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Haslet council denies mayorreconsideration, directs revenue fix
Summary
The Haslet City Council voted unanimously to deny reconsideration of the fiscal-year 2025-26 budget after a multi-hour debate and public comment. Council directed staff to prepare a budget amendment to correct the revenue line to match the tax rate the council adopted, which increases projected revenue by about $323,988.
The Haslet City Council on Monday denied Mayor Chris Halsey's request to reconsider the ordinance adopting the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, and asked staff to prepare a technical budget amendment to correct the property-tax revenue figure.
The council's action keeps the previously adopted budget in place while requiring a revenue update to reflect the tax rate the council ultimately adopted. Finance staff told council the corrected revenue number would add roughly $323,988 to the general fund compared with the figure in the packet that used a lower tax-rate estimate.
The dispute unfolded across public comments, attorney opinions and lengthy council debate. The mayor argued the council must reexamine the ordinance under his reading of state law; other council members and the city attorney said the law and the city attorney's opinion do not permit repeated reconsideration after an ordinance has been reapplied by the council. Several residents spoke during the public hearing urging either adoption of the mayor's original budget or support for the council decision.
Council members repeatedly emphasized that the requested amendment is procedural: staff should publish a budget document whose revenue section matches the tax rate the council adopted earlier. At one point staff produced revised summary sheets showing the higher revenue total tied to the approved tax rate.
Public commenters urged different priorities. Joette Keane and other residents criticized proposed budget items they considered expensive, such as proposed community-center spending and higher personnel benefits; other residents urged the council to adopt measures that retain municipal staff. Council members said they will bring a narrow budget amendment about the tax-revenue line to the next meeting.
The council also paused the meeting for an executive session during budget discussion and later returned to open session to continue consideration. A request by a council member to place a specific budget amendment on the Oct. 20 agenda was agreed; staff was asked to provide the revenue-correction documents in advance of that meeting.
Council recorded the motion to deny reconsideration as approved by a unanimous vote. The council did not change program-level spending in the action; it instructed staff to correct the revenue figure so the adopted budget and the revenue line match.
The finance director confirmed the corrected revenue estimate and said the adjustment will be reflected in a formal budget amendment at the next regular meeting.
