Pharr adopts $290 million budget, sets tax rate and approves certificates, department and contract actions

The Pharr City Commission adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget totaling $290,000,000 and adopted a property tax rate of 0.7676 during its meeting. Commissioners also approved several ordinances and resolutions including notice of intent to issue certificates of obligation for public works and authorization to negotiate contracts tied to employee health benefits and a proposed event center.

The adopted budget: the commission moved and passed an ordinance to adopt the budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025 and ending Sept. 30, 2026, described in the meeting as a $290,000,000 budget. The property tax rate was set at 0.7676; a presenter during the meeting clarified that the adopted rate “is the same tax rate as last year” and that there is “no actual increase in it.”

Other measures the commission approved included: - An amendment to the FY2024–25 budget by ordinance (amendment to ordinance 0-2024-20-31). - Adoption of an ordinance creating a maintenance department (first reading passed). - Approval of a resolution authorizing publication of notice of intention to issue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2025, for the design, acquisition, construction and improvement of certain public works. - Authorization for the city manager to negotiate and award a service contract for employee health insurance and pharmacy benefit management services, including stop-loss insurance; staff recommended the vendor identified in the staff report. - Authorization for the city manager to negotiate a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) with the top-ranked construction manager at risk for the proposed event center project. - Several appointments and reappointments to local boards and commissions, including reappointment of Vittorio Puente to the Veil Service Commission and appointment of Mercedes Guillen to the Keypark Beautiful Committee.

Where votes were recorded in the meeting transcript, the actions passed on voice votes with the commission answering “Aye.” No roll-call tallies with individual “yes/no/abstain” votes were recorded in the transcript for these items.

Because most motions were presented, seconded and carried by voice vote with no roll-call recorded, the meeting record in the transcript provides outcomes but not individual member vote tallies. The commission also approved placement of a renamed public roadway and a routine budget amendment during the consent and regular agenda.

The meeting adjourned after completing the listed actions.