County begins 2020 budget talks, holds first workshop

Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 last week. On Tuesday, the county held the first of three scheduled budget workshops.

Becerra's original proposal included several changes, such as a $3 million allocation for new personnel at the sheriff’s department and county jail, the removal of five positions in the County-Wide Operations department from the budget, a 2% cost of living adjustment and 1% Merit Pool for Employees and Department Heads.  

Becerra said that additional liabilities had to be addressed in the FY 2020 budget, such as new equipment and the staff for the jail expansion and public safety buildings that were voter approved as part of the county’s 2016 bond.