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 city said represents an approximately 6.12% increase from the prior year. The council99s public record vote to ratify the levy passed.

Capital spending matters also advanced. The city adopted the fiscal 2025-26 one-year capital improvement plan totaling $113,400,000, and adopted a five-year CIP that the city said averages about $121,000,000 per year. Council approved the plans by record vote.

Residents raised objections during the public hearing on an item to adopt budgets and tax rates for 19 property-improvement districts (PIDs). Multiple speakers from High Hawk and other neighborhoods urged the council to send PID budgets back to their boards for further review, citing large line items in multi-year plans (for example, fence or 9cbeautification9d costs) and what they described as inadequate outreach. City staff and a PID property manager explained that PID boards create their own budgets, that some long-range figures are planning projections and that reserves can carry forward if not spent.

After discussion, the council voted to approve the set of PID budgets; the motion carried 8 to 1. Council members and staff urged residents who disagree with a PID budget to attend PID board meetings or run for PID boards, since those boards set budgets and assessments.

The council also moved forward several zoning and land-use items, including an item to rezone a city-owned parcel on Lake Ridge Parkway to restrict general retail uses and preserve options for a higher-end future development, and a separate set of zoning requests that the planning commission had recommended for approval. Those land-use items were approved by the council.

Items adopted at the meeting will take effect with the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 unless otherwise noted; some actions require additional administrative steps (for example, plats or contracts) before projects proceed.

Votes at a glance

- Item 33 (Set tax rate): Adopted property tax rate 0.66 per $100 of value. Record vote called; council voted unanimously in favor (ayes recorded for Mayor Pro Tem; Council members Clifton, Chatwell, Adams, Dolbowski, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Johnson, Lopez and Hedden; Mayor also recorded aye).

- Item 34 (Adopt FY25-26 operating budget): Adopted operating budget of $527,000,000. Council approved after accepting a friendly amendment redirecting $2,114.48 into the general fund; record vote passed.

- Item 35 (Ratify tax levy): Ratified estimated tax levy of $149,401,371 (approx. 6.12% increase). Record vote passed.

- Item 36 (Adopt one-year CIP 2025-26): Adopted one-year CIP total $113,400,000. Approved by record vote.

- Item 37 (Adopt five-year CIP 2026-2030): Adopted five-year CIP (planning tool) averaging about $121,000,000 per year. Approved.

- Item 44 and related PID items: Council approved budgets for 19 PIDs after public hearing; motion to approve all passed, vote recorded as 8-1.

- Zoning items (57, 58, 59, 60, 61): Planning Commission recommended approval on several rezones and concept plans; council approved as presented.

What council members and staff said

Talvo, the management services director, explained the tax-rate mechanics and the statutory wording the council is required to use in a tax-rate hearing. "This year's proposed tax rate 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 said.

Resident Romaine Kovari urged the council to consider permanent pay raises for staff when approving water and wastewater rate increases and to add specific street and drainage projects to the CIP. Several PID residents told the council they had not seen adequate notice or public explanation of projected PID line items and asked the council to send budgets back for further review.

Next steps

The tax rate and budgets take effect for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025; some projects funded through the CIP or PID budgets will require additional design, bidding or platting steps before work begins. Residents opposed to a PID budget can attend PID board meetings, ask to change the PID board99s budget, or run for a seat on the PID board in the annual meeting process.