The fiscal year 2026 no-new-revenue and voter-approval tax rate calculation is 0.5986 and the county’s proposed budget is based on that rate. County Judge Sydney Murphy reviewed the proposed budget during a special called meeting Monday.
“The amount of change on the certified value was 12.22%, which is $643,405,020. The mineral decreased by 17.23%. The net value for budgeting is up 11.89%. I don’t think any of us are surprised by that, given the number of subdivisions and the growth that we’ve seen across the county,” Murphy said.
“For this budget, we calculated a 96% collection rate which Tatum (County Tax Assessor-Collector Tatum White) is comfortable with. In 2024, the tax rate was 0.5830. In 2025, it was 0.6092. And in 2026, it is 0.5986.
“Out of that, you have to pay debt first. 9.5125% of the budget is debt service. The general fund rate is 64.4343%, which is no change from the previous year, and the road and bridge fund rate is 26.3532%, which again, is no change.
“The base rate for funding for all four road and bridge precincts is $8,730,382.36. Based on a formula that includes mileage and number of wooden bridges, Precinct 1’s portion is 22%, Precinct 2 is 23%, Precinct 3 is 27% and Precinct 4 is 28%. The increase for commissioners is $816,671.84.
“Looking at the debt schedule, the 2018 tax notes have dropped off. Those were at 2.87%. In 2027, the jail expansion will drop off. A drop will occur in 2027-28 from $2,834,845 to $1,255,027. The tax notes for 2018 are at 2.87%, for 2019 are at 2.3%, for 2020 are at 1.2914%, for 2021 are at 1.209991% and for 2022 are at 2.325%. Our interest rates we’re paying on our tax notes are pretty low.
“The combined road and bridge debt is $73,093.54. Precinct 1 is $19,186.22. Precinct 2 is $25,670.14. Precinct 3 is zero. Precinct 4 is $28,238.17. Although it has not been voted on yet, the capital purchase projections total is $528,783.89.
“This budget includes a $3,000 raise for all employees across the board, including the district judges’ staffs and the auditor’s staff. This budget right now has $285,000 available for discretionary raises. We may have some changes. It just depends on what happens in the next few weeks. You’ve basically had this budget now for three weeks.
“We will vote on the 29th. We’ll vote to publish proposed increases in salaries. We’ll vote on capital purchase projections. We will officially receive the tax rate calculations and we will schedule public hearings for the tax rate and budget. Final adoption of the budget is Aug. 12,” Murphy said.
