Austin County adopts $24.5 million FY2024–25 budget, sets total tax rate at 0.5177

The Austin County Commissioners Court on the record adopted a FY2024–25 general fund budget showing total general fund appropriations of $24,535,410 and approved a combined county tax rate of 0.5177. Commissioners voted to set the general fund rate at 0.32205, the FM and lateral rate at 0.076, the road-and-bridge special fund at 0.078, and the debt requirement at 0.04095.

County staff presented updated revenue estimates and a compensation order included in the budget packet. Staff described recent revisions in the revenue projections and identified highlighted changes on the packet pages; they said the revised estimates produced a smaller-than-anticipated projected shortfall compared with prior projections. The finance presentation identified the general fund total and walked commissioners through the worksheet staff used to compare a yellow-line figure (0.32705 on one worksheet) with the proposed 0.32205 general fund rate.

Commissioners debated tradeoffs between lowering the tax rate and preserving funding for road and bridge work. One commissioner underscored local infrastructure needs — noting that road coating and base material costs have risen and that keeping road funding at prior rates would help preserve capacity for repairs. Staff ran scenarios that restored the FM/Lateral and road-and-bridge rates while keeping a lower general fund rate; staff reported that the resulting total rate would be 0.5177 and characterized the budget as having a modest deficit the court could accept as presented.

On a motion by Commissioner Reid, seconded by Renn, the court approved the FY2024–25 budget by voice vote. Separately, on a motion by Commissioner Lam that was seconded and put to a roll-call/voice vote, the court set the four component rates listed above and the motion was declared passed.

The court also approved a compensation order consistent with the adopted budget and noted it will bring a formal compensation document back for preapproval if the budget remains approved. Next procedural steps identified on the record: staff will finalize the compensation order and publish required rate and budget notices as prescribed by statute.

Provenance: Budget presentation begins in the record at SEG 135 and rate discussion concludes with the vote recorded through SEG 547. Ending: The court adopted the budget and set rates; related budget documents and the compensation order will be returned for finalization in a subsequent meeting.