Weatherford council adopts FY2026 budget, sets property tax rate at 39.2246¢

The Weatherford City Council on Tuesday adopted the city manager's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and set the 2025 ad valorem tax rate at 39.2246¢ per $100 of taxable valuation.

City staff said the FY2026 adopted budget spans 25 funds, supports 15 departments and 332 committed positions, and includes total combined revenues of $83,400,000 and total expenditures of $83,200,000. The general fund totals $55,800,000 in revenues and $55,700,000 in expenditures, producing a small budgeted surplus of $47,000 and a projected fund balance of $32,600,000—about 229 working days of operating reserves, staff said.

The tax rate the council adopted is equal to the “no new revenue” rate, meaning the city is not proposing an increase in tax rates on properties on the roll, staff said. “The 2025 proposed tax rate is 39.2246¢ per $100 of taxable valuation,” Ashley Esquivel told the council. The council separately ratified an approximate $615,000 increase in property tax revenue reflected in the adopted budget as required by state law.

Council members discussed that the adopted budget includes one-time funding for a new Chamber of Commerce facility, added design funding (but no construction funding) for projects including Animal Shelter Phase 2, Fire Station 5, Lamar Street, Claremont Boulevard and Kirkpatrick Drive, and capital commitments such as $974,000 for vehicle and equipment replacement. The budget also funds three additional firefighters to complete the staffing plan for a future Fire Station 5 and adds an animal control officer, city staff said.

Councilmember Luke Williams moved to adopt the budget; Zach Smith seconded. Councilmember Heidi Weiler moved to adopt the tax rate (reading the rate split of 29.5646¢ for operations and maintenance and 9.66¢ for debt service); Zach Smith seconded. Council voted to approve the budget, ratification and the tax rate by electronic vote. The meeting record does not list individual roll-call vote tallies.

Nut graf: The adopted budget maintains the city’s reserve target, funds several design-phase capital projects and personnel additions, and sets a tax rate that staff said will produce the same revenue from properties on the roll as the previous year.

Discussion and next steps: Staff said design costs are included for several projects but that construction costs will be added later—likely via bond proceeds—and will require subsequent budget amendments once funding sources are confirmed. The council thanked staff for the work on the budget. No additional hearings on the adopted FY2026 budget were required at the meeting.