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Newton County budget workshop focuses on payroll raises, recovered grant money, SRO deputy funding and equipment financing
Summary
At a lengthy Sept. 17 budget workshop, Newton County commissioners reviewed revenue and expenditure figures, discussed adding a recovered $28,000 grant to the current budget, considered funding a deputy position partly paid by Deweyville ISD, and debated equipment financing and rollover forecasts.
Newton County commissioners spent an extended session on Sept. 17 reviewing the county’s proposed budget, revenue projections and capital needs. Staff presented a snapshot of the general fund and commissioners discussed payroll increases, grant recoveries, contributions to the public health district, veteran service staffing and road‑maintenance equipment financing.
Staff reported general fund expenditures of $10,466,553.34 with a remaining balance of $27,009.81. Commissioners noted a recovered grant of about $28,000 that staff said could be added to the current year’s budget; staff said details would be finalized next week. The court also discussed a school‑funded deputy position (a school resource officer) to be paid in part by Deweyville Independent School District; staff confirmed the deputy and associated revenue were included in the draft budget.
Discussion turned to payments and rollover balances. Staff cited a projected rollover figure in the 2025 revenue line of roughly $730,000; commissioners requested a forecast of how much would be left in the Road & Bridge account at year end so they could weigh options for equipment purchases, payroll or other needs.
Several commissioners stressed the county’s equipment needs for road maintenance — including an aging front‑end loader and other heavy equipment — and discussed whether to use debt service or certificates of obligation to finance major purchases. Commissioners emphasized they would pursue only legally permissible financing and asked staff to return with concrete, lawful options.
The court did not adopt a final budget at the workshop; commissioners scheduled follow‑up work sessions and directed staff to provide more detailed rollover and debt‑service forecasts for future action.
