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Hays County FY2026 Budget Report: An Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

On September 16, 2025, the Hays County Commissioners Court adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and a corresponding tax rate of $.3999 per $100 valuation. The approved budget of $373,849,226 is structured to manage the county’s rapid population growth by strategically investing in infrastructure, justice, and community well-being. This report outlines the budget’s key components and their direct contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Budget Allocation and Sustainable Development Goal Alignment

The FY2026 budget prioritizes several key areas, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable development principles. Total funding of $373,849,226 is allocated across operating, debt, and construction funds to meet critical community needs.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: A significant allocation of $70,322,768 is dedicated to construction funds. This investment in capital infrastructure, including road improvements and county facilities, directly supports the development of resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and is essential for making the rapidly growing county safer and more sustainable (SDG 11).
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The budget enhances funding for essential judicial services, including pre-trial services, magistration, and the Public Defender’s Office. These initiatives are fundamental to providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable institutions. By focusing on programs designed to reduce recidivism, the county strengthens its commitment to promoting a peaceful and inclusive society, a core target of SDG 16.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The budget explicitly allocates funds for mental health support. This investment underscores the county’s dedication to promoting mental health and well-being for its residents, directly aligning with the objectives of SDG 3.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Through partnerships with local municipalities and non-profits, the budget provides for enhanced animal welfare services. This initiative reflects a commitment to protecting local biodiversity and fostering a sustainable coexistence between the community and its environment, in line with the principles of SDG 15.

Fiscal Framework and Economic Context

The budget is designed to be balanced and responsive to the economic realities of a high-growth region. The primary revenue source remains property taxes, which are managed to balance service delivery with fiscal responsibility.

1. Total Adopted Budget: $373,849,226
   • Operating Funds: $248,226,263
   • Debt Funds: $55,300,195
   • Construction Funds: $70,322,768
2. Revenue Projections: The budget is projected to raise $16.9 million more in property tax revenue than the previous year, an 11.27% increase. Of this amount, $6.9 million is generated from new property added to the tax roll, reflecting the county’s sustained economic growth (SDG 8).
3. Impact on Residents: For the average home valued at $460,169, the adopted tax rate represents an annual property tax increase of $225.87 for the county’s portion.

Governance and Commitment to Sustainable Growth

The budget reflects a governance model focused on transparency, accountability, and long-term strategic planning to manage population growth sustainably.

• Addressing Population Growth: With a population increase of 93% since 2010, the demand for county services has expanded significantly. This budget is a direct response to the challenges of rapid urbanization, aiming to ensure that growth is managed in a way that is inclusive and sustainable (SDG 11).
• Institutional Accountability (SDG 16): The budget was adopted following a public hearing process, ensuring community input and transparency. As stated by County Judge Ruben Becerra, the budget “strikes that balance” between fiscal accountability and community needs, reinforcing the county’s commitment to effective and accountable institutions.
• Long-Term Fiscal Strategy: While recent tax rate increases are attributed to the addition of essential services previously funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the county has maintained a record of consistently decreasing the tax rate over the long term, demonstrating a commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Hays County FY26 Budget

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Connected through the budget’s allocation for mental health services.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Addressed by the significant funding for capital infrastructure needs, including roads and county facilities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Relevant due to the focus on managing a rapidly growing county through strategic budgeting for infrastructure and essential services, which is a form of regional development planning.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Directly addressed through substantial funding for judicial services, the Public Defender’s Office, and public safety programs aimed at ensuring access to justice and reducing recidivism. The article also highlights the transparent and accountable process of budget adoption.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
     
     Explanation: The article explicitly states that the FY26 budget focuses on “key initiatives to address capital infrastructure needs, including road improvements and county facilities,” with $70,322,768 allocated to “construction funds.” This directly supports the development of resilient infrastructure to serve a rapidly growing population.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
     
     Explanation: The Hays County budget serves as a critical regional development planning tool. The article notes the county’s population has grown by 93% since 2010, and the budget is designed to “balance fiscal accountability with the needs of our community” by funding infrastructure and services to manage this growth.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
     
     Explanation: The budget allocates funds for “essential judicial services,” including “pre-trial services, additional magistration, [and] the Public Defender’s Office.” These services are fundamental to ensuring that all citizens have access to the justice system.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
     
     Explanation: The article describes the process of adopting the budget, noting it followed a “final public hearing” and was approved by a vote of the “Hays County Commissioners Court.” This public process, along with making budget documents available online, demonstrates institutional accountability and transparency.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
     
     Explanation: The Hays County Judge, Ruben Becerra, is quoted stating that the budget delivers “essential services — from judicial and public safety programs to public infrastructure and mental health support.” This specific mention of funding for “mental health support” aligns with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 9 (Infrastructure):
   • Indicator: Financial investment in infrastructure.
     
     Explanation: The article provides a precise figure of $70,322,768 allocated for “construction funds,” which serves as a direct quantitative indicator of the county’s commitment to improving infrastructure (Target 9.1).
2. For SDG 16 (Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • Indicator: Financial allocation to judicial services.
     
     Explanation: The article specifies that the addition of new judicial services, including the Public Defender’s Office, “alone account for a $.0125 increase on the tax rate.” This financial measure indicates the level of investment in strengthening access to justice (Target 16.3).
   • Indicator: Recidivism rates.
     
     Explanation: The article states that the judicial aspect of the budget “is essential in reducing recidivism in Hays County.” This implies that the county uses recidivism rates as a key performance indicator to measure the effectiveness of its judicial programs (Target 16.3).
   • Indicator: Public access to information and decision-making.
     
     Explanation: The mention of a “final public hearing” before the budget vote and the availability of budget documents on the county website are indicators of institutional transparency and accountability (Target 16.6).
3. For SDG 3 (Health and Well-being):
   • Indicator: Budgetary allocation for mental health services.
     
     Explanation: While a specific dollar amount is not provided, the County Judge’s statement confirms that the budget includes funding for “mental health support.” The proportion of the budget dedicated to these services is an implied indicator of progress toward promoting mental health (Target 3.4).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hayscountytx.gov