Wood County commissioners approved a budget of $36,598,649 Thursday for fiscal year 2025, and a property tax rate of 46.25 cents per $100 valuation.

Though the property tax rate remained the same as last year’s, commissioners had to approve a tax increase of 1.45% due to new properties on the tax rolls.

“It’s one of those tricky language things,” County Judge Kevin White said of the state requirement.

Approval of the budget, which begins Oct. 1, and the tax rate followed a public hearing.

White explained to one question that commissioners have been meeting about the budget all summer, and all their budget workshops are posted online.

The proposed budget has been posted on the county website since Aug. 15, and a copy is also available for review in the county clerk’s office.

Auditor Terri Sellars pointed out $6,355,800 from the county’s fund balance is budgeted for one-time expenses.

The largest is $4,000,000 for the county jail expansion.

The largest increase is a 4% pay raise for county employees followed by additional funds for employee health insurance.

The county’s contribution to the Wood County Appraisal District budget also rose to $710,000, which is one-third of the district budget.

County taxing entities pay a share of the appraisal district budget based on their property tax levies. With the compression in school tax rates through the Texas legislature, that has left the county to pay a larger share. It was $442,645 two years ago and $503,000 last year.

In the general fund, revenues include $14,516,289 from current taxes and $2,250,000 in delinquent taxes, penalties and interest. Another $3.1 million is expected from sales taxes.

Charges for services are projected at $1,357,600, topped by $700,000 from the tax assessor-collector’s office and $340,000 from the county clerk’s office.

The county expects to earn $590,000 in interest.

Property taxes, delinquents and penalty and interest are budgeted for $6,570,012 for the road and bridge precincts. They will also receive $500,000 from the county road and bridge license fee and $360,000 from motor vehicle registrations. Fines will generate another $346,000, with $150,000 from district court, $70,000 from county court and the rest from the justice courts.

Remaining revenues are spread among numerous special accounts.

Law enforcement is the largest expense at $4,519,221 for the sheriff’s department and $3,366,845 to operate the county jail.

Other departments  and expenses are as follows:

County judge - $318,680

County clerk - $675,481

Economic development - $334,231

Commissioners office - $173,648

County court - $83,090

District court - $685,045

District clerk - $537,555

Justices of the peace 1 - $279,054, JP 2 - $273,432, JP 3 - 267,772, JP 4 - $266,602

District attorney - $1,229,277

Elections - $698,945

County auditor - $624,220

County treasurer - $243,013

County tax collector - $1,003,343

Information technology - $1,349,622

Building and grounds - $582,664

Courthouse security - $496,696

Fire protection $486,000

Constable Prec. 1 - $106,151, Constable 2 - $103,531, Constable 3 - $103,531, Constable 4 - $164,737 (includes $61,666 for vehicle)

Juvenile probation - $316,460

Indigent health care - $142,914

General fund total - $28,157,156

Road and bridge precincts

R&B 1 - $2,450,283

R&B 2 - $1,637,677

R&B 3 - $1,880,475

R&B 4 - $2,473,058

Total R&B - $8,441,493