Young County adopts $19.4 million budget and raises tax rate 4.6%

The Young County Commissioner's Court on Aug. 20 approved a $19,400,000 budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year and adopted a property tax rate of 0.58635, which the court said will effectively increase property tax revenue by 4.6%. The motions passed on 5-0 votes and the budget becomes effective Oct. 1, 2025.

County Judge Philip Gregory, who presented the budget, said the proposal was the product of "three months of work" and acknowledged the contribution of commissioners and county staff. "This year's budget totals $19,400,000," Gregory said, and he described the major revenue sources, including $9,000,000 in property taxes, $1,800,000 in sales taxes, $1,200,000 in green energy abatements, $900,000 in reinvested county reserves and $800,000 in grants.

The court said the adopted budget includes a 3% across-the-board pay increase for county employees and elected officials, a new position at the county jail, funding to build a courthouse gazebo, the purchase of three new patrol vehicles, upgraded security at county annex buildings and painting of the courthouse second floor.

Commissioner Lynn Graham moved to adopt the budget "for the Young County of Young County, Texas as presented this 20 fifth day of August 20 25 and become effective upon the October 2025 for the 20 25, 20 26 budget year."…