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." Commissioner Cresswell seconded. The court recorded that the adopted rate has a maintenance-and-operations (M&O) component of 0.58635, a no-new-revenue rate of 0.560307, a voter-approval rate of 0.630673 and a de minimis rate of 0.59534. The court said the adopted budget will raise $399,013 more in property-tax revenue than last year and that new property added to the tax roll will contribute $195,038.

In separate, but related action during the same meeting, the court voted 5-0 to "revise a tax increase and adopt a tax rate for the 2025–26 budget year" at 0.58635. The court said that, on a $100,000 home, the maintenance-and-operations increase is roughly $26.04.

Votes at a glance - Adopt 2025–26 budget (effective 10/01/2025): Motion by Commissioner Lynn Graham; second Commissioner Cresswell. Outcome: approved 5-0. Key details: total budget $19,400,000; 3% pay increase; new jail position; courthouse gazebo; three patrol vehicles; security upgrades; painting second floor. Raises $399,013 over prior year; $195,038 from new property. - Adopt tax rate 0.58635 (M&O) for 2025–26: Second noted in meeting; outcome approved 5-0. Court reported no debt rate; cited no-new-revenue, voter-approval and de minimis rates in the record. - Approve minutes from prior meeting (August 2025) with recorded corrections: Motion made and seconded; outcome approved 5-0. - Accept auditor's budget amendments and vouchers payable: Motion by Commissioner Wiley; second Commissioner Cresswell. Outcome approved 5-0. - Approve out-of-state travel for Young County 4‑H swine project purchases and permit Savannah Williams to use extension travel funds: Motion made and seconded; outcome approved 5-0. Williams said the trip is planned for Sept. 8–11 and that she expects to purchase 10–15 hogs for several families and to bring three 4‑H parents on the trip. - Ratify Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant resolution (FY2026 catalytic-converter theft prevention): Motion and second; outcome approved 5-0. Resolution designates Sheriff Travis Babcock as authorized official, Chief Deputy Chris Moody as program director and Young County Auditor Cheryl Roberts as financial officer. - Approve memorandum of understanding (interlocal agreement) with Helen Fairview (mental-health services): Motion made and seconded; outcome approved 5-0. Court recorded they budgeted $47,500 toward the agency's request of $94,580 and will fill in the amount per the adopted budget. - Renew annual legal/research subscription (LexisNexis) for district attorney: Motion by Commissioner Wiley; second Commissioner Shook. Outcome approved 5-0. - Open sealed bids for Young County courthouse gazebo: Bids opened; court took no action and asked architect Justin (Gilmore) to review submissions and report back. - Approve equipment lease for a 2025 Dodge Ram through First National Bank for county equipment use: Motion made and seconded; outcome approved 5-0. - Approve sale of end-dump trailer via county auction/online sale: Motion made and seconded; outcome approved 5-0.

What the meeting did not decide - The court took no action on the gazebo construction award and instructed the architect to review bids before the court acts.

Why it matters The adopted budget and tax rate set the county's spending priorities and revenue collections for the coming fiscal year. The package includes recurring expenses (pay raises and vehicle replacements) and one-time capital items (gazebo construction and courthouse painting). The 4.6% effective increase in property-tax revenue was recorded in the official motion and will take effect with the budget on Oct. 1.

Meeting context The court convened at 9:30 a.m. with all five commissioners present and streamed the meeting on YouTube. Discussion of the budget occurred during the public hearing and the formal adoption occurred shortly afterward. The court handled several routine approvals and grant ratifications in the same session.