Farmers Branch adopts FY2025–26 budget, sets tax rate at $0.5435; council approves measures 4‑1

The Farmers Branch City Council on Sept. 16 adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and related tax measures, approving Ordinance No. 3958 (budget adoption), Resolution No. 2025‑160 (ratifying the property tax revenue increase), and Ordinance No. 3959 (accepting the certified appraisal roll) and setting a tax rate of $0.5435 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2025–26.

City Manager Ben Williamson presented the budget and detailed that the adopted budget uses the existing tax rate of 0.5435. He told the council the maintenance and operations portion is 0.484575 and the interest and sinking portion is 0.058925. Williamson said the presentation included the Truth‑in‑Taxation calculations showing the maximum allowed tax rate under state law but that the budget itself is built on the 0.5435 rate.

Williamson said the city showed about $2.3 million in an end‑of‑year surplus but that much of the apparent revenue growth is offset by contractual obligations and economic development agreements; he estimated net realized growth in the budget to be roughly under $500,000 after those commitments. He said the budget incorporated council priorities including public safety, infrastructure, economic development and neighborhoods and that public engagement (workshops, town hall, surveys) informed decisions.

Council members praised staff work. “I just wanna remind everybody out there that we had a flat budget. We have a $2,300,000 budget surplus,” Councilwoman Villafranca said. The city manager and staff also recognized Suzanne Pritchard, the budget manager, for 38 years of service.

The council voted on the budget and related tax measures via roll call. For the budget adoption (Ordinance No. 3958) the roll call vote was 4‑1 (Councilman Neal voted no; Councilwoman Roman, Councilwoman Bennett, Councilman Reed and Councilwoman Villafranca voted yes). The related resolution ratifying the tax revenue increase (Resolution No. 2025‑160) and the ordinance accepting the certified appraisal roll and levying the rate (Ordinance No. 3959) passed by the same margin. A final motion adopting the tax rate of 0.5435 was also approved by roll call with a 4‑1 result.

Ben Williamson said the budget timeline starts each year with the council’s strategic priorities in February, department submissions in March–April, and the city manager’s proposed budget delivered by July 31 with adoption in September and the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Williamson noted the water, sewer and stormwater funds are self‑supporting through utility fees and that the CIP fund will be used to replace aging utility lines and fund drainage and street projects.

No amendments to the budget were adopted at the meeting. Council directions during the discussion focused on resiliency of fund balances and continued public outreach while staff will proceed with implementation and required publication steps.