LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
May 8, 2001
TO: Honorable Rodney Ellis, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB1813 by Ellis, Rodney (Relating to the creation,
composition, and operation of certain district courts.),
As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB1813, As Introduced: negative impact of $(1,536,288) 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 $(768,144) *
* 2003 (768,144) *
* 2004 (768,144) *
* 2005 (768,144) *
* 2006 (768,144) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(768,144) 6.0 *
* 2003 (768,144) 6.0 *
* 2004 (768,144) 6.0 *
* 2005 (768,144) 6.0 *
* 2006 (768,144) 6.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would create six new judicial districts - the 379th in Collin
County, the 412th in Fannin County, the 413th in Johnson and Somervell
counties, the 414th in Nacogdoches County, the 415th in Parker County,
and the 416th in Travis County. The bill would also remove Fannin County
from the 6th and 336th Judicial Districts.
There would be a cost to the state of $769,644 per year for the six new
judges' salaries and benefits. In addition, there would be a savings of
$1,500 per year in travel costs.
The courts would be created and the bill would take effect September 1,
2001.
Methodology
The state pays a district judge $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. However, the creation of the multi-county 413th
Judicial District would cost the state $3,000 per year in travel.
Therefore, the net travel savings would amount to $1,500.
Local Government Impact
For local cost information, the County Auditors in Collin, Fannin,
Johnson, Somervell, Nacogdoches, Parker, and Travis counties were
contacted.
In Collin County, costs would include salaries and benefits for court
personnel and other operating expenses totaling $695,201. Capital
expenses for furniture and equipment would be a one-time local expense of
$83,000. The county has existing space for the new court.
Additional costs to Fannin County would be approximately $112,840
annually in salaries, benefits, and other operating expenses. No
additional capital outlay is anticipated.
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.
In Nacogdoches County, the new court is projected to cost approximately
$352,000 for ancillary personnel and operating expenses. The new court
and support staff would also need some $30,000 in new furniture and
equipment. Court and office space would be provided at the Commissioners
Courtroom until a new courtroom is renovated which will be within two
years. Renovations of the new courtroom are estimated to be between
$50,000 and $100,000.
Costs to Parker County would include $133,731 in personnel salaries and
benefits and operating expenses annually as well as $4,500 in capital
start-up costs. The Parker County Auditor reported the county would save
$7,000 a year for a visiting court reporter and $3,000 a year for a
visiting judge. The Auditor indicated there would also be an unknown
cost to construct a space in the courthouse for a justice of the peace
who would be displaced for the additional judicial district courtroom.
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.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK, SD, TB