Scurry County commissioners debate proposed 2026 budget, tax rate and big-ticket items including armored vehicle and EMS expansion

Scurry County commissioners spent the majority of a prolonged budget workshop reviewing a proposed 2026 spending plan, weighing household tax impacts against emergency preparedness and service expansions.

County staff presented tax-rate calculations showing a proposed budget that would set a not-yet-adopted levy near 0.6267; officials noted the voter-approval rate is about 0.6547 and the "new revenue" rate about 0.6017. The presenter said the difference to an average homeowner would be small — on the order of cents to about $10 depending on valuation — but added commissioners must decide priorities before formally setting a rate.

Public-safety and capital items drew sustained debate. Mike Davis, Snyder police chief, urged commissioners to include funding for a Bearcat-style armored vehicle, calling it a 15–20-year asset that "provides protection to the officers [and] civilians" and saying the department has averaged "1 to 2 barricaded suspects a month" and had five such incidents in one recent month. Davis said he had searched for grants and the federal 1033 surplus program but had not found an affordable, reliable alternative and estimated procurement lead times of about 18 months.

Commissioners pressed Davis on ownership, insurance and whether other taxing entities (the city, nearby counties or West Central Texas regional partners) could share costs; county staff said they would consult the county attorney and auditor to clarify legal, insurance and fixed-asset custody questions before committing county funds. Several commissioners signaled willingness to include a preliminary $100,000 county contribution in next year's budget planning while they pursue answers about regional participation and operating costs.

Health and social-services proposals were also prominent. Jason (identified in the meeting) outlined a community paramedic program designed to reduce unnecessary ambulance transports and provide in-home follow-up for elderly or vulnerable residents; he requested three additional EMS personnel and said the program could reduce ER transports and related costs. "It’s the last piece of the puzzle, in my opinion, for a complete EMS system in Scurry County," he said, asking for a fuller presentation to the court.

A community representative and several commissioners advocated for investment in youth services. An education coordinator for the youth center was described as an "investment" to prevent crime and improve literacy, with proponents urging commissioners to consider long-term social returns when weighing short-term budget cuts.

Commissioners discussed possible cuts to lower the levy — removing requested employees, camera systems, or other items would reduce the rate in varied scenarios — but several said they favored filing a proposed budget as presented while allowing further adjustments before adoption. County staff said a proposed budget must be filed in advance of the formal adoption calendar and that it can be revised before the final vote in August.

Finance staff also presented several budget amendments and line-item transfers, including wind-farm payments placed into bridge capital, small courthouserelated permanent-improvement adjustments, and ARPA fund transfers totaling roughly $324,006.38 for MS building payments; the court approved the presented amendments.

Next steps: commissioners directed staff to collect additional information about armored-vehicle ownership, insurance, and potential regional partners; requested a fuller presentation on the community paramedicine plan and costs; and agreed staff may file a proposed budget based on today’s discussion before the record-vote and adoption deadlines. No final tax-rate adoption occurred at the meeting.

The court adjourned without setting a final tax rate and scheduled follow-ups on the flagged legal and budgetary items.