Freeport council adopts FY2025–26 budget and tax rate, hikes golf fees; approves Veolia extension and opioid settlement

The Freeport City Council on Sept. 15 adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set the city’s 2025 property tax rate, approved a temporary extension of the city’s water utility contract with Veolia while negotiations continue, and voted to participate in the state-led opioid settlements. Council members also approved a package of golf-course fee increases that city staff said are intended to close an operating shortfall at the course.

Council adopted the budget and related ordinances after public hearings and extended discussion. Finance Director Ashley Hurst told council, “We are still looking at 1.673 in revenue surplus,” a figure staff said allows the council to fund a limited set of capital requests while keeping the general fund balanced. The council then adopted ordinance 2025-2747 (fiscal year 2025–26 budget) and ordinance 2025-2748 (2025 tax rate) in recorded votes.

Why this matters: the budget sets the city’s spending priorities for the next year and the tax-rate vote determines how much property owners will pay. Council members and public commenters framed the vote around infrastructure and basic services; residents urged the council to prioritize pipes, wastewater treatment and other assets. Councilman Pina, arguing for concentrating on time-sensitive items, said the council needed to “squeeze as much in as…