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Little Elm council ratifies tax‑revenue increase, adopts $200M‑plus budget and sets 2025 tax rate
Summary
Council ratified a revenue-increasing property tax action, adopted the fiscal 2025–26 budget (Ordinance 18-22) and fixed the 2025 tax rate (Ordinance 18-23), setting a total rate of 0.549901 per $100 of assessed value.
The Town of Little Elm council ratified a property-tax revenue increase, adopted the town’s fiscal 2025–26 budget and approved the tax rate that funds general operations and debt service.
Sharell Evans Jones, Director of Finance, presented four linked items: the required public hearing on the proposed tax rate, ratification of the property‑tax revenue increase, adoption of the fiscal year 2025–26 budget and levying the tax. Evans Jones said the proposed tax rate of 0.549901 per $100 of assessed value would raise about $1.7 million more than the prior year, an increase in revenue of about 4.35 percent, which triggers a required ratification under state law.
Evans Jones summarized the budget: the consolidated funds show total expenditures of more than $200,000,000 for fiscal 2025–26 across town funds. She reminded the council that the budget adoption requires a record (roll-call) vote and that the council had published required notices in the Denton Record Chronicle and distributed the proposed budget in advance.
At the council meeting the public hearing drew no speakers. The council moved and passed the ratification of the property‑tax revenue increase (Item C). The council then adopted Ordinance No. 18‑22, appropriating resources for FY 2025–26. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote on the budget ordinance; the roll call recorded the following affirmative votes: Mayor Cornelius; Council member Johnson; Mayor Pro Tem Singh; Council member Egan; Council member Amaya; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Evans; and Council member Hamburg. The presiding officer announced adoption following the roll call.
The council then approved Ordinance No. 18‑23 fixing the tax rate through two required motions: one setting the maintenance and operations (M&O) rate and the other the interest and sinking (I&S or debt) rate. The council approved an M&O rate of 0.44139 per $100 and an I&S rate of 0.108511 per $100, which together yield a total rate of 0.549901 per $100 of assessed valuation. The presiding officer announced both motions passed.
Finance staff highlighted procedural items for future council reports: when items present new or unbudgeted expenses, the council cover sheet will call out budget impacts so members understand when approval of a contract or purchase also adds expenditure not included in the adopted budget.
Votes at a glance - Item C (ratify property-tax revenue increase): Approved (voice vote) - Ordinance No. 18‑22 (Adopt FY 2025–26 budget): Approved (roll-call vote; Mayor Cornelius and council voted yes) - Ordinance No. 18‑23 (Fix tax rate — M&O 0.44139, I&S 0.108511, total 0.549901 per $100): Approved (motions passed)
