Comanche County commissioners are asking elected officials to go back to the drawing board after the proposed FY 2026-27 budget came up $808,000 short. The $12.5 million spending plan currently includes cuts of one or two employees per department, something County Clerk Carrie Tubbs described as “devastating.” But she also acknowledged that the public expects services to continue, no matter the financial strain.

The biggest cost drivers are out-of-county inmate housing and insurance premiums. Right now, 107 inmates are being housed in facilities outside Comanche County, and the use tax revenue that usually covers that expense is declining. Meanwhile, workers’ comp and property liability insurance total more than $826,000. The county also has $2.3 million in a contingency fund, but that money can’t be used for recurring expenses like these. It’s reserved for one-time emergencies.

Commissioners have presented three budget versions to elected officials, with options like hiring freezes and voluntary attrition on the table. The hope is that departments can find savings without cutting services that residents rely on daily, from law enforcement to elections to jail operations. If cuts happen, it could mean longer waits and reduced staffing across the county. What would you prioritize if you had to make the call? Let us know in the comments.