City of Haslet officials presented a proposed 2025-26 budget Aug. 2 that keeps the city's tax rate unchanged while showing a projected $2.26 million surplus for the year and a projected general fund balance of about $10.65 million at year-end.
The budget presentation, led by finance staff and the mayor, showed rapid growth in the city's staffing and spending in recent years and a long-term change in revenue drivers. Officials said the budget assumes the current tax rate (the so-called "no new revenue" rate) and therefore does not raise property tax rates this year.
Why it matters: Council members and staff emphasized that high reserves give the city flexibility for capital projects but also that some revenue sources are leveling off. The city is proposing roughly $6.3 million in capital outlays next year and plans to close some legacy capital funds into the general fund and present capital projects in the appropriate funds.
Key figures: staff said employee counts have grown roughly 207% since 2021; general-fund revenue has risen about 141% since 2021 while expenditures have risen roughly 210% in that span; the proposed budget includes a fund-balance target equal to six months of operating expenses (about $4.36 million).
Process and next steps: staff told council the calendar for the budget process is: adopt the proposed budget and proposed rate at the Aug. 4 meeting, hold a budget hearing Aug. 11, and hold the required tax-rate hearing and final adoption at the regular meeting Aug. 18. Staff emphasized the rate shown in the proposed budget can be lowered at final adoption but not raised.
Details and limits: finance staff noted several revenue-line items are dependent on outside inputs (for example, property-appraisal values from the local appraisal district and a property-tax rebate tied to a large local employer). Officials said they will update the budget after the appraisal district releases final values and after additional rate calculations are complete.
Ending note: Council members did not take a final vote on the budget Aug. 2; staff will bring the proposed budget and rate forward per the hearing schedule for public input and final action.