Benbrook council adopts FY2025-26 budget, sets 2025 tax rate; approves routine business

Benbrook City Council on Thursday adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set the 2025 ad valorem tax rate, ratified property tax revenue and approved routine financial and meeting items during its Sept. 18 regular meeting.

The council approved the ordinance adopting budget figures for FY2025–26, set the tax rate at 0.555 (a 0.78% increase as stated during the meeting) and ratified the property tax revenue reflected in the adopted budget. Council also accepted the finance report for the period ending Aug. 31, 2025, and approved the minutes of the Sept. 4 regular meeting.

The budget ordinance, tax-rate ordinance and ratification were presented at the council’s Sept. 4 meeting and were before the council for formal action on Sept. 18; staff did not provide new presentations at the Sept. 18 meeting. Finance Director Rick Overgaard reported fiscal-year-to-date general fund revenues through Aug. 31 of $26,000,618 (100.3% of budget) and expenditures of $24,527,190 (92.4% of budget), leaving revenues exceeding expenditures by $2,091,237. Overgaard reported fiscal-year-to-date sales tax of $4,348,025, 1.2% higher than the same period last year. He also summarized activity for the debt service, economic development corporation and capital projects funds and noted the capital projects fund operates on a project basis.

Council members moved the routine items by roll call, with the council recording unanimous votes on the budget, the tax rate and the property-tax ratification. The council used the electronic voting system for other routine items; the motion to approve the minutes carried 6–0. No public comment was offered on these agenda items at the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes of the Sept. 4, 2025 regular meeting — Motion by Mr. Addison; second Dr. Marshall. Vote recorded 6 yes, 0 no; motion carries. - Acceptance of Finance Report for period ending Aug. 31, 2025 — Motion by Mr. Tanner; second Dr. Marshall. Vote: unanimous; motion carries. - Ordinance adopting FY2025–26 budget figures — Motion by Miss Mackey; second Dr. Marshall. Roll-call vote: unanimous; ordinance adopted. - Ordinance fixing and levying the 2025 ad valorem tax (rate set at 0.555) — Motion by Dr. Marshall; second Mr. Tyner. Roll-call vote: unanimous; ordinance adopted. - Resolution ratifying property tax revenue reflected in the FY2025–26 budget — Motion by Mr. Tyner; second Miss Franklin. Roll-call vote: unanimous; resolution adopted.

What this means By adopting the budget and setting the tax rate, the council finalized the city’s spending plan and tax levy for FY2025–26 as presented in September. The finance report acceptance records the city’s fiscal position through the eleventh month of the fiscal year. No policy changes or program-specific amendments were enacted during the Sept. 18 meeting.