Comal County judge unveils recommended 2026 budget proposing 30.5015¢ tax rate; public hearings set

County Judge Krause presented the recommended Comal County 2026 budget at the Aug. 7 Commissioners Court meeting, proposing a tax rate of 30.5015¢ per $100 valuation to fund pay increases, personnel changes and infrastructure projects.

Krause told the court the recommended budget includes a 4% pay-scale advancement across county employees, which he said will cost about $7.8 million; he said roughly 71% of that amount would flow to law-enforcement positions. The proposal also separates pay charts to create distinct pay scales for law enforcement, corrections and telecommunications to remain competitive, and includes tiered incentive pay for law-enforcement staff: $1,000 per year for 0–4 years of service, $2,000 for 5–8 years and $3,000 for 9+ years, plus an increase in field-training pay from $25 to $35 per shift.

The recommended budget contains new positions and reclassifications; Krause said not all requested positions were included, and that Public Health requests were reduced by two positions. He also said the…