Wichita Falls council adopts FY2026 budget, sets property tax rate at 0.6825

Wichita Falls — The Wichita Falls City Council on Sept. 2 adopted the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget and set the property tax rate at 0.6825, actions city staff said lower the nominal rate from 0.6848 while funding salary increases and capital projects.

City staff member Steven, presenting the budget at a public hearing, said: “This budget reduces the property tax rate, from 0.6848 to 0.6825,” and described a capital program that uses reserves for one-time investments including public safety facilities. Mayor Tim Short and councilors then voted to adopt the ordinances that finalize the budget, levy the rate and approve a five-year capital improvement plan.

The adopted budget covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 30, 2026. In separate motions the council: adopted the annual appropriation ordinance; approved a tax-rate ordinance adopting the 0.6825 rate; and approved a resolution that staff read stating the adopted budget will raise more total property taxes than last year by $1,754,382 (a 3.39% increase), of which $486,514 is attributable to new property added to the tax roll this year.

Why it matters: City staff said the budget reduces the city’s nominal…