NEW BOSTON, Texas-Most Bowie County officials are asking for just about the same amount of money in office operating budgets for next fiscal year as they did for this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
County officials submitted their budget requests late last month. Some of the officials participated in budget hearings with the Commissioners Court. Others submitted their requests in budget form.
Offices seeking few to no budget changes include the District Attorney's Office at $1,741,840; the County Clerk's Office at $350,493; the District Clerk's Office at $756,274; the Treasurer's Office at $176,197; and the Fines Collection Office with $99,653.
Two justices of the peace offices are requesting the same amount as last year, while three are seeking increases.
JP Precinct 2 is seeking no change at $102,783 and JP Precinct 5 is asking for the same $110,951.
JP Precinct 4, however, is asking for $91,138-slightly more than this year's $89,333. The JP Precinct 1, Place 1 office is asking for $187,997, compared to the $184,308 acquired this year. JP Precinct 1, Place 2 office, which received $173,974 this year, is requesting $13,444 more in order to bring it to parity with JP Precinct 1 Place 1. Officials said this is because the offices have about the same workload.
The county's Veterans Service Office is also looking for about an $11,000 annual salary increase-from the current $21,430 to $32,500 in order to bring the office pay closer to that of surrounding Texas counties.
Bowie County Judge James Carlow and Bowie County Auditor William Tye said more budget planning will need to take place before salary increases can be considered, but both added that they hope such increases could be possible in next year's budget.
This year's current county budget, set to expire by Sept.30, was approved by Oct. 1 of last year. It consisted of just under $35 million in operating and maintenance funds, which were supported by a current tax rate of 42 cents per $100 valuation on real property.