County Commissioners Formally Approve 2027 Budget – Up 5.29%
The Fayette County Commissioners Court formally approved the 2027 County Budget and tax rate at their meeting last Thursday.
There wasn’t much discussion as all the decisions were made in previous meetings. One citizen, William Bernsen of Plum, spoke during the public comment period before the meeting. Bernsen said that Fayette County may have a lower tax rate than some surrounding counties, but he said Commissioners should examine county spending compared to population size.
“If you’re going to analyze the footprint of your government and how much money it’s spending relative to counties around you, you’re much better off looking at per capita spending,” Bernsen said. “I’ve done this analysis, and I don’t have current numbers. I would have brought them for you today. But when I did this analysis six months or a year ago, Fayette County’s per capita spending is not near the bottom of our neighbors. It’s actually near the top.”
Total spending in the coming year’s budget is an estimated $37,937,080.86. That’s up from $36,029,895.77, a 5.29 percent increase.
The general fund, which pays for most County services other than road maintenance, (such the Sheriff’s Office, jail, and EMS) went from $26,539,569.18 to $27,599,995.61, a roughly four percent increase.
The Commissioners Court managed to cut enough out of the new budget to shave one cent off the property tax rate that they initially proposed. Early in the budget process, the Court considered setting the rate at the highest amount they could without triggering a tax election, which would have been $0.44439 per $100 of taxable value. The rate they formally approved last Thursday was $0.43439 per $100.
Even so, this year’s rate will result in a tax increase. The County will raise an additional $1,499,664 in property tax revenue, which is a 5.968 percent increase from last year’s budget. Tax revenue raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $493,276.
Commissioners also formally voted to set salaries, expenses and allowances of elected officials for next year. The votes to approve the salaries, budget and tax rate passed 4-1. Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom cast the dissenting vote. Throughout the budget process, McBroom had advocated for even deeper cuts to the budget and tax rate.
In other business at Thursday’s meeting, the Court authorized Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Kyle Hartmann to move his office from the Fayette County Justice Center to the old Fayette County Adult Probation Office at 227 N. Main St. The move will free up space for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at the Justice Center. It will also provide Hartmann and his staff with additional space.
Hartmann’s new office is located just a few blocks outside of his precinct. Hartmann said State Law allows JP Offices outside of their precincts in counties under 30,000 in population. Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said the old Adult Probation office will require some minor renovations such as paint and flooring.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the Court heard a request from the Sheriff’s Office for repairs to an air conditioning unit at the Fayette County Jail. Chief Deputy Randy Noviskie of the Sheriff’s Office presented a quote from Winkler A/C for $12,000 to repair the unit. The unit was installed by Johnson Controls around 2019-2020 as part of an energy efficiency program for several County facilities. Noviskie said the unit was apparently installed backwards, with the intake and exhaust switched. The problem wasn’t discovered until recently.
McBroom suggested contacting Johnson Controls about rectifying the issue. McBroom said he knows a former employee of Johnson Controls who may be able to help the County navigate the process. The Court tentatively approved the bid from Winkler A/C in case the effort with Johnson Controls fails.