Socorro council publishes 0.645233 voter-approval rate, sets Sept. 11 hearing; staff presents $4.1M federal custodial contract and new transit plan

City Manager Adriana Rodarte presented the City of Socorro’s proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget at a special council meeting Saturday, Aug. 2, and recommended publishing the voter-approval tax rate of 0.645233 as the maximum rate the city will consider for the coming year.

The recommendation, and the broader budget presentation, matter because the city faces rising property appraisals that could increase tax bills even if the tax rate falls. Rodarte told the council the proposed voter-approval rate "is the rate staff is recommending to adopt," and that under Texas truth-in-taxation rules the proposed rate of 0.645233 is above the city’s “no new revenue” rate and therefore will be classified as a tax revenue increase for notice purposes.

At the meeting the council voted to publish the 0.645233 figure as the maximum rate to consider and set Sept. 11, 2025, as the date for final adoption. Staff also received direction to move forward with the proposed changes presented during the workshop.

Rodarte outlined three legally defined rate options: the current (no-change) rate of 0.6669; the “no new revenue” rate of 0.634377, which would collect…