Public Hearings on Comal County Budget, Salaries Set for Thursday

Public hearings on the 2022 proposed salaries of elected officials and the $120 million 2022 Comal County budget are on the agenda for Commissioners Court, which meets at 8:30 a.m.Thursday in Comal County’s historic courthouse, 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels.

Commissioners are expected to adopt a 2022 fee schedule along with the proposed budget. To review county Judge Sherman Krause’s recommended budget, click here.

The budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $7,312,970 or 10.2%. Of that amount, $3,978,414 comes from new property added to the tax roll this year.

According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Comal County is the second-fastest growing county in the nation, with a 48.9% increase in population from 2010 to 2020. The county’s 2020 population is 161,501.

Commissioners will schedule two more public hearings before adopting new salaries for elected officials, which would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, along with the 2022 budget.

A public hearing on a proposed new tax rate, also known as the no-new-revenue tax rate, is set for Aug. 26. The 2021 effective tax rate is 35.1398 cents per $100. The rollback tax rate is 38.0516 cents per $100.

Commissioners must submit a finalized budget to County Clerk Bobbie Koepp by Sept. 17.

Also on the agenda is an order for the Nov. 2 election for proposed constitutional amendments submitted by Texas’ 87th Legislature, Regular Session.

Proposed locations for early voting include the Comal County Elections Office, Comal County Offices – Goodwin Annex, Comal County Offices – Bulverde Annex, Mammen Family Public Library, St. Francis by the Lake Episcopal Church, Garden Ridge City Hall, Comal ISD Support Services Building, and Rebecca Creek Elementary School.

Also on the Nov. 2 ballot are bond elections in Comal and New Braunfels independent school districts, the new Comal ISD voter-approval tax-rate election (VATRE), and sales-and-use tax for Emergency Services District No. 7.

Other items on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting include:

• Discuss and consider approval of amendments to plats in Canyon Lake Hills, The Legend at Rancho del Lago, and The Peninsula at Mystic Shores.
• Discuss and consider approval of change Order #14 for the Comal County Landa/Annex buildings renovation project.
• Discuss and consider approval of Resolution #2021-16, adopting fees for some services by sheriff’s and constable’s offices.
• Discuss and consider approval of Amendment No. 3 to Bid 2019-3344 Inmate Medical & Pharmacy Services for the Comal County Jail with Corr Health, LLC.

Comissioners also will accept a $2,580 check donation to the Comal County Sheriff’s Office from the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the donation of K9 Zane from the Cibolo Police Department to the sheriff’s office.