Commissioners approve $5.1M budget for 2026
Shackelford County commissioners adopted a balanced budget for the 2026 fiscal year during their regular meeting Monday morning, approving the plan by unanimous vote.
The adopted budget totals $5,126,554 and includes funding for an additional deputy clerk in the elections office. County Judge John Viertel and all four commissioners—Steve Riley (Pct. 1), Ace Reames (Pct. 2), Lanham Martin (Pct. 3), and Cody Jordan (Pct. 4)—voted in favor.
Commissioners also approved the county’s 2026 property tax rate, setting it at $0.6978 per $100 of valuation. The adopted rate does not exceed the No New Revenue Rate and, according to the approved motion, “will not raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate on the same total properties.”
In addition to adopting the budget and tax rate, the court approved several funding measures. A $16,120 grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) and $2,833.31 in capital credits were accepted and added to the county’s revenue stream for the coming year. A $40,000 payment from FiberLight, related to a land easement at the Law Enforcement Center, was also received and deposited into the general fund. During the citizen’s forum, Deputy Jason Price asked whether those funds could be allocated directly to the sheriff’s office budget. While the court chose to keep the funds in the general fund for now, they noted they could be transferred to the sheriff’s office as needed.
Commissioners also gave the county judge authority to apply for the Rural Law Enforcement Grant for FY2026. Separately, County Attorney Rollin Rauchel said he was considering an application for SB 22 funds to assist his office, though it would not affect the current budget.
Albany Fire Chief Joel Viertel addressed the court with a request for help in preparing a fire guard around the south and west sides of the city limits. He noted the heavy fuel load this year and said that while the Forestry Service had been expected to assist, they had not been able to get the fire break cut last year. Viertel asked the county to provide equipment if available when conditions allow for burning later this fall. Commissioners expressed willingness to help and said they would coordinate as the timing became clear.
The court also approved publishing legal notices to receive bids for the county’s annual fuel contract and annual lawn care contracts for the courthouse and two cemeteries. A proposed schedule of court meetings for 2026 was adopted, along with the 2026 holiday calendar. Commissioners also approved the publication of elected officials’ salaries for the upcoming year.
In the officials’ reports portion of the meeting, commissioners shared updates on precinct roadwork, while the county attorney reported efforts to resolve misdemeanor cases more efficiently to reduce jail stays and court time.
County Treasurer Tammy Brown reported that the county had received seven applications for a posted job opening and said interviews would begin that afternoon. She noted the recent signing of a contract with All Copy, which is expected to save the county over $3,000 annually.
Judge Viertel announced that the Texas Commission on Jail Standards had given a positive compliance report for the Shackelford County Jail following its most recent inspection. The court later voted to remove the September 15 special meeting from the 2025 calendar but left September 29 in place in case action is needed on fuel or lawn care contracts.
