Brownsville commission ratifies FY2026 budget, keeps tax rate unchanged while acknowledging higher property-tax revenue

Brownsville — The Brownsville City Commission on Thursday approved the fiscal year 2026 budget and adopted a tax-rate ordinance that keeps the city's rate the same as last year while acknowledging an increase in property-tax revenue due to higher property values.

Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Alan Gard presented the budget to the commission and public, saying the document is a financial plan built around the city's strategic pillars and a conservative revenue approach. "We have a balanced budget right now for 2026 based on the same tax rate as last year," Gard said during his presentation.

Gard told commissioners the budget keeps the tax rate at 0.603504 per $100 of assessed value but, because certified property values rose, the levy will collect more aggregate property tax revenue than the prior year. He emphasized the city's diversified revenue mix and cautioned that sales tax remains volatile. Gard said the budget prioritizes public safety, infrastructure, economic development and quality-of-life programs while adding two full-time positions and phased pay increases to move the civilian workforce toward the 50th percentile of market wages.

Key budget items Gard highlighted include: the addition of a makerspace supervisor for the library and a community funding specialist within grants; targeted increases in entry-level wages (a proposed $14.50 minimum for full-time city employees); an increase in probationary firefighter pay from $10.70 to $12.00 per hour; funding for expanded mowing along state expressway frontage (a supplemental Greens Division allocation tied to TexDOT mowing); and continued funding for public-safety technology including the Axon body-camera and records system. Gard said the Axon system, while increasing contract costs, will free officer time previously spent on reports.

Gard also walked through revenue and expenditure details: property values in the city rose substantially in recent years, driving the higher levy; approximately 52 percent of the general fund is budgeted for public safety; and the general fund shows an overall personnel- and service-focused spending plan. He noted the city transfers funds to B Metro and Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport and cited the landfill as an important revenue source that helps keep the city's property-tax burden lower than some neighboring cities.

Commissioners thanked staff for the presentation. During the public hearing and subsequent roll-call votes, the commission closed the hearing and approved the ordinances. The commission recorded unanimous support for both measures. The ordinance to ratify the fiscal-year 2026 budget (ordinance no. 20251782), described in the meeting as a vote to ratify the increase in property-tax revenue reflected in the budget, passed by roll call vote. The ordinance adopting the tax rate (ordinance no. 20251783) also passed by roll call with no change to the rate but an acknowledgement that the total levy will increase because of higher assessed values.

The presentation and votes will be followed by routine budget monitoring and a midyear amendment process Gard said will prioritize additional items (for example, library materials and traffic-marking funds) should revenue performance allow. He invited residents to the city information fair next April, where staff will offer help applying for appraisal exemptions and instructions on filing property-value protests.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 20251782: Ratify FY2026 budget (described at the meeting as a vote to ratify the property-tax increase reflected in the budget). Outcome: approved. Vote: 7-0. - Ordinance 20251783: Adopt tax rate 0.603504 (no change in rate; levy increases because of higher values). Outcome: approved. Vote: 7-0.

Background: Gard cited Texas's tax-calculation rules and Senate Bill 2 as context for why property values and rates must be read together; he also reviewed the city's revenue diversification policy, which the presentation said should limit reliance on sales tax to a conservative share of the budget.

Looking ahead: Staff will return for routine revenue tracking and any midyear budget amendments. Gard said collective bargaining negotiations with the fire association and upcoming police bargaining will continue to affect salary planning for future years.