Weatherford manager presents $75.6 million FY2026 budget; council accepts tax-rate notice

City Manager Tom Brooks presented the Weatherford proposed fiscal year 2026 budget on Aug. 12, saying the plan totals $75,600,000 in expenditures against $77,500,000 in combined revenues and preserves more than 120 days of operating reserves. Why it matters: The proposal funds public safety staffing, park renovations and street work while using a tax-rate calculation that the council will formally consider in late August and early September. Brooks told the council, “We are super excited to share with you the FY 26 proposed budget tonight,” and said the plan covers 25 separate funds, supports 15 city departments and 332 full‑time employees. He said the general fund projects $55.8 million in revenues and $55.7 million in expenditures with a marginal surplus of about $47,000 and projected fund balances equal to roughly 235 working days. The presentation highlighted major revenue drivers and priorities. Sales tax is projected at $22.3 million (a 4.3% increase from the prior year under the city’s three‑year average policy). The property tax figure underlying the budget is the calculated no‑new‑revenue rate of 39.2246¢ per $100 of assessed value. Brooks said the budget assumes that no‑new‑revenue rate and noted new property growth will add revenue even with the lower rate. On personnel and projects, Brooks said the plan adds three firefighters to complete staffing for a planned Fire Station 5, an additional animal control officer and an IT specialist (the latter two via repurposed midmanagement positions, producing no net increase in total full‑time equivalents outside the firefighters). Capital priorities identified for design funding include Fire Station 5, Lamar Street and Claremont Boulevard improvements, Kirkpatrick Drive design, and Phase 2 of animal shelter improvements; the budget does not yet include construction costs. The budget also keeps $3 million annually for street repair and allocates $974,000 for vehicle and equipment replacement. Budget process and next steps: Brooks told the council the schedule includes a formal tax‑rate proposal on Aug. 26, a public hearing on the proposed budget and grant presentations, and a public hearing and adoption scheduled for Sept. 9. He invited council members to direct questions to him or Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel, whom he recognized by name for leading the budget effort. Council action tonight: The council accepted the published notice of calculated tax rates required under the truth‑in‑taxation process. The acceptance was moved by Council Member Matt Tiscus and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Zack Smith; the council voted to accept the notice for publication. Discussion vs. decision: The FY2026 budget was presented for council review (discussion only); the council took formal action only to accept and publish the calculated tax‑rate notice as the procedural first step in the tax‑setting process. Final adoption of the budget and formal tax‑rate decisions remain scheduled for September.