County begins budget cycle

County begins budget cycle Brian Smith Wed, 06/05/2024 - 7:47 am Jack County officials are starting to take a nose to the grindstone look at the 2025 budget. The budget, which goes into effect Tuesday, Oct. 1, will be conservative in the eyes of Jack County Judge Keith Umphress with commissioners and department heads trying to save every dollar they can. “It’s not a year for increases,” Umphress said. “We’re simply trying to hold our own.” He said department heads have been receptive as to not asking for any big ticket items this year. An example of trying to save every dollar was Commissioner Henry Birdwell asking iDocket.com CEO Amelia Balderrama if she would be willing to match Local Government Services price on software for the district clerk’s office at a recent commissioners court meeting. Balderrama agreed, saving the county $1,421 in next year’s budget. “That’s part of the negotiating process we’re going to have to be doing in this year’s budget,” Umphress said. “We’re going to have to look for deals to maximize our tax dollars.” The county will also be trying to utilize every grant opportunity it can. Taxpayers throughout the county have told Umphress and commissioners they simply can’t handle more taxes. Umphress said one way the county has tried to ease the burden is to use the jail to house prisoners from other counties, such as Tarrant and Collin, at a cost of up to $100 per prisoner per day. “They’re bringing in upwards of $40,000 a month by doing that,” Umphress said. “We’re hoping to do more of that as time and space allows.” That should ease the spending on the Jack County Sheriff’s Office, which is 60% of the annual county budget. Another big ticket item will be health care for county employees. Last year was the first year the county moved away from the Texas Association of Counties for its insurance in an attempt to save money. How much will insurance costs increase is a “big unknown” heading into the budget cycle, the judge says. Umphress said the county may be looking at a higher deductible for its employees next year. Supplementing the expected increased costs with a health savings account with county funds is considered an option, Umphress said.