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Midland County commissioners trade budget priorities, approve select hires and budget adjustments
Summary
Commissioners proposed a 'no new revenue' tax rate, approved multiple grant applications and one‑off purchases, and negotiated staffing trade‑offs across departments—approving some hires, deferring others, and reallocating funds including a trade of upcoming intern funding to address investigator pay requests.
Midland County commissioners spent the afternoon of Aug. 19 reviewing department budget requests and negotiating trade‑offs among personnel, capital and operating items as they prepared the fiscal 2026 proposed budget.
County staff presented the proposed property tax action, and the court formally proposed a no‑new‑revenue tax rate (0.121374 per $100 valuation with related M&O and I&S components) for public notice and formal adoption later in the budget cycle.
Commissioners approved multiple grant applications and line items during the meeting: the court authorized the county judge to file the SB22 application for the sheriff’s office, accepted a $6,270 federal interlibrary‑loan reimbursement for the library, and approved a $15,000 CID fuel contingency for the sheriff’s office.
Department heads asked for a range of new positions and raises. The district attorney asked for one new investigator focused on oilfield theft/TAC and higher pay grades for several current investigators; commissioners negotiated tradeoffs (including offering to reallocate roughly $150,000 in part‑time/intern funding) and ultimately approved a package of investigator pay‑step increases while deferring or removing a separate new investigator request. The sheriff requested a lieutenant to supervise a newly created TAG unit; commissioners approved the position and required vehicle and related obligations.
The court also approved dozens of capital and procurement actions across departments — from cemetery columbariums and courthouse parking lot repaving to AV and networking purchases for the new justice of the peace building and the detention center — and set next fiscal‑year meeting dates and the county holiday schedule for 2026.
Several requests were deferred for the next meeting so staff can supply detailed cost comparisons or confirm cooperative procurement rules. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized limited available fund equity and the need to prioritize across departments.
The court adjourned after completing votes on the approved items and setting follow‑up tasks for staff.
