Commissioners express concern over proposed 2.5% revenue cap as special session moves bills to governor

Commissioner Galana and other members of the Rockwall County Commissioners Court summarized developments in the Texas Legislature’s second special session during the Aug. 26 meeting and warned that proposed changes could limit county revenue and flexibility.

Galana briefed the court that redistricting maps for congressional seats had passed both chambers and are expected to be signed by the governor; he said Rockwall County will likely be placed in a new Congressional District 32. The court also discussed Senate Bill 10 (referred to as a proposed 2.5% revenue cap). Commissioners said amendments that would have carved out an additional 1% for public safety were removed on the Senate floor and that the conference appears likely to produce a 2.5% cap without the public-safety carve-out.

Commissioners and staff explained practical effects: in a growing county with inflationary pressures, a statutory 2.5% cap on revenue growth could leave the county unable to fund state-mandated items. The court cited the example of a new district court requiring about $1.7 million annually; a 2.5% cap on revenue increase would leave a smaller available increase (commissioners used a county example of approximately $1.325 million) and would make it difficult to absorb the new cost without shifting other services or reserves.

Other items on the special-session agenda discussed included proposed changes to quorum rules, authorizing groundwater studies for East Texas aquifers, and bills that would affect municipal and county expenditure limits (House Bills 46 and 73 were cited). Commissioners said they are monitoring hundreds of bills and coordinating with legislative contacts and county coalitions.

Commissioners said they will continue to track special-session activity and prepare for potential budget impacts if revenue-cap or spending-limit legislation becomes law.