LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
Revision 1
April 30, 2001
TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on
Judicial Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3171 by Thompson (Relating to the creation,
composition, and operation of certain district courts.),
Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3171, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(1,279,740) through the biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $(639,870) *
* 2003 (639,870) *
* 2004 (639,870) *
* 2005 (639,870) *
* 2006 (639,870) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
***************************************************************************
*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(639,870) 5.0 *
* 2003 (639,870) 5.0 *
* 2004 (639,870) 5.0 *
* 2005 (639,870) 5.0 *
* 2006 (639,870) 5.0 *
***************************************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create five new judicial districts: the 397th in Hidalgo
County, the 412th in Fannin County, the 413th in Johnson and Somervell
counties, the 414th in McLennan County, and the 415th in Travis County.
The bill would also remove Fannin County from the 6th and 336th Judicial
Districts and add Willacy County to the 404th Judicial District.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
Methodology
There would be a cost to the state of $641,370 for the five new judges'
salaries and benefits. In addition there would be a savings to the state
of $1,500 in travel costs for district judges.
The salary and state paid benefits for a district judge are $128,274 per
year. In multi-county districts, judges are paid $1,500 per county per
year for travel. Removing Fannin County from the 6th and 336th Judicial
Districts would save the state $3,000 in travel. In addition, the 336th
Judicial District would become a single-county district, so another
$1,500 in travel would be saved. The addition of Willacy County to the
404th Judicial District, which is currently composed of Cameron County,
would create a multi-county district, thus costing the state $3,000 in
travel. Therefore, the new travel savings would be $1,500 per year.
Local Government Impact
For local cost information, the County Auditors in Hidalgo, Fannin,
Willacy, Johnson, Somervell, and Travis counties were contacted. The
McLennan County Judge's Office was also contacted for information
pertaining to that county.
The Hidalgo County Auditor reported the average cost per court for
salaries, benefits, and operating expenses is $233,678 per year. The
Auditor's Office also indicated there would be an initial capital outlay
of approximately $27,000 for new court equipment and an estimated $30,000
to $40,000 for remodeling expenses for a new courtroom.
Additional costs to Fannin County would be approximately $112,840
annually in salaries, benefits, and other operating expenses. No
additional capital outlay is expected.
According to the Willacy County Auditor, the county contributes $5,167
for salary and benefits of each judge. The rest of the judge's salaries
is paid by the state and by Cameron County. The Auditor said the county
would also contribute this amount for the judge's salary in the 404th
Judicial District. The Cameron County Auditor says this payment will
reduce the amount that Cameron County currently pays for the judge's
salary, which is $5,167.
Information to develop local cost estimates was provided by the Johnson
and Somervell County Auditors' offices. Costs for Johnson County would
include salaries and benefits for ancillary court personnel and other
operating expenses in the amount of $380,246 per year. The Auditor also
estimated an initial capital outlay of $610,000 for a courtroom facility,
plus an annual cost of $36,000 in utilities and $16,244 in furniture and
computers. Johnson and Somervell counties have a historical informal
agreement to share local costs for the district courts. The proposed
share of cost reported for Somervell County would be $3,439 for the
salary and benefits for three court reporters.
Local costs in Travis County would include salaries and benefits for
court personnel and other operating expenses totaling $375,291. Capital
expenses for furniture and equipment would be an additional one-time
local expense of $41,800.
The McLennan County court would cost the county $246,600 per year for
salaries and operating expenses. There would be an additional $52,000
in one-time capital outlays and remodeling expenses.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK, TB