LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 17, 1997
TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 1682, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Committee on Judicial Affairs By: Thompson
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB1682 ( Relating
to the creation of certain judicial districts.) this office
has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB1682-Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
negative impact of $1,405,100 to General Revenue Related Funds
through the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.
The bill would create the 379th and 393rd Judicial
Districts in Bexar County, the 395th Judicial District in Fort
Bend County and the 396th Judicial District in Tarrant County
effective September 1, 1997. The bill would create the 397th
Judicial District in Harris County, the 398th Judicial District
in Galveston County, the 399th Judicial District in Travis County,
the 400th Judicial District in Nueces County, the 401st Judicial
District in Cameron County, the 402nd Judicial District in Webb
County, the 403rd Judicial District in Fort Bend County, and
the 404th Judicial District in Hidalgo County effective January
1, 1999.
The bill would also change the composition of the
counties included in the 20th and 82nd Judicial Districts by
adding an additional county to the district, and would change
the terms of the 20th Judicial Court. The provisions concerning
the 20th Judicial District would be effective January 1, 2001
and the provisions concerning the 82nd Judicial District would
be effective January 1, 1999.
Fiscal Analysis
The state would incur the liability for judges' salaries and
benefits for four additional district court judges beginning
with fiscal year 1998 and would incur liability for 8 more district
judges beginning in January of 1999. The state would also incur
additional liability for travel for the expansion of the 20th
and 82nd Judicial Districts in fiscal year 1999 and 2001
Methodolgy
Salary and benefits for state district judges is $105,270 annually.
In fiscal year 1998, fiscal liability of the state would increase
by $421,080. In January of 1999 state liability would increase
by $982,520 as the 8 additional Judicial Districts were created.
Additional annual costs to the state effective in fiscal year
2000 would be $1,263,240. Travel expenses for the 20th and
82nd Judicial Districts would increase by $1,500 each.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) of State
from General Employees from
Revenue Fund FY 1997
0001
1998 ($421,080) 4.0
1998 (984,020) 12.0
2000 (1,264,740) 12.0
2001 (1,266,240) 12.0
2002 (1,266,240) 12.0
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 ($421,080)
1999 (984,020)
2000 (1,264,740)
2001 (1,266,240)
2002 (1,266,240)
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
Bexar County would have operating costs of $179,200 per court
annually with a one time capital cost of $51,373 per court for
a total cost in fiscal year 1998 of $461,146. In fiscal year
1999 and thereafter, the annual operating costs for the two
new courts would be $358,400.
Harris County officials anticipate
the cost to the county would be $1,344,663 in fiscal year 1999
and $1,792,880 thereafter.
Tarrant County officials expect
an operating cost of $1.9 million annually, beginning in fiscal
year 1998.
Travis County officials expect annual operating
expenses of $360,290 per court, with a one time capital cost
of $47,680 per court. Total costs to Travis County are expected
to be $317,896 in fiscal year 1999 and $360,290 thereafter.
Hidalgo County officials anticipate a total cost in fiscal
year 1999 of $316,635 and, beginning in fiscal year 2000, annual
operating costs of $390,180.
Fort Bend County officials
expect a total fiscal year 1998 cost of $354,115, in fiscal
year 1999 increasing to $608,230 annually by fiscal year 2000,
with the addition of the second court.
Webb County officials
expect the cost to the county would be $532,736 in fiscal year
1999. Annual operating costs to the county after fiscal year
1999 are expected to be approximately $243,651.
Galveston
County officials anticipate the county would incur costs of
$350,000 in fiscal year 1999, with annual operating costs of
$300,000.
Nueces County officials expect that the fiscal
year 1999 costs would be $135,000 with annual operating expenses
thereafter at $180,000.
Cameron County officials expect the
cost would be $415,311 in fiscal year 1999, with annual operating
expenses of $353,753 thereafter.
Source: Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,PE ,DC