adopted the county's 2025–26 budget, approved six new payroll positions, and set a combined county tax rate at the state-calculated no-new-revenue rate of 0.3811.

County Judge Thompson, presiding, said the budget includes four new deputy positions, one investigator and one jail-administration position and provides a cost-of-living increase for all county employees. "We made the cost-of-living increase for all county employees, and had a different increase, 5% for all of our first responders," Judge Thompson said during the meeting. The judge told the court the budget also includes $4,000,000 for building capital projects and funding to finish the Erath County Joint Dispatch Center, which the court was told is on track to open in July 2026.

The court approved a proposal to move 9-1-1 addressing in-house to centralize address services for developers and residents, and to complete a countywide emergency radio upgrade to a digital system, both with funding included in the adopted budget.

Why it matters: The court's actions set tax collections and spending priorities for the coming fiscal year. The changes affect staffing across public safety and the county's capital program while keeping the county's overall tax rate at what the judge described as a fiscally responsible level.

Key budget and tax figures presented at the meeting: - Proposed combined tax rate: 0.3811 (no-new-revenue rate). - General fund maintenance & operations portion: 0.2856. - Road and bridge maintenance & operations portion: 0.0955. - Median homestead value cited: $253,220 (2024). - Estimated 2024 county tax bill at the prior tax rate (0.3913): $990.85. - Estimated 2025 county tax bill at 0.3811: $965.03.

Court actions and routine approvals: In addition to the budget and tax rate, the court approved a slate of routine items including revised plats and variances for subdivisions (Fossil Wood Cabins, Diamond Oaks and Comanche Moon phases noted on the agenda), election service contracts with multiple school districts and the City of Stephenville, service agreements for mobile storage units in county offices, and the hiring/job-description update to formalize a GIS/9-1-1 addressing coordinator position. The court also received and filed the treasurer's August report and the judge's professional liability policy, approved invoices for payment as presented, and enacted a 90-day burn ban.

Votes at a glance (motions approved during the meeting): - Adopt budgeted payroll slots…