County approves 2020 budget
A budget for the upcoming fiscal year has been approved by Hays County.
The Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve the FY2020 budget for the county. Likewise, the court voted to approve salaries for elected officials, which includes a 5% increase for elected officials, excluding the commissioners court.
Commissioners ratified the property tax increase associated with the budget, which shows an increase in property taxes by $4,698,033, or 5.90%, from last year’s budget. Lastly, a tax rate for FY 2020 has been set by the court at 42.37 cents per $100 valuation. Last year’s tax rate was $0.4337 per $100 valuation. The upcoming year’s effective tax rate will be $0.4051 per $100 valuation and rollback tax rate will be $0.4498 per $100.
The commissioner’s vote followed a public hearing and workshop over the budget. During the workshop, commissioners decided to budget $95,000 for social services, which will provide funds to the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, the Hays County Food Bank, CASA, the Greater San Marcos Youth Shelter, PALS, Capital IDEA and the Friends of the Family Justice Center. Additionally, the court voted 3-2, with a dissenting vote from County Judge Ruben Becerra and Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe, to move Chief of Staff Alex Villalobos from under the County Judge’s office to Countywide Operations. The move will shift Villalobos’ position to answer to the entire Commissioners Court.
In other business, the court approved a proclamation declaring Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.
According to the proclamation, “The recorded Hispanic Heritage has been part of the DNA of American culture for over 480 years with undeniable influence in education, public safety, infrastructure, economic development and governance.”
Likewise, commissioners passed a proclamation declaring Sept. 16 as Díez y Seis Day in Hays County.
According to the proclamation, “September 16 (Diez y Seis de Septiembre), on the church steps in the town of Dolores Hidalgo, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla read the Gritto de Hidalgo (or “Call of Hidalgo”) in 1810; and WHEREAS, that day, September 16 (Diez Y Seis de Septiembre), Father Hidalgo launched the Mexican War of Independence against Spain.”
In relation to the 2020 census, the court heard a presentation from Texas State student Alejandra Lemus on behalf of Gloria Martinez, professor of sociology at Texas State.
“The complete count will begin April 1, 2020 and will end Aug. 31, 2020… ” Lemus said. “We need an accurate count to ensure this region receives its fair share of funding over the next decade.”
Commissioners voted to approve the submission of a grant application to the Hogg Foundation, an initiative for complete count efforts during the 2020 census in Texas. The purpose of the foundation’s grants is to “reach traditionally hard-to-count (HTX) populations.
The Court voted to authorize $750 for Chief (Ret.) Brendan Cox, director of policing strategies with the LEAD® National Support Bureau to present to the General Criminal Justice Commission on Sept. 30. According to the agenda item, the cost will cover Cox’s travel, lodging and meals.
