Rosenberg council reviews FY26 proposed budget, trims property tax rate and scales back hotel‑motel grants

Mayor (name not specified) opened a workshop to review the city manager’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and asked staff to present key fund-by-fund highlights.

Lewis, finance director, told the council the proposed budget was filed with the city secretary on July 29 and previously overviewed at the Aug. 5 regular meeting. He said personnel costs and debt service are the largest budget drivers and that staff adjusted the proposal after earlier council direction to reduce the property tax rate.

The budget presented reduces the property tax rate from $0.33 to $0.30 and lowers projected property tax revenue by about $1.5 million; Lewis said staff would shift that revenue shortfall to general fund balance so the city’s services and staffing levels remain as proposed. Mayor (name not specified) and several council members discussed the tradeoffs between a lower tax rate and dipping into fund balance.

Lewis summarized key revenue figures: sales tax (about $21.25 million) and property tax (about $8.9 million) are the major general‑fund revenue streams. On expenditures, personnel and benefits account for the largest shares (personnel ~ $33.6 million across funds; public safety ~ $24.7 million of the general fund), and departments will see…