[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6788594,"mediaKeyId","5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991","parentId",5618387,"title","Comal County approves line-item transfers to cover judicial pay increases; judges urge alternative distribution methods","audioSeconds",1357,"startMs",3119840,"endMs",4477365,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991&start=3119&end=4477","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991/thumbnail_3119840.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6788594/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-approves-line-item-transfers-to-cover-judicial-pay-increases-judges-urge-alternative-distribution-methods","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6788594-00976df78191734a76db6840c1cda93f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204611&Signature=MYnuSRjGYvG3pgxMdrVVJUdrPBfkzv1zSlfwnHSvY8z6QkI4oaoLsPEFT6vRcAKl8cPXcnyJJqmbQEajSjkeoeWluG2~bsrCVMEqySd7YvWgsQ3pnZkbFVAXfy7pdAZmZ05~ci3FSZFtfyPhzNVf7fqlaO6ayz-8GTH3aWRTpBnb~twEzVNZQnpKpBgXLRljdDLkvmmIMRZCrzwtlOaddBXy7TvaKmaWTDmQ~A9HHnErReOcLIi1n6KXZhXrChpUQ4i0H9U7Ck~cbdXq-ku1wko7rJfLx85CBPY3-9gVv6VJviQDUF29DPYuzOk~B1asPlO76u-v0Zz~GjEV5niD5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Comal County Texas","date","2025-08-21T08:29:00Z","article","Comal County Commissioners on Aug. 21 approved a line-item transfer to fund increases in judicial pay that become effective Sept. 1 under a state legislative change (referenced in the transcript as Senate Bill 293). County staff explained the supplement calculations and recommended sharing costs with neighboring counties for judges who serve multiple counties.

Several district judges addressed the court during the item and urged a different approach to dividing supplements. Judge Gary Steele told commissioners he spends more than a third of his time in Comal County and that dividing supplements strictly by population percentages \"is misleading\" and could send the wrong signal about where judges should schedule court. Judge Waldrop and other judges described scheduling and caseload practices that they said do not track precisely with population percentages.

County staff explained they used available guidance and a population-percentage formula to allocate the county's share for the remainder of 2025, and that the built numbers in the proposal reflect estimated fringe costs. The presiding judge said he would abstain from voting on the item because it affects his salary; the abstention was recorded in the transcript. The court voted to approve the line-item transfer and related supplement increases for the remainder of 2025 to move the county into compliance with the statutory changes.

Next steps: The county will implement the approved transfers for the remainder of 2025 and staff said they will continue to work with neighboring counties and the Office of Court Administration to refine allocations going forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Comal County Texas - Commissioners Court","oneSentenceSummary","The court approved transfers to fund judicial pay increases tied to a recent state change (Senate Bill 293). Several district judges told the court population-based splits under discussion do not reflect how they schedule and divide their time among counties.","taxTitle","Comal County, Texas","taxId",2699,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6788599,"Comal County opens public hearing on proposed $181 million 2026 budget; residents press for road details",633,2486175,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991&start=2486&end=3119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991/thumbnail_2486175.jpg","/articles/6788599/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-opens-public-hearing-on-proposed-181-million-2026-budget-residents-press-for-road-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6788599-a5d60d0301f77cc6d3efc51e0c31e196/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204611&Signature=D1qY7P6em9pxN~7sRUq2d5zJ93lld1R7sK0AywubSvK~~2-GG29izviAl2iW9PBHS~7qa0o2z0BNyzLzlfvznJop3f3acL1oHJea~Adbm8xfiWqmn3IPjwlCd5jRoYAHVX48VOB4eIqZVkW6XBt023hkPoadDLEieY6A1nb0my09cNGaCBdVDsys80b0hDPQ3SJdaySrFgS4zkt6bw4HcwNgU36R0xRA0j5dlaARRTf-nw7UgzMdu-1DR2AIhHp0sYi-plT7RB~AkmG~eVwM-9UOw3BLnXEoCCXP0me1DO55RlXvc9yIixyEV4mjskg16FfPXYuPil3Mv~F0MhBnBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Comal County's Commissioners Court opened a public hearing Aug. 21 on the proposed fiscal-year 2026 budget, which staff presented as just over $181,000,000. County staff highlighted major fund totals: the general fund is approximately $124,000,000 and the Road & Bridge fund about $21,000,000. The staff-recommended tax rate to fund the proposed budget was shown as $0.305015 per $100 valuation; the tax assessor's no-new-revenue rate was 0.256 and the voter-approval rate 0.382515 (as presented on the court projector).

Because the court earlier amended proposed constable salaries and must republish legally required notices, the commissioners did not take final action on the budget at the Aug. 21 meeting; they opened the hearing to public comment and scheduled further hearings after notice is republished.

Public commenters raised transportation and tax concerns. A resident who identified himself as Mr. White asked whether the $5,175,000 listed for roads and bridges represented construction or maintenance, noting his countywide road analysis and worries about flooding on Smithson Valley Road. The transcript records that county staff said they could provide a breakdown later. Another resident, Bob Moore of the Veramendi subdivision, said neighbors were alarmed by the proposed tax increase and urged commissioners to \"sharpen a pencil.\"

County staff also explained the county's indigent-healthcare obligation: state law requires setting aside 8% of the general-fund operating budget for indigent healthcare, but staff said their strategy that year draws down a large existing indigent-healthcare fund balance rather than adding the full 8% to the operating budget.

What happens next: The court will republish the revised salary notice in the New Braunfels Herald and hold additional public hearings, including Sept. 4, 2025. Staff committed to provide more detailed breakdowns of road-program spending upon request.","Commissioners opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 Comal County budget (about $181 million) and recommended tax rate of $0.305015 per $100; no action taken pending republication of salary notices. Residents questioned the share of roads funding for construction versus maintenance and expressed concern about a tax-rate increase.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6788604,"Comal County amends proposed constable salaries to $89,536, schedules more hearings",106,2285489,2391700,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991&start=2285&end=2391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991/thumbnail_2285489.jpg","/articles/6788604/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-amends-proposed-constable-salaries-to-89536-schedules-more-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6788604-0c9ce6887e1010042723808c9a6783bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204611&Signature=ilzc9rvaoeONQmLoxhXYvSlZVYUuUzz8~KiOH3zbJgE8TGTUIvyeRkPrv8ZF9fiR6jA2V9XRRJXtU3YyQUtwyxKt50ARTnWg2ydo-Stp4hqaxWFRzZvTc-Z7Y~1b~1pAE~GDdFkulH2oBoJcw6Rg1TUSBI9Sb84nm45lk66fe6d---TmXZHqsGsXrRVGsaXOUUCErCDq7yBzhvLbf3HdnCBTPROGXH-ISQMA76~O~0rIgMaRsWvvajc8lRz~iYD3ghqpr5hcDrws~922jzlK8C1O8KEBJ8OzSKEKsiNuJ8CqvccpDxG7N8LfA4lR5-aQVXrHULPhx9NVTMh5ZiBQbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Comal County's Commissioners Court voted on Aug. 21 to amend the proposed fiscal-year 2026 salaries for constables in precincts 1 through 4 to $89,536 and set additional public hearings on the salaries and the proposed budget for Sept. 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in the Commissioner's Court courtroom.

The motion to amend was made by Commissioner Leacock and seconded by Commissioner Hogg; the presiding judge called for the standard raise-of-hand vote and the motion carried. The court directed staff to republish the revised salary notice in the New Braunfels Herald to meet state public-notice requirements.

The presiding judge opened the public hearing on elected-official salaries and explained that discussion of constable salaries could be deferred until after the court acts on any proposed change. After the amendment passed, the judge reiterated that the required notice would be republished and that members of the public who preferred to comment later would have the opportunity at the Sept. 4 hearing.

No formal individual roll-call was recorded in the transcript; the court used the customary \"all in favor, please raise your right hand\" procedure for adoption.

What happens next: The court will republish the revised salary schedule in the New Braunfels Herald and hold the additional public hearing on Sept. 4, 2025. Any final change to elected-official pay will be adopted only after appropriate notice and hearings.","The Comal County Commissioners Court voted Aug. 21 to amend proposed 2026 constable salaries to $89,536 and set additional public hearings on Sept. 4, 2025. The court will republish required notices in the New Braunfels Herald before taking further action.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6788589,"Comal County commissioners approve routine consent items: plats, donations, fee waivers and interlocal agreements",1250,57030,1307650,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991&start=57&end=1307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5618387-ab446e01ae1e152883f2810957bbe991/thumbnail_57030.jpg","/articles/6788589/Comal-County/Texas/Comal-County-commissioners-approve-routine-consent-items-plats-donations-fee-waivers-and-interlocal-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6788589-f6037614ca8ccd6a86163d9cf52729e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204611&Signature=Mbz6~x2dK94nrvOAmEddqgVAiy1Jtn25nVgLNINX~q~8TAviVy5LFWV5Tlk4yRTmfIN92JnPW9Xz3aD0WfLhwifRS4BcojPqtSRzio5IqPRnSvj2mL0KhQiYePQ7mkXtircoyRjS8R--soB~k5O1t~-pt0~D9K8x46xlPtnt~dteSojam~R~skfY43OTBlXk9ovKywzRFPSFPSkh6i3XwH6Rrx8GQ27nHm7RAk6w0xMFsFYd02dR4WpVB9KmbXjUNNzrL2mDHrhxSVqTd3DI-JQbj5t5V8QwF-EEpFCKS7mSUQbZJExO6Y06jApsEZl7vRCuTyboX5HVTZnHPEAWiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Aug. 21 meeting the Comal County Commissioners Court approved a series of consent and action-agenda items covering routine fiscal and land-use matters, donations to county programs, and interlocal agreements.

Key approvals included:

- Claims for Aug. 21, 2025 (EFT $356,719.78; regular claims $2,377,073.65; total $2,733,793.43).

- Acceptance of a $600 donation from Gail Gray for the Comal County Sheriff's Office junior deputy academy (line item 0100002348).

- Final plat approvals and variances for Meyer Ranch Unit 16, acceptance of roads and stormwater work in Kenwood Unit 1 into the county road system with release of surety (construction bond K41845855), and associated surety/agreements to secure road/stormwater construction.

- Waiver of permitting fees for two Homes for Our Troops properties in Mystic Shores (precinct 4) and acceptance of a presentation from Juana O'Dondo (Homes for Our Troops), who described the nonprofit's specially adapted home program and thanked the court for prior support. Commissioners approved the fee waiver.

- Approval of a material-donation agreement and acceptance of $17,250 from Canyon Lake Girls Softball toward relocation of a batting cage constructed on county property; court approved amending the facilities-use agreement and accepting the donation to pay relocation costs.

- Approval of interlocal agreements including an agreement with Canyon Ranch Municipal Utility District for tax-assessing and collecting services and an interlocal lease to join New Braunfels Utilities' fiber-optic network to connect county facilities (noted as a cost-saving measure). The court also approved an MOU with the University of Texas law-school cybersecurity clinic to receive student assistance updating IT security policies.

All items on the consent/action portion of the agenda were approved by motion and raise-of-hand vote unless otherwise noted in the transcript.","The Commissioners Court approved a slate of routine items Aug. 21 including claims, plat approvals, road acceptances, donations (Gail Gray $600; Canyon Lake Girls Softball $17,250), a permitting-fee waiver for Homes for Our Troops builds, and interlocal agreements with Canyon Ranch MUD and New Braunfels Utilities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Comal County approves line-item transfers to cover judicial pay increases; judges urge alternative distribution methods

Comal County opens public hearing on proposed $181 million 2026 budget; residents press for road details

Comal County amends proposed constable salaries to $89,536, schedules more hearings

Comal County commissioners approve routine consent items: plats, donations, fee waivers and interlocal agreements