Travis County commissioners unanimously adopted a legislative agenda on Tuesday, highlighting county aims for the 86th Texas Legislature, which convenes Jan. 8.

Opposing revenue caps is the county’s top priority, said Deece Eckstein, Travis County’s intergovernmental relations officer.

“If revenue caps are imposed on us by the Legislature, it would change the whole way we do business,” Eckstein told Community Impact Newspaper on Oct. 22. “It’s our No. 1 issue to battle against.”

Currently taxing entities can increase their property tax revenue up to 8 percent without a public vote. Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed a tax reform that would require a public vote if the revenue were raised by as little as 2.5 percent.

Other “big-ticket items,” Eckstein said, both financially and operationally, could include the creation of a new civil district court in Travis County and a possible merger of the county attorney and district attorney’s offices, he said.

With a 4-1 vote today, Travis County commissioners decided to seek the creation of a new district court in the upcoming legislative session. Commissioner Gerald Daugherty opposed the vote, citing fiscal constraint concerns.

The possibility of merging the county attorney and district attorney’s offices is still under discussion at the county level. A decision on whether to include this as a legislative priority is pending.

“The conversation about additional investments in criminal justice programs, health and human services, even our staffing patterns—all of that gets tabled if we have to deal with revenue caps,” Eckstein said.

Other county priorities include:
• Oppose unfunded mandates
• Local option for homestead exemption flexibility
• Seek partial reimbursement for STAR Flight services outside of Travis County
• Give parks police authority to ensure better safety and security in county parks
• Clarify authority of sobering centers as an alternative to confinement for intoxicated individuals

Next steps
Legislative bills will be drafted and can be filed beginning Nov. 12.