Hewitt opens and closes budget hearing; council sets Aug. 18 vote on 2025 property tax rate

At a special meeting on Aug. 11, 2025, the Hewitt City Council opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 operating and capital budget and closed it without public speakers, then held the first of two public hearings on the proposed 2025 property tax rate.

City staff opened the budget hearing and invited public comment; City Secretary Ms. Liddy reported there were no speakers. "No sir," Ms. Liddy stated when asked whether anyone had signed up to speak. With no public input, the council closed the budget hearing at 7:02 p.m.

The council then opened the first public hearing on the 2025 property tax rate. Staff reminded the council that state law requires the governing body to announce the date, time and place of the meeting at which it will vote on the proposed tax rate. "The Texas tax code states that the governing body shall announce at the public hearing meeting today, this evening, the date, time and place of the meeting at which it will vote on the proposed tax rate," a city staff member said.

Councilmember McAllen moved to set Aug. 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Hewitt City Hall, 200 Patriot Court, as the date to vote on the 2025 property tax rate. Councilmember Turner seconded the motion. The motion carried on a recorded vote of 6 to 0.

The council recessed the special meeting for an executive session at 7:07 p.m. (see separate report). The public hearing record shows no public testimony on either the budget or the tax rate at the Aug. 11 hearing; the council will consider the tax‑rate vote on Aug. 18 as announced.