2025 - 2026 Budget Book - Flipbook - Page 6
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TRANSMITTAL LETTER
October 1, 2025
To the Honorable District Judges
To the Honorable Members of the Commissioners Court
And to the Citizens of Bastrop County:
In accordance with the Texas Local Government Code and the duties of the County Auditor, I am pleased to submit the
Bastrop County Budget Book for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026.
The FY2026 budget was officially adopted on August 25, 2025, and reflects Bastrop County's continued commitment to
sound financial management, transparency, and strategic planning. The budget is balanced and was developed in
direct response to the increasing infrastructure and operational demands of our fast-growing County.
Economic Outlook
Bastrop County continues to experience robust growth. The estimated population for 2025 exceeds 119,000 — a 3.81%
annual increase and more than 60% growth since 2010. This expansion brings increased demand for services,
infrastructure, technology, and a competitive workforce.
Major economic developments shaping the County’s trajectory include:
- SpaceX’s $280 million semiconductor expansion, adding over 400 jobs
- Sendero, a $300 million mixed-use project with housing, retail, and public amenities
- Wyldwood Studios, a $100 million film and creative campus
- The Big Star Solar Project, expanding renewable energy capacity
- Infrastructure planning outlined in the Bastrop County Transportation Plan 2023
- Ongoing industrial development through the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation
FY2026 Budget Summary
The total General Fund budget is $73,512,281. The adopted property tax rate is $0.42870 per $100 valuation, composed
of:
General Fund: $0.30678
Debt Service: $0.04371
Road & Bridge: $0.07821
Key projections include:
- $4.9 million increase in property tax revenue over FY2024-25
- $5 million increase in sales tax revenue
- $900,000 decrease in revenue from housing out-of-county inmates due to increased County inmate population
Combined, taxes account for nearly three-quarters of the General Fund budget.
Compensation & Staffing
This budget prioritizes a competitive compensation and staffing expansion:
- 3% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for all eligible employees
- Law enforcement, jailers, and 911 communications also received a one-step advancement (approx. 3% increase) on
the system pay scale, which is based on two-year service intervals and reviewed annually.
New departmental and personnel investments include:
Established the Environmental & Sanitation Services and Planning & Platting Departments
New positions added in: Office of Emergency Management, Public Health, District Clerk, General Counsel,
Information Technology, General Services, Development Services, Animal Services, Department of Public Safety,
and Elections Administration.
Total cost of new positions and benefits: $791,481.
Debt Service
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