LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Liberty County is the latest county to adopt a multi-million-dollar budget and increase its property tax rate for the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Commissioners said jail costs are a large reason for the hike.

"When I looked through the budget also, I saw that indigent health care was up, and I think that's primarily driven by housing these inmates out of county. So when you start adding up all the things, this budget's subsequent tax rate is primarily driven by people who don't obey the law," Precinct 4 Commissioner Gerald Kolarik said during the Sept. 25 commissioners court meeting.