Lavaca County adopts 2025–26 budget, sets tax rate at 0.5497 after public objections

The Lavaca County Commissioners Court on Monday adopted the county’s 2025–26 budget and set a total property tax rate of 0.5497, voting unanimously after a public hearing in which three residents urged the court to set a lower rate.

County Judge (presiding) opened the public hearings and said the budget process took three months, noting in public remarks, “This budget has not been taken lightly. It's taken 90 days to get us to this point.”

The court voted to acknowledge that the proposed budget will raise $11,664,971 more in property-tax revenue than last year — an 8.43% increase — and that $327,063 of that increase is attributable to new property added to the tax roll. The court then adopted the 2025–26 Lavaca County budget and later approved a property tax rate composed of a maintenance-and-operations (M&O) rate of 0.4464 and a farm-to-market rate of 0.1033, for a total rate of 0.5497.

Why it matters: The adopted tax rate is the highest the court may set without seeking voter approval. Several residents who spoke during the public hearing urged the court to adopt the no-new-revenue rate or a lower rate to avoid increasing the tax burden on seniors and small-business owners.

Public comments and court response

Marie Dave, a resident who identified herself during public comment, urged the court to adopt the no-new-revenue rate rather than the voter-approval rate. “I am here today to state the reasons why it is so important to adopt the no new revenue na rate and not the voter approval rate,” Dave said, citing past overestimates of expenditures and county demographics noting that more than 36% of the county is 55 or older.

Kathleen Monninger told the court she had lived in the county more than 40 years and asked commissioners to “not vote for the voter approval rate, but rather to vote for the no new revenue rate or lower.”

Trent Nichols, who identified himself as a resident and business owner, said he supported departmental investments — for example in EMS and law enforcement — but urged the court to consider using reserve funds for one-time capital purchases rather than raising the tax rate and thereby setting a higher baseline for future years. “I want you to ask yourself before you vote today whether or not you feel like this new proposed tax rate is necessary,” Nichols said.

Court discussion and vote

Court members responded that recent personnel and operational changes — including investments in the sheriff’s office and EMS — were the product of months of budget workshops and decisions intended to address what the court described as growing public-safety needs. The judge said the court had previously reduced the rate by 0.0646 in recent years but noted the county carries obligations including lease-purchase equipment commitments that affect long-term finances.

The court took three formal votes related to the budget and tax rate: (1) to acknowledge under Local Government Code 111.008(c) that the proposed budget would raise more property-tax revenue than last year (motion by Commissioner, Precinct 1; second Precinct 2; motion passed), (2) to adopt the 2025–26 Lavaca County budget with changes provided by the county auditor (motion by Commissioner, Precinct 4; second Precinct 3; motion passed), and (3) to adopt the 2025–26 tax rate (motion by Commissioner, Precinct 1; second Precinct 2; motion passed). The court recorded unanimous support for those motions.

Budget details

The judge told the court the general fund has grown in recent years and said the court put $3 million last year into roads and paving equipment. The judge also said there is a zero debt tax rate (no separate debt rate) but that the county carries lease-purchase obligations treated operationally. Public commenters and one resident attorney recommended using reserves for one-time capital items like ambulances and facilities rather than raising the recurring tax baseline.

What’s next

The court set the next meeting for Sept. 8, 2025, and noted the state’s upcoming change to public-notice law that will affect agenda-posting deadlines. The adopted budget and tax rate take effect for the 2025–26 fiscal year as processed through the county auditor’s office.