Bellaire council proposes 0.4174 tax rate, adopts FY2026 budget and adds five security cameras

The Bellaire City Council on Sept. 16 accepted the certified 2025 tax roll, voted to propose a tax rate of 0.4174 per $100 of valuation and authorized publication of a public-hearing notice, and adopted the citys FY2026 budget with an amendment to add five automated license-plate reader cameras.

The council voted unanimously on each action. The acceptance of the certified tax roll and property tax rates passed on a 5-0 voice vote when one member was absent; the record vote to publish the proposed tax rate and the final vote adopting the amended FY2026 budget each passed 6-0 after all members were present.

City Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman summarized how the rates were calculated under Chapter 26.04 of the Texas property tax code and the states truth-in-taxation framework. "So it's an important time here for us when we annually get together and we set our property tax rate for the upcoming year," Beaman told council before the vote. He said the appraisal district certified the citys taxable values on Sept. 5 and presented three statutory rates: the no-new-revenue rate (0.4177), the voter-approval rate (0.4174) and the de minimis rate (0.4153). Beaman recommended adopting the voter-approval rate of 0.4174 and explained the total rate breaks into a maintenance-and-operations (M&O) portion and a debt portion.

Beaman said the city's overall assessed value rose about 3.7 percent year over year and that an average Bellaire residential taxpayer would see roughly a $2 difference in annual taxes under the proposed rate compared with last year. He also told council the city plans to publish a notice of public hearing and to hold the statutorily required public hearing (the CFO said staff would publish notice this week and return for the public hearing on Oct. 6).

Council members pressed staff on specific line items in the appraisal report, including an unexplained $600,000 line for "taxable value of annexed property." Beaman said that line comes from the appraisal district's software reports and can fluctuate; he offered to provide more detail if council wanted it. Council members also questioned why the amount of value under protest changed from last year; Beaman said timing of the certified roll versus earlier July estimates explained much of the difference.

On the budget, the council adopted the FY2026 spending plan (Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026) after an amendment to add five Flock Safety cameras. Council member Witt moved the amendment and cited prior successes with the camera program; the cameras were to be placed at council and police discretion to cover identified hot spots. The amendment specified recurring monitoring costs of $15,000 annually and a one-time installation cost of $3,250 (total annual recurring line: $15,000; first-year budget impact including installation: $18,250). The amendment and the final amended budget adoption passed unanimously.

The budget adoption also included the formal ratification vote required under state law for the tax increase reflected in the spending plan; council ratified that measure 6-0.

What happens next: staff will publish the required notices and hold the public hearing on the proposed tax rate. Beaman said the city will return with any further refinements needed before levying the tax rate for tax year 2025.

Votes at a glance

- Acceptance of certified 2025 tax roll and property tax rates: motion moved by Council Member Witt; seconded by the Mayor Pro Tem. Outcome: approved (5-0 voice vote; Council Member Giorgio absent at the time). Evidence: council accepted the submitted certified 2025 tax roll and property tax rates.

- Record vote to propose tax rate 0.4174 per $100 valuation and authorize publication of a notice of public hearing on tax increase: motion moved by Council Member Lewis; seconded by Council Member Gordon. Record vote (each listed below) 6-0; outcome: approved.

- Adoption of FY2026 budget (Oct. 1, 2025 Sept. 30, 2026), as amended to add five Flock Safety cameras (installation $3,250; recurring monitoring $15,000 annually): motion to adopt moved by Council Member Witt; seconded by Council Member Lewis. Outcome: approved (record vote 6-0).

Why this matters: The elected tax rate determines how property value growth is split between taxpayers and city revenue and funds roughly 60 percent of Bellaires general revenue, including public safety, operations and the capital program the council continues to prioritize. Small changes in rates can shift revenue available for the capital improvement program and city services.

Key numbers and context

- Proposed tax rate (voter-approval rate): 0.4174 per $100 valuation (proposed and adopted for publication/public hearing). - No-new-revenue rate (statutory calculation): 0.4177. - De minimis rate: 0.4153. - Average appraised residential value reported by staff: about $1,100,000 (average taxable value was lower after homestead exemptions). - Illustrative tax payment at the proposed rate for an average Bellaire residence: $3,668 (Beamans presentation showed a roughly $2 difference from the prior year). - Bond authority referenced for drainage projects: $6,000,000 (staff later sought direction to proceed with a bond sale timetable, separate council direction recorded during the meeting).

Sources and attribution: statements and numerical figures attributed to Terrence Beaman, Chief Financial Officer, and to council members who spoke (Witt, Lewis, Gordon, Giorgio, Mayor Pro Tem and the Mayor). The appraisal figures referenced were those certified by the Harris Central Appraisal District and used in the citys truth-in-taxation calculations.