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 for FY2025–26 (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Buck; outcome: approved). - Adopt 2025–26 county budget as presented (motion by Commissioner Ray; second by Commissioner Stevens; outcome: approved). - Adopt combined 2025 tax rate at the no-new-revenue rate of 0.3811 (motion by Commissioner Stevens; second by Commissioner Edwards; outcome: approved by roll call). - Set tax levy: general fund 0.2856; road & bridge 0.0955 (motion by Commissioner Stevens; second by Commissioner Buck; outcome: approved). - Approve revised rural development plan for Fossil Wood Cabins (replat for change from RV park to tiny/container homes) (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Buck; outcome: approved). - Approve boundary adjustments/replat for lots in Diamond Oaks Subdivision Phase 1 (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Buck; outcome: approved). - Grant variances (right-of-way/width and road material/design) for Comanche Moon Subdivision Phases 3 and 4 (motions by Commissioners; outcome: approved). - Approve election services contracts with City of Stephenville and multiple ISDs for November/bond elections (motions; outcome: approved). - Approve notice of special election days/hours/polling places for early voting and Election Day (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Buck; outcome: approved). - Approve job description for GIS 9-1-1 addressing coordinator (motion by Commissioner Stevens; second by Commissioner Ray; outcome: approved). - Allow Precinct 1 to clear fence row and improve drainage on County Road To 63 (motion by Commissioner Ray; second by Commissioner Edwards; outcome: approved). - Approve replacement culvert on County Road 909 at owner's expense (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Stevens; outcome: approved). - Approve service agreements with Southwest Solutions Group for mobile storage in the County Clerk and Tax Office (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Stevens; outcome: approved). - Approve technology service agreement for the joint dispatch center during construction phase (SLG Technologies) at $550/month for Sept–June (motion by Commissioner Stevens; second by Commissioner Edwards; outcome: approved). - Approve managed services contract with SLG Technologies for the joint dispatch center (four-year contract; year 1 $38,952; year 2 $41,290; year 3 $43,768; year 4 $46,395) (motion by Commissioner Stevens; second by Commissioner Ray; outcome: approved). - Approve meeting schedule for fiscal year 2026: second and fourth Monday of every month (motion by County Judge Thompson; second by Commissioner Stevens; outcome: approved). - Receive and file: judge's professional liability policy ($1,500 premium), treasurer's August report, and second-quarter investment report (administrative actions; filed). - Approve payment of presented invoices and regular recurring payments as presented by the county auditor (motion; outcome: approved). - Enact a 90-day burn ban (motion by Commissioner Edwards; second by Commissioner Stevens; outcome: approved).

Discussion vs. decisions: Several items were routine approvals with limited on-record discussion; some items received substantive explanation from staff (for example, the Fossil Wood Cabins replat required additional septic capacity because container homes have higher water use than an RV park). For items with follow-up or implementation steps (the joint dispatch center build-out, in-house 9-1-1 addressing, and the digital radio system), the court recorded staff commitments and funding inside the adopted budget but did not adopt additional separate policy actions during this meeting.

Clarifying details captured from the meeting: - New payroll positions: 4 deputies, 1 investigator, 1 jail administration position (FY2025–26). - First-responder pay adjustment: 5% increase for covered positions (described in the budget presentation). - Building capital allocation cited: $4,000,000 for ongoing projects and expansion needs. - Erath County Joint Dispatch Center: funding included in budget; expected to open July 2026. - Countywide emergency radio digital conversion: on track for 2026; final funding included. - 9-1-1 addressing: moved in-house from the appraisal district to centralize addressing services (staff roles mentioned: Austin for septic, Jason for land, Rachel to handle 9-1-1 addressing). - Median homestead value used for the taxpayer impact statement: $253,220 (2024 values cited). - Tax rate math: 0.2856 (general) + 0.0955 (road & bridge) = 0.3811 (combined no-new-revenue rate).

Speakers (attributions used in article text): - County Judge Thompson — County Judge (government). First referenced as "County Judge Thompson". - Commissioner Edwards — County Commissioner (government). - Commissioner Buck — County Commissioner (government). - Commissioner Ray — County Commissioner (government). - Commissioner Stevens — County Commissioner (government). - Mr. Gardner — County staff, land development/engineering representative (government). - Cambria — County staff (budget support) (government). - Rachel — County employee, 9-1-1 addressing duties (government).

Authorities referenced: []

Proper names: [{"name":"Erath County","type":"other"},{"name":"Erath County Joint Dispatch Center","type":"facility"},{"name":"Fossil Wood Cabins","type":"other"},{"name":"Diamond Oaks Subdivision","type":"location"},{"name":"Comanche Moon Subdivision","type":"location"},{"name":"Southwest Solutions Group","type":"organization"}]

Clarifying details (structured): [{"category":"positions","detail":"4 new deputies, 1 investigator, 1 jail administration","value":6,"units":"positions","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"County Judge Thompson"},{"category":"first_responder_increase","detail":"5% increase for first responders","value":5,"units":"percent","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"County Judge Thompson"},{"category":"building_capital","detail":"Funds allocated for ongoing building projects and expansion","value":4000000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"County Judge Thompson"},{"category":"dispatch_center_opening","detail":"Erath County Joint Dispatch Center expected to open","value":"2026-07","units":"date","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"County Judge Thompson"},{"category":"median_homestead_value","detail":"Median homestead value used in taxpayer impact statement","value":253220,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"County Judge Thompson"},{"category":"tax_rate_breakdown","detail":"General fund 0.2856; Road & Bridge 0.0955; combined 0.3811","source_speaker":"County Judge Thompson"}]

Community relevance: {"geographies":["Stephenville","Erath County"],"funding_sources":["county general fund","road and bridge fund"],"impact_groups":["county employees","first responders","property taxpayers"]}

Meeting context: {"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":10,"duration_minutes":210,"items_count":30},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2025-08","note":"Joint Dispatch Center planning discussed in prior meetings."}]}

searchable_tags:["budget","tax rate","dispatch center","land development","elections","burn ban"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"s127.145","local_start":0,"local_end":500,"evidence_excerpt":"Discussion and action to adopt the budgeted payroll...","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"s771.505","local_start":0,"local_end":400,"evidence_excerpt":"We did the no new revenue rate...the tax rate is made up of the general fund maintenance...","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}