LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
May 2, 1997
TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. 20, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
Committee on Judicial Affairs By: Ratliff
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on SB20 ( Relating
to the creation of certain district courts.) this office has
detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by SB20-Committee Report 2nd 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 Tom Green County, the 402nd Judicial District in
Webb County, the 403rd Judicial District in Fort Bend County,
and the 404th Judicial District in Cameron County effective
January 1, 1999.
The bill would also change the composition
of the 20th and 82nd Judicial Districts by adding additional
counties to the districts, and would change the terms of the
20th District 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 82nd Judicial
District would increase by $1,500 in fiscal year 1999. Travel
expenses for the 20th Judicial District would increase by $3,000
beginning in fiscal year 2001.
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 (1,267,740) 12.0
2002 (1,267,740) 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 (1,267,740)
2002 (1,267,740)
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.
Tom Green County officials anticipate a capital expense
of $3,000 in fiscal year 1999 and, beginning in fiscal year
2000, annual operating costs of between $45,000 and $65,000.
Fort Bend County officials expect a total cost of $354,115
in fiscal year 1998 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:
LBB Staff: JK ,PE ,DC