Midland council adopts $460.9 million budget, sets tax rate at $0.347999

The Midland City Council unanimously approved a $460,900,000 total city budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and set the city tax rate at $0.347999 per $100 of taxable value following public hearings and extended council discussion.

City Chief Financial Officer Christie Weekland told the council the proposed total budget is $460,900,000 and that the general fund — which supports police, fire, roads and parks — is $187,500,000. "The total budget we're presenting is $460,900,000," Weekland said during the council presentation. She said police and fire account for the largest share of general fund spending and that the proposed general fund is 6.3% higher than the prior year.

The council opened a public hearing on the budget and heard several residents urge caution about rising property valuations and the impacts on homeowners. Speakers said the headline tax rate number understates the amount individual taxpayers pay when assessed values rise; a few asked the council to hold evening hearings so working residents can attend. Council members acknowledged those concerns while also defending their approach to balancing services and long-term liabilities.

Weekland and other staff detailed the city's fiscal choices: retaining investments in public safety and road maintenance, covering more than $30 million of airport and user-fee supported activities from dedicated funds, and leaving $5.1 million of supplemental staff requests unfunded. The budget presentation identified $39.8 million for roads and infrastructure this year when combining certain ongoing projects and maintenance allocations; city staff said $35 million annually is the estimated need to maintain the pavement condition index at target levels.

On the tax rate, staff explained a technical difference between the adopted rate and how the state measures an "effective" or "no-new-revenue" rate. Councilmember Norman moved to adopt the rate of 0.347999; council discussion noted the adopted rate is slightly lower than last year's formally stated rate even though, because of rising property values, many homeowners will see increases in their bills. The motion to set the tax rate passed unanimously.

Council and staff also discussed consumer price index impacts, county and state partners on road projects, and strategies to increase in‑house efficiencies and seek state and federal grant matches. The council directed staff to provide additional information on long-range strategies to address the gap between property tax revenue and the growing cost of public safety and infrastructure.

The council approved the budget and tax rate by unanimous votes and scheduled the additional statutorily required tax-rate hearing for Sept. 16, 2025 at 10 a.m. in the same chambers.