Nueces County adopts 2024–25 budget and raises tax rates after lengthy hearing
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Summary
After public testimony and last‑minute reallocations, the Nueces County Commissioners Court adopted a budget for fiscal 2024–25 and set county and hospital‑district tax rates; commissioners adopted the county budget as amended and approved the Hospital District rate as presented.
Nueces County’s Commissioners Court adopted its 2024–25 budget on Sept. 25, approving a package of amendments and transfers aimed at closing a multimillion‑dollar shortfall.
The court also set the 2024 tax rates that fund county operations and debt service and approved a separate rate for the Nueces County Hospital District. County officials said the budget relies heavily on property tax revenue — roughly 85% of county general revenue — and that the package includes both transfers from special‑revenue accounts and reductions in departmental transfers to limit use of reserves.
County finance staff told the court the proposed combined county tax rate would raise more property tax dollars than last year; staff illustrated the impact on an average homestead, citing figures presented during the hearing showing the combined levy on a typical house rising from about $604.32 under last year’s rates to roughly $761.27 under the proposals discussed at the hearing, reflecting valuation changes and rate choices presented by staff.
Commissioners debated cuts and one‑time transfers across departments and approved several targeted amendments — including drawing on settlement and special funds and redirecting certain ARPA allocations — as part of the final FY2024–25 plan. The court recorded its adoption of the county budget (after amendments) by roll call; the motion carried with the majority of commissioners voting in favor.
The commission also considered and approved an order setting the Nueces County Hospital District maintenance and operations tax rate at 0.089240 per $100 valuation and found that the notice and procedures for that district’s budget had complied with state property‑tax notice requirements. The court’s action on the hospital district rate was announced as passing unanimously.
County staff said the budget remains tight: adopted amendments reduce contingency and rely on limited special‑revenue balances and ARPA allocations that staff cautioned are one‑time resources. Commissioners and staff said they expect further fiscal pressure next year if valuations or state funding change.
The court directed the county auditor’s office to publish the adopted orders and confirmed next steps for implementing line‑item changes. The budget vote concludes the court’s formal budget actions for the year; the court also approved a set of capital projects, ARPA reallocations and contract awards during the meeting.
