Haslet council holds public hearing on FY 2025–26 budget; $1.5M pay proposal would require roughly 24% tax increase, staff says

The Haslet City Council held a special meeting and public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget and heard staff analysis of revenue, expenditures and recommended changes; no members of the public spoke during the hearing.

City staff presented the budget structure and trends, noting operating revenues have grown since 2021 but that expenditures have been rising faster because of staffing and infrastructure needs. Mayor Halsey said the proposed $1.5 million in additional salaries and benefits would close part of the gap between revenues and expenditures but would be recurring and therefore have long-term tax implications. “If you put this million 5 into salaries … each year you've got this recurring at that same level,” Mayor Halsey said.

Marcy Lamb, the city staff member who presented workshop changes, summarized the specific workshop adjustments: an addition of $1,500,000 to the administration salaries/benefits line; $300,000 for a park master plan; $500,000 for two playground areas; removal of a $2,750,000 Farmers Market/Teaching Garden project and replacement with $2,000,000 for street repair/Haslet Park; and no change to ball field improvements. Lamb said those capital changes moved total capital…