LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 3, 2005

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3489 by Dawson (Relating to the creation of an additional statutory county court in Brazoria County.), As Engrossed

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 25 of the Government Code to establish a fourth county court at law in Brazoria County as of January 1, 2007.  The bill would take effect on September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

Currently, Brazoria County has three statutory county courts; the bill would bring the total to four on January 1, 2007.  The county would be responsible for the annual salaries of the court's judge, chief court coordinator, court reporter, family clerk, two prosecuting attorneys, two district attorneys support staff, and two county clerks. 

The State Comptroller of Public Accounts contacted Brazoria County authorities.  According to the Brazoria County Auditor, annual costs for a county court total $634,090.  Brazoria County plans to use an existing courtroom and therefore would only incur a one-time capital expenditure of $13,250 for furniture.  According to the county auditor, in fiscal year 2007 the new court, with existing courts, would generate the same amount of revenue currently generated for Brazoria County.  In subsequent years the new court would generate $325,000 per year, resulting in a net annual cost of $309,090.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa, LB, ZS, ER