Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Fy2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public commenter warns of nearly $25 million shortfall in Smith County FY 2026 preliminary requests; court schedules further review
Summary
A public commenter told the Commissioners Court the preliminary FY 2026 budget requests show $130 million in estimated revenue versus $146 million in projected expenditures and additional salary requests of $8.6 million — creating a potential near-$25 million shortfall; the court recessed to continue a budget workshop at 1:00 p.m.
During a budget workshop the Smith County Commissioners Court recessed for a public comment and was told the county faces a substantial budget gap if preliminary requests are not reduced or offset. Public commenter Paul Fabry (recorded as Mr. Fabry) told the court the county's preliminary FY 2026 working budget shows estimated revenues of $130,000,000 against projected expenditures of $146,000,000, a $16,000,000 gap, and that salary step increases and new staffing requests were not included in the revenue estimate and amount to another $8,600,000 — creating a near $25,000,000 deficit if all requests remain as presented.
"We have a fiscal cliff requiring you to cut some 20 to $25,000,000 to get to a balanced budget," Fabry said, urging the court to adopt cost-saving measures and business-plan type analyses and to avoid presenting department requests as final appropriations.
The county judge responded that the county had presented department requests openly to show what leaders had requested and that the county's top priority was to "take care of the employees" while the budget officer will return with a balanced budget. The judge said department leaders would still have the opportunity to explain their requests and that the court will work together to address the projected shortfall.
The court recessed for lunch and scheduled to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. for continued budget presentations and discussion. The preliminary numbers discussed by the public commenter and staff were presented as department "asks" and not as a final proposed budget.
