Denton County adopts $4.45 billion budget and sets 2025 tax rate at $0.185938

Denton County Commissioners Court adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget totaling $4,452,153,186 and approved a 2025 property tax rate of $0.185938, the court said. The motions passed unanimously.

The court said the adopted tax rate represents a 3.891649% increase in the tax rate and that the rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year. The adopted rate allocates $0.142947 per $100 of taxable value for maintenance and operations and $0.042991 for debt service, for a total of $0.185938 per $100 of taxable value. Court members said the adopted tax rate would effectively be raised by 5.067143% overall and that maintenance-and-operations taxes on a $100,000 home would change by approximately $0.49, as described during the meeting.

County Judge moved to adopt the budget as presented and to modify it to reflect a recent court order from the Denton County district judges that requests additional employees and salary modifications for the county auditor's office; Commissioner Williams seconded the motion, and the court voted unanimously to approve it. Commissioner Falconer moved the tax-rate motion, Commissioner Williams seconded, and the vote was unanimous.

The court discussion focused on implementing a district judges' recommendation to add staff to the auditor's office. The County Judge said judges had put time into the recommendation but expressed personal doubts about “the necessity of that many employees” and asked staff to consider the timing and approach for onboarding new hires. "I do realize they need more help, and we wanna get them that additional help," the County Judge said.

Commissioner Mitchell thanked the budget director and county employees for following the budget calendar and warned that last-minute directives require the court to "pivot" and reevaluate how to fund added positions. Mitchell said timely submission of budget requests allows the court to evaluate funding and avoid imposing unexpected costs on taxpayers.

Some commissioners recommended phased hiring or use of outside contract labor to reduce disruption and minimize taxpayer cost. Commissioner Williams said bringing eight employees on at once could be disruptive and suggested hiring in smaller groups and reevaluating; he also said the court is "held to the wishes of the court" and will comply with mandates. The County Judge said the court was "open to the addition of outside contract labor" as an option.

The County Judge thanked the budget office staff — naming Alejandro and Nicole in the meeting — and county employees for their role in preparing the budget. The court adjourned after completing the votes.