LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 5, 2005

TO:
Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB1189 by Wentworth (Relating to the creation, composition, jurisdiction, and terms of court of judicial districts, to the election of a local administrative district judge for certain counties, to the juvenile board in certain counties, and to the district courts in certain counties.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1189, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($1,242,565) through the biennium ending August 31, 2007.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2006 ($594,270)
2007 ($648,295)
2008 ($648,295)
2009 ($648,295)
2010 ($648,295)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005
2006 ($594,270) 5.0
2007 ($648,295) 5.0
2008 ($648,295) 5.0
2009 ($648,295) 5.0
2010 ($648,295) 5.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 24, Government Code, to create the 424th Judicial District comprising Blanco, Burnet, Lanno, and San Saba counties; the 412th Judicial District in Brazoria; the 428th Judicial District in Hays County; the 430th Judicial District in Comal County; and the 426th Judicial District in Bell County.  The courts would be created on the effective date of the bill, September 1, 2005. 

Methodology

The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $101,700, plus benefits estimated at $27,959 ($129,659).  Because the courts would be created September 1, 2005 the fiscal impact for the first year in which the courts would exist has been prorated (i.e., eleven months instead of twelve months of salary costs).  The five new courts would be created September 1, 2005 and the fiscal impact for the first year would be $594,270 and $648,295 each year thereafter.  The county would pay all other costs.


Local Government Impact

The auditors in Bell, Brazoria, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Hays, Llano, and San Saba counties provided estimates of local costs, which would include salaries and benefits for ancillary court personnel and other operating expenses. The provisions of the bill would take effect September 1, 2005, while the fiscal years of some of the affected counties begin October 1, 2005. Fiscal impact to the counties for the intervening month is shown. Costs to the affected counties are as follows:

 

County Fiscal Year         FY 2005       FY 2006       FY 2007       FY 2008       FY 2009       FY 2010
Bell ($15,808) ($183,691) ($183,691) ($183,691) ($183,691) ($183,691)
Brazoria ($89,016) ($438,193) ($438,193) ($438,193) ($438,193) ($438,193)
Blanco, Burnet, Llano, San Saba (counties in new 424th Judicial District) ($6,450) ($17,400) ($17,400) ($17,400) ($17,400) ($17,400)
Comal ($110,444) ($301,333) ($301,333) ($301,333) ($301,333) ($301,333)
Hays ($52,000) ($145,000) ($126,000) ($126,000) ($126,000) ($126,000)

 

No significant fiscal impact is anticipated to Armstrong County to implement the provisions of the bill.



Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JOB, LB, ZS, KJG, ER