LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session February 2, 2001 TO: Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HJR24 by Noriega (Proposing a constitutional amendment to increase the number of county commissioners in Harris County.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * A one-time cost to the state of $80,000 for publication of the * * resolution is anticipated in fiscal year 2002. * * * * A revenue gain to the state is anticipated in fiscal year 2002 of * * $12,000 and of $3,000 in fiscal year 2004 as a result of an * * increased number of candidates paying filing fees. * ************************************************************************** The joint resolution would propose a constitutional amendment to increase the number of county commissioners in Harris County from four to six. The proposition would be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001. If approved by the voters, the boundaries of the initial six precincts would take effect on January 1, 2003 and the two additional offices would be filled at the general election in November 2002, with one term expiring January 1, 2005 and the other expiring January 1, 2007. Currently, every county in the state is divided into four commissioner precincts. The resolution to increase the number of county commissioner precincts from four to six would impact only Harris County. Local Government Impact The Harris County Auditor's office reported that an additional cost of $315,033 would be allocated to accommodate two additional county commissioners (current salary of $123,060 per commissioner plus $34,456.80 for benefits). The Harris County Office of Budget Management reported approximately $18 million annually would be required to fund the incremental operating cost for the two new commissioners. Additionally, the county would incur approximately $2 million as a one-time expense for acquisition of capital assets for the two new commissioners. Similar fiscal implications would continue for the county as long as the provisions of the bill remain in effect. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 307 Secretary of State LBB Staff: JK, DB