Maverick County Commissioners Court Faces Budget Adoption Deadline Amid Financial Crisis
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Commissioners Court will meet Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 5 P. M. to hold public hearings and consider adopting the County’s proposed budget and property tax rate for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.
The meeting comes as county officials continue working to balance a budget that must cover public safety, county employees, court operations, infrastructure, emergency services and other essential responsibilities despite limited available revenue.
According to the meeting agenda, commissioners will first conduct separate public hearings on the proposed budget and tax rate.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to express their opinions before the court considers taking formal action during the public hearing and Citizens Communications Agenda.
Following the hearings, commissioners are scheduled to consider approving the 2026–2027 budget and adopting the 2026 property tax rate.
The County’s published proposal tax rate of $0.366060 per $100 of taxable property value is being considered.
That would be lower than the preceding rate of $0.378313.
Although the proposed rate is lower, the County expects to collect additional property tax revenue because of growth in taxable property values.
The proposed General Fund budget totaled approximately $24.5 million.
However, commissioners have continued reviewing revenues, departmental expenses, contracts and other financial obligations as they attempt to produce a balanced spending plan.
The balancing process is expected to result in reductions across several county departments.
Those cuts could affect operating expenses, overtime, training, equipment purchases, vacant positions and other departmental requests.
County Commissioners have faced difficult decisions because the money requested by departments and needed to cover existing obligations has exceeded the revenue readily available to the General Fund.
Public safety has been among the areas facing possible reductions.
Earlier budget discussions included significant proposed cuts to overtime and holiday pay within the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, along with limited funding for training.
Commissioners have also examined contracts and other recurring expenses while looking for additional savings.
The County’s financial pressure has been complicated by the loss of approximately $2 million associated with a jail contract and continuing obligations involving fire and emergency medical services.
The agenda also calls for commissioners to consider how much unencumbered money may be used to reduce debt for purposes of calculating the County’s 2026 debt tax rate. The estimated debt-service fund balance was listed at approximately $1.6 million.
Wednesday’s meeting represents one of the final opportunities for commissioners to modify the spending plan before the statutory deadline.
Under Texas law, a county must approve its budget before adopting its property tax rate.
The two decisions require separate votes. Assuming the County received its certified appraisal roll within the normal timeframe, Maverick County must adopt the budget and tax rate by September 30.
The new fiscal year begins October 1.
