LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
May 11, 1999
TO: Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB804 by Gallego (relating to salaries and fees for
services of certain prosecutors), As Engrossed
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Fundsfor *
* HB804, As Engrossed: negative impact of $(9,076,364) through the *
* biennium ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
**************************************************************************
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $(4,538,182) *
* 2001 (4,538,182) *
* 2002 (4,538,182) *
* 2003 (4,538,182) *
* 2004 (4,538,182) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
*****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from *
* General Revenue Fund *
* 0001 *
* 2000 $(4,538,182) *
* 2001 (4,538,182) *
* 2002 (4,538,182) *
* 2003 (4,538,182) *
* 2004 (4,538,182) *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would provide state salary supplements to county attorneys who
practice in a county served by district attorneys. The bill would
require the state to compensate the Oldham county attorney in the same
manner as district attorneys. The bill would take effect September 1,
1999.
Methodology
State salary supplements to county attorneys would be based on taking
one-half the "benchmark salary" of a district judge (currently $101,700)
which would yield $50,850. In cases where a district attorney serves one
county, the annual supplement would be $50,850. If a district attorney
serves two counties, the supplement would be split between two county
attorneys, or $25,425 each. If a district attorney serves three or more
counties, each county attorney receives one-third of the supplement or
$16,950. Finally, if a county is served by more than one state
prosecutor, the salary supplement, determined by a formula set forth in
the bill, would be $33,900.
There are thirty county attorneys eligible for the $50,850 supplement.
There are 39 attorneys eligible for the $25,425 supplement. There are
105 attorneys eligible for the $16,950 supplement. There are six county
attorneys whose supplement would be determined by the formula set forth
in the bill. These six county attorneys would be eligible for the
$33,900 supplement.
Currently, the county attorney of Oldham County is entitled to receive
from the state a salary equal to 30 percent of the salary paid to a
district attorney or $24,408. Oldham County pays the county attorney an
additional salary of $34,248.
A district attorney's salary currently is $81,360 annually. It was
assumed that, with Oldham County's contribution of $28,500, the state
would pay $52,860 of the salary. Benefits based on that amount total
$9,505. There would be a net cost to the state of $37,957 annually.
Information from the Comptroller of Public Accounts was used to determine
the salary of district court judges and the current cost of the Oldham
County attorney to the state. Information from the Texas District and
County Attorneys Association was used to determine the number of county
attorneys and the manner in which they would be affected by the bill.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, BB, DG