Government
BY HALEY MCLEOD
Emergency reserves, mental health and voter services take priority for increased funding as Travis County officials weigh needs for the next budget year. The Travis County $2.2 billion preliminary budget was published July 28—roughly 12% higher than the Fiscal Year 2024-25 adopted budget—outlining priorities for the coming year as officials move closer to a final vote on the FY 2025-26 budget. The budget includes funding for a variety of county responsibilities, such as: • Administrative and operational costs • Justice system • Health and Human Services • Community and economic development • Corrections and rehabilitation TravCo outlines $2.2B budget
Major takeaways
Travis County tax rate year-over-year The Travis County proposed tax rate nears the highest the area has seen over the last decade.
Travis County officials have adopted a one-year, 9% property tax increase to offset costs from July 2025 severe flooding. The disaster depleted the county’s $15 million emergency reserve, with expenses including debris removal, temporary road repairs and more than 35,000 staff hours—a roughly $1.9 million price tag. The approved 2025-26 tax rate is $0.375845 per $100 valuation, a roughly three-cent increase. For an average home valued at $515,213, taxes will rise about $200, with $72 linked to flood recovery.
$0.384
$0.376
$0.40
$0.35
$0.354
$0.30
$0.305
0
Fiscal Year
Other interesting highlights
Travis County funding priorities
General government technology infrastructure
$7.3M
Travis County’s proposed FY 2025-26 budget includes major investments in public safety and elections, with $86 million earmarked for future jail diversion and preventative services. A centerpiece of this effort is the planned mental health diversion center. Elections also emerged as a key focus. In response to recent mid-decade redistricting by state lawmakers, the county’s elections division has requested $2.4 million in additional funding. The request covers one-time staffing, precinct mapping, polling site logistics, compliance and voter outreach ahead of the November Election. Other highlights include $54 million for three new STAR Flight helicopters and staffing pay increases, plus $6 million to expand justice system programs.
Parks
$5.7M $4.1M $3.5M $2.9M $2.7M $2.1M $1.9M $1.5M $1.5M $1.5M $1.5M $1.4M $1.2M $1.1M
• Public safety • Infrastructure
Mental & Behavioral Health
Elections
Facility maintenance HHS support staff Technology staffing
Where does the money go?
General government $357M Justice system $255M Corrections & rehabilitation $188M Public safety $137M
Justice system technology infrastructure
County Attorney
Court staffing
District Attorney Jail inmate services APD forensic review Pretrial diversion Corrections staffing
Health & Human services $104M Infrastructure & environmental services $71M Community & economic development $37M
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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