LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                              April 15, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, House Committee on County
               Affairs
  
        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.),
               Committee Report 1st House, as amended
  
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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. The bill would also 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.

A county adding precincts could incur costs, depending on the number of
precincts added. 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