The Haslet City Council on Aug. 18 adopted the city’s fiscal 2025–26 budget after several amendments, approved a 0% increase in the maintenance-and‑operations tax rate (the ‘‘no‑new‑revenue’’ rate of 0.298801 per $100 valuation), and approved multiple capital adjustments proposed during the meeting.

Council members voted unanimously to adopt the final budget after motions to add and remove items. The council added $1.5 million to cover employee salary and benefit changes — including an across‑the‑board raise and a specified 20% increase for the fire department — and removed a proposed $2.75 million farmers‑market pavilion and teaching garden. The council also approved a $300,000 park master plan and a $500,000 allocation for playground equipment and surfacing at the community park.

Why it matters: The council’s changes shift how the city will use its reserves and capital funds in the coming year. The session also included a public hearing on the tax rate and multiple residents who said they opposed raising taxes or adding the city administrator position that the council later reinstated.

Budget and tax action details
The city presented an adopted budget that the clerk said would raise $323,988 more in total property tax revenue than last year’s budget under the initially proposed rate. Finance staff noted that new construction added $446,118 to the tax roll; council members and staff explained that using the no‑new‑revenue calculation required by the Texas Comptroller produced a lower rate than the prior year while maintaining the maintenance‑and‑operations revenue level.

During debate, Finance staff (identified in the meeting as Miss Lam) summarized the tax math and the comptroller’s required comparison point: "The amount from the new construction is $446,118," and later, when explaining the no‑new‑revenue concept, she said the calculation was statutory guidance. After amendments, the council adopted the no‑new‑revenue M&O rate plus the debt service rate to set the total tax rate at 0.298801.

Council amendments and votes
- Added $1,500,000 for employee pay/benefits (motion approved). The motion included a 20% increase targeted to fire department positions and language requiring employees to use available spouse coverage from an employee’s other employer if applicable.
- Removed $2,750,000 previously included for a farmers‑market pavilion and teaching garden (motion approved). Councilmembers said the money would be reconsidered for street or other capital needs after engineering cost updates.
- Added $300,000 for a park master plan study (motion approved).
- Added $500,000 for new playground equipment and surfacing/fall zone at the community park (motion approved).
- Added a $78,273 line in administration for the crossing‑guard contract the council expects to consider on Sept. 15.

After the amendments were made the council took a recorded vote to adopt the budget as amended; the motion passed unanimously.

Public comment and context
Dozens of residents spoke during two hours of public comment before the final budget vote. Several opposed additional taxes or the reinstatement of a city administrator; others urged the council to prioritize road repairs, public safety staffing and park improvements. One resident said, "We do not support raising the tax rate," while others wrote letters urging the council to adopt the mayor’s proposed budget without the added pavilion.

What happens next
The council adopted the tax rate consistent with the no‑new‑revenue calculation required by state guidance and ratified the final budget after the recorded vote. Council members said they will receive detailed engineering cost updates (notably for several proposed street projects) and that any unspent budgeted amounts will remain in the general fund or reserves. The crossing‑guard ordinance and contract will return to the Sept. 15 council agenda for formal approval.