Guadalupe County adopts FY2026 budget, sets tax rate and adds $500,000 for volunteer fire departments

Guadalupe County Commissioners Court adopted the county's fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved a property tax rate of 0.3304 per $100 of taxable value — described in the meeting as an effective 4% increase — after a public hearing and discussion during its Sept. 2 session.

The court approved the budget and accompanying amendments after brief discussion about several line-item changes. Commissioners moved $500,000 from a capital building-purchase line into a consolidated volunteer fire department fund to be administered by the commissioner's court. The court also approved adding $22,000 to a part-time line for Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, reallocated $10,000 from third-party development review (line 4023) to the engineering line (4022), and changed the budget title for a planned Precinct 1 constable vehicle from “Tahoe” to “SUV.” The court approved a title change for the fire chief position to “fire division chief.”

The court heard staff presentations and public comments during the required public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate. A representative of the San Antonio Food Bank thanked the court for continued funding of food distribution programs; the Small Business Administration public affairs officer told the court there was a Sept. 4 deadline to file physical-damage disaster loan applications for Guadalupe County following a presidential declaration; and other citizens spoke on local road and development concerns (see separate items).

The court approved the budget by motion and recorded no opposition when votes were taken. After adopting the budget the court returned to a previously deferred amendment to the professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols Inc. to continue rewrite of the subdivision regulations and approved the amendment with funding as adjusted in the adopted budget.

Votes at a glance (actions recorded during the Sept. 2 meeting): - Consent agenda (items a–h: bill lists, monitor donation, guaranteed maximum price amendment, MOU for alcohol monitoring, CDBG mitigation application, correction to an excavation permit precinct): Approved (motion passed; unanimous on voice vote). - Variance request for River Run Estates (variance from lot-frontage requirement related to FM 1979/Tatum Road, Property ID 203933): Motion failed, vote 2 yeas, 3 nays (request denied). - Purchase/replacement of 300-gallon boiler (Brandt Companies LLC) for the adult detention center A-Hall renovation: Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Proposal amount shown in meeting materials: $38,092 (document excerpted $38.09 20). - Order prohibiting outdoor burning (county burn ban): Approved (voice vote; unanimous); effective text revised to be effective the morning after adoption. - Change order No. 1 with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group LLC — increase in shop/field/after-hours shop rates ($6/hour increase): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Rental of heavy equipment from Blake Burtling (one-month CAT/Dozer): No action taken (item withdrawn from consideration). - Professional surveying services (Baseline DCCM LLC) for Phase 2 of the Guadalupe Street expansion project: Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Amendment No. 1 to professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols Inc. for update/rewrite of county subdivision regulations (and allocation of funding): Deferred briefly while budget adoption was completed; approved after budget adoption (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Capital projects fund bill list: Approved (motion passed 4 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention). - Budget amendment to transfer funds within Road & Bridge Fund for a pressure washer (controlled asset): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Change order for Elbel Building project with Tejas Premier Building Contractor Inc. (permit-fee credit and sewer repair from original construction): Approved (no additional funds required; voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Guadalupe County annual road plan (FY2025–26): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded); staff reported an increase in overlay and reconstruct miles versus last year. - Set salaries, expenses and allowances for elected county/precinct officials (FY2025–26): Approved (motion passed 4 yeas, 1 nay); one commissioner stated they would decline the higher increase and accept a 3% raise consistent with regular county employees. - Adoption of the total tax rate/order adopting the 2025 tax rate at 0.3304 per $100 of value (noted as a 4% increase): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). - Ratify property tax increase pursuant to Local Government Code §111.008(c): Approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded).

Why it matters: The adopted budget funds county operations, road projects and other services for FY2026, while the tax-rate adoption provides the revenue projection used in the budget. The consolidated $500,000 for volunteer fire departments centralizes funding and will be administered by commissioners court, which may affect department-level budgets and grant administration.

Implementation and next steps: Staff will post the approved budget and tax-rate orders and move forward with the authorized contracts and purchases. Departments with adjusted funding lines (engineering, fire services, JP offices) will process purchases and personnel actions consistent with the adopted budget.

Ending: The commissioners scheduled the next regular court meeting for Sept. 16, 2025, and announced public engagement opportunities, including a Sept. 23 public meeting on the county thoroughfare plan and a Sept. 20 food distribution event at Steele High School. The court recessed to an executive session for real estate deliberations and adjourned at 12:02 p.m.