County to Dip Into Savings to Meet Budget

Fayette County Commissioners have proposed a budget for next year that includes a spending deficit of about $270,000. Commissioners proposed the budget at a meeting last Thursday, Aug. 11. Spending in the proposed budget amounts to about $28.6 million with revenues at $28.33 million. The County will cover the deficit with its fund balance, which is expected to stand at about $5 million when the new budget year starts on Jan. 1, 2023. Most of the County’s revenue comes from property taxes. Commissioners have not yet formally proposed the property tax rate for next year. The budget they proposed last Thursday was calculated with a property tax rate of $0.44219 per $100 of taxable property, down from the current rate of $0.464. It is the highest rate they can set without triggering a tax election. The lower rate will actually raise taxes for the average property owner in Fayette County due to rising property values in the County. According to the proposed budget, county government spending will increase by about 6.5 percent next year. The budget includes a five percent raise for most employees and elected officials. The Commissioners included extra $2,000 raise for all jailers, dispatchers, the jail cook and the administrative assistant at the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Keith Korenek requested increased pay for those positions due to the difficulty he has faced in hiring qualified personnel.

At Thursday’s meeting, County Judge Joe Weber estimated that 30 percent of the next year’s budget expenses are for unfunded mandates from the state and federal government such as healthcare for indigent residents. Commissioners are expected to formally propose the tax rate later this month. They will hold a public hearing on the budget on Thursday, Aug. 25. They will hold a public hearing on the tax rate on Thursday, Sept. 8. Both of those hearings will take place during regular Commissioners Court meetings, which start at 9 a.m. in the Fayette County Courthouse.