Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3129 by Cook, Robby (Relating to the creation of a judicial district composed of Bastrop County.), As Engrossed
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3129, As Engrossed: a negative impact of ($101,973) through the biennium ending August 31, 2009.
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
2008
$0
2009
($101,973)
2010
($101,973)
2011
($101,973)
2012
($101,973)
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from JUDICIAL FUND 573
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007
2008
$0
$0
0.0
2009
($101,973)
($56,250)
1.0
2010
($101,973)
($56,250)
1.0
2011
($101,973)
($56,250)
1.0
2012
($101,973)
($56,250)
1.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 24, Government Code, to create a new judicial district in BastropCounty, the 423rd Judicial District. The district would be created September 1, 2008 and the bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
Methodology
The annual salary provided by the state for a district judge is $125,000, in addition to benefits (state contributions for group insurance and to the Judicial Retirement System) which are estimated to be $33,223 annually. The total annual salary and benefits cost for a district judge is estimated to be $158,223.
Local Government Impact
According to BastropCounty officials, the start-up costs for the new judicial district would total $281,050 for salaries, benefits, transportation, equipment and furniture, including a one-time cost of approximately $8,000. (BastropCounty is currently constructing a new jail facility, which will include a new courtroom. Courthouse security personnel for the newly constructed courthouse have already been included in the county budget.) Because all furniture and equipment would not have to be replaced each year, annual costs after the first year would total $273,050.
BastropCounty's fiscal year begins on October 1. For fiscal year 2009, it is assumed that the proposed 423rd Judicial District would be in start-up mode and would generate about the same amount of revenue that each of the other district courts generate for the county; therefore, no additional revenue would be available to offset the cost of the additional judicial district. In the future, it is assumed that improved caseload management brought about by the creation of a new judicial district could result in higher revenues; however, the amount of increased revenues cannot be estimated.