Temple City Council adopts FY2026 budget, sets property tax rate at 0.6999 to fund police, fire and capital plan

TEMPLE, Texas — The Temple City Council on Thursday, Aug. 28, adopted the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget and business plan and set a property tax rate of $0.6999 per $100 of valuation, voting 5–0 to approve the measures.

Council adopted the operating and capital budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 30, 2026, and ratified a property-tax increase reflected in the budget. Finance staff said the budget will raise $11,689,227 more in total property taxes than last year (a 20.95% increase). The revenue from new property added to the roll this year is $3,450,556.

City Finance Director Tracy (first name given in meeting) told the council the proposed $0.6999 rate is comprised of $0.3754 for maintenance and operations and $0.3245 for debt service. Tracy said the average taxable value in Temple this year is $220,566; at the adopted rate the typical Temple homeowner would pay $1,543.74 in city property tax — an annual increase of $238.85, or about $19.90 per month. The council adopted the budget, the tax roll ordinance and the final tax-rate ordinance in separate votes; all measures passed unanimously.

Why it matters: City leaders said the revenue will pay for public-safety staffing, equipment and a multiyear capital-improvement program the council reviewed as a six-year business plan. City staff highlighted immediate priorities including additional police and fire positions, station and equipment planning, an expanded fleet maintenance shift and investments in water and wastewater capacity and rehabilitation.

What the budget funds: City management outlined a number of near-term staffing and capital priorities tied to the adopted budget and…