The Rockwall County Commissioners Court held a regular meeting on August 12, 2025, focusing primarily on the first draft of the upcoming budget. Key discussions included staffing changes, employee raises, and adjustments to retirement stipends.

During the meeting, it was announced that three new positions would be added to the Development Services department, including a clerk to streamline operations across departments, a maintenance technician for a new building, and a Criminal Intel Analyst for the Sheriff's office. This addition marks a successful attempt to include the analyst position in the budget after previous years of exclusion.

The budget proposal includes a 4% merit raise for employees who did not receive a step raise exceeding that percentage, while elected officials will see a 3% increase. Additionally, $13,000 per employee has been allocated for insurance, and a 10% contribution to retirement plans is planned for all employees. However, the retirement stipend has been reduced to $100 for retirees, with a focus on implementing a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 23% for them.

The discussion also touched on the use of SB22 funds, with plans to allocate these funds for purchasing vehicles for the Sheriff's department in the following year. The budget aims to address previous oversights, particularly concerning the District Attorney's office, ensuring that employees receiving SB22 funds are not penalized in their raises.

Commissioners expressed a desire to achieve a "no new revenue rate" for taxpayers, indicating that any budget decisions made would still result in a tax rate reduction for residents. The court is expected to continue discussions and refine the budget before final approval, with a commitment to transparency and addressing concerns raised by both the court members and the public.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the county's efforts to balance employee compensation, departmental needs, and fiscal responsibility while ensuring that taxpayers benefit from reduced tax rates. Further discussions are anticipated as the budget process moves forward.