LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                               May 11, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Frank Madla, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Intergovernmental Relations
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HJR 71  by Homer (Proposing a constitutional amendment to
               provide for the number of precincts that certain counties
               must create for justices of the peace and constables.),
               As Engrossed
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated,        *
*  other than the cost of publication.                                   *
*                                                                        *
*  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $76,352.   *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would allow a county with a population between 30,000 and 50,000
to have between two and eight precincts, and it would allow a county
with a population between 18,000 and 30,000 to have as many as eight
precincts, rather than the current maximum of five precincts. The bill
also prescribes that Randall County would have between two and six
precincts, as opposed to the range of four to eight precincts under
current law.

A county adding or reducing the number of precincts could incur costs or
savings, depending on the number of precincts added or removed. Costs
associated with maintaining a precinct are related to justice of the
peace, constable and staff salaries. The average cost of maintaining a
precinct is estimated at approximately $200,000 per year, according to
the Texas Association of Counties.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, TL