Grand Prairie council adopts 0.66 property tax rate, $527 million operating budget and multiple capital items; PID budgets approved amid public objection

The Grand Prairie City Council approved a package of fiscal items at its meeting, including adopting a property tax rate of $0.66 per $100 of assessed value, adopting the fiscal 2025-26 operating budget and ratifying the city99s tax levy. Council members also adopted the one-year and five-year capital improvement plans and approved budgets for 19 property-improvement districts after extended public comment and a brief council debate.

Talvo, the city99s management services director, told the council the proposed total tax rate of 0.66 "exceeds the no-new-revenue tax rate of 0.636138 per $100 of value, but is below the voter-approval tax rate of 0.660061 per $100 of value." Talvo asked the council to adopt the rate by record vote; the council approved it on a roll call, with all members voting in favor.

On the operating budget, staff presented a proposed total operating budget of $527,000,000 for all funds. During the public hearing, resident Romaine Kovari asked the council to account for the proposed water and wastewater rate increases and to include pay raises for staff in the budget. Council members later approved the budget by record vote after accepting a friendly amendment that redirected a $2,114.48 adjustment related to council staffing into the general fund.

The council also ratified the property tax levy based on an estimated tax levy of $149,401,371, which the…