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:
SB1477 by Hinojosa (Relating to the creation of two additional judicial districts in Hidalgo County and to the jurisdiction of certain district courts in that county.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1477, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($497,026) 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 ($237,708)
2007 ($259,318)
2008 ($259,318)
2009 ($259,318)
2010 ($259,318)




Fiscal Year Probable (Cost) from
GENERAL REVENUE FUND
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2005
2006 ($237,708) 2.0
2007 ($259,318) 2.0
2008 ($259,318) 2.0
2009 ($259,318) 2.0
2010 ($259,318) 2.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 24 of the Texas Government Code, to create two additional judicial districts in Hidalgo County, the 430th which would give preference to criminal matters and the 431st which would give preference to family violence and criminal matters.  The two additional 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 annually.  The estimated annual costs for salary and benefits for the two proposed courts would be $259,318, with the first year prorated at 11 months.  The county would pay all other costs. 

Local Government Impact

The Hidalgo County Auditor provided an estimate of local costs, which would include salaries and operating expenses. Start-up costs for the new courts have been estimated at $350,000.

 

Hidalgo County's fiscal year begins October 1. Since the two judicial districts would be created on September 1, 2005, the fiscal impact estimate is prorated for one month. This bill takes effect September 1, 2005, which is the beginning of the state's 2006 fiscal year, but is the last month of Hidalgo County's fiscal 2005. The total cost to Hidalgo County for fiscal year 2005 is estimated at $402,500. For fiscal year 2006 and thereafter, the cost is estimated at $630,000 per year.



Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JOB, LB, ZS, KJG, ER