Maverick County Approves $28 Million Budget, Cuts Staff & Expenses and Taps Reserve Funds to Close $1 Million Deficit

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Commissioners Court at their special meeting held on September 23, 2026 approved significant personnel and operating cuts across county government as officials balanced the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 General Fund budget, totaling just over $28 million.

The approved budget calls for $28,014,033 in General Fund expenditures and $27,014,033 in projected revenues, leaving a $1 million difference that county officials propose covering with money from the county’s prior-year fund balance.

That means even after eliminating positions and reducing spending throughout numerous departments, projected revenues remain $1 million below proposed General Fund expenditures.

As part of the personnel reductions, the county maintained the $15 minimum hourly wage level for employees, leaving that amount untouched while reducing staffing by approximately one employee across numerous departments as part of its effort to reduce payroll expenses.

Employee reductions are spread across elected offices, administrative departments, public safety and other county operations.

Among the reductions are one deputy position in the County Clerk’s Office, one position in the District Clerk’s Office, a secretary in the County Attorney’s Office, one employee in the County Treasurer’s Office and one position in the Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office.

Individual precinct operations are also affected.

Precinct 1 loses a clerk position listed at $31,842 plus benefits. Precinct 2 loses an assistant at the same salary. The Precinct 3 Community Center loses a clerk, while the Precinct 4 administrative office also loses a clerk, each carrying a $31,842 salary plus benefits.

Public safety is not exempt.

Constable Precinct 3-1 loses one full-time deputy position totaling $63,684, while Constable Precinct 4 loses another full-time deputy position totaling $63,684.

The Maverick County Food Bank loses one full-time position carrying a $31,842 salary plus benefits, while the Nutrition program eliminates a cook aide and driver position at the same salary.

Building Inspection, previously identified as Code Enforcement, also underwent significant personnel reductions.

Three code enforcement positions totaling $134,996 plus benefits were initially removed, although one position was subsequently transferred to Road and Bridge at $17.25 per hour.

Road and Bridge initially had three full-time positions removed, but two laborer positions were later funded back.

The Utility Water Plant also loses an assistant position, while the Airport Fund eliminates a custodian.

The Sheriff’s Office demonstrates how extensively the budget changed during negotiations. A grants coordinator and clerk were initially eliminated but subsequently restored.

The department also adds a mechanic position at $16 per hour.

The County Jail underwent similar revisions. Positions were removed during earlier amendments before some were restored. The final amendments remove a medical assistant while funding back two jail clerks.

Because employees were repeatedly eliminated, restored, transferred and reclassified during the budget process, the amendment record does not provide a simple final countywide employee reduction or exact payroll savings.

However, the proposal clearly leaves numerous county departments operating with fewer funded positions while maintaining the $15 hourly wage level for county employees.

The reductions go beyond personnel.
Courthouse building repair and maintenance was reduced from $90,000 to $10,000, while a maintenance contract allocation dropped from $290,533 to $48,334. A proposed $56,000 historical jail renovation expenditure was eliminated.

At the jail, prisoner medical expenses were reduced from $450,000 to $300,000.
Parks and Facilities Maintenance operating supplies were cut from $180,000 to $80,000, while maintenance contracts were reduced from $341,000 to approximately $56,833. Animal Control also saw $100,000 in proposed construction funding reduced to zero.

The ongoing Fire and EMS negotiations between Maverick County and the City of Eagle Pass are also reflected in the budget.

Revenue pressures appear to be driving much of the belt-tightening.

General Fund revenue is projected at $27.01 million compared with approximately $30.19 million budgeted for the preceding fiscal year, a difference of approximately $3.18 million.

One of the largest declines involves prisoner-care revenue.

The county previously budgeted approximately $2.22 million but now projects about $1.22 million, a reduction of more than $1 million.
Sales tax revenue is also projected approximately $443,000 below the previous budget.

Another significant component of the proposal is $2.5 million in anticipated revenue from property sales.

Property tax collections, meanwhile, are expected to increase despite the proposed tax rate declining to $0.366060 per $100 valuation. The budget projects approximately $433,297 more in property tax revenue, including $244,561 generated from new property added to the tax roll.

The September 23 budget ultimately paints a picture of a county reducing personnel, maintenance, equipment and operating expenses while confronting lower revenues in several major categories.

Yet after those reductions, Maverick County will spend $28.014 million from its General Fund against $27.014 million in projected current revenues.

The remaining $1 million would come from the county’s existing reserve fund balance, essentially using money carried forward or projected to balance the proposed General Fund budget.

The new fiscal year begins October 1.