Tomball council adopts FY2025–26 budget and approves 0.34094 tax rate

The Tomball City Council on Aug. 25 adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set a property tax rate of $0.34094 per $100 of assessed value. The council also approved a revised master fee schedule and changes to the city’s procurement policy to align with recent state law. The budget adoption came on a second reading of Ordinance No. 2025-31 and passed unanimously. Council members then ratified the budget and later adopted the tax-rate ordinance on motions that carried 5–0. City staff said the proposed rate exceeds the statutory no-new-revenue rate because overall property valuations rose; the council framed the change as generating a modest additional revenue compared with the prior year’s levy. City finance and staff led a package of related actions tied to the adopted budget. Resolution No. 2025-35 updated the city’s master fee schedule (planning, engineering, inspections, fire marshal fees, and utility tap charges) to reflect cost-of-service adjustments and higher missed-inspection and re‑submission fees; the measure passed 5–0. Separately, the council approved amendments to its procurement policy to align spending-authority thresholds with new state law raising the competitive-bid threshold to $100,000 and adjusted internal approval limits; that item also passed 5–0. During discussion, staff said increases to some permit and inspection fees are intended to reduce repeated re-inspections and recover staff costs. The council asked for clearer public explanations of the tax-rate calculation; staff provided a homeowner example showing a $300,000 taxable-value home would see about $13.74 in additional city tax under the adopted rate. Outcome and next steps: The adopted budget and fees take effect for FY2025–26; staff will manage implementation of the procurement changes and publish guidance for departments and vendors. Council members emphasized continued monitoring of expenditures and transparency for taxpayers.