Brownsville presents fiscal year 2026 budget proposal; staff recommends voter‑approval tax rate and completes compensation plan phase

City finance staff presented the second budget workshop for fiscal year 2026 on Aug. 5, detailing a proposed budget that officials said relies on the voter‑approval tax rate as the modeling assumption, continues a multi‑year employee compensation plan and increases spending in targeted service areas.

Steven Lecil Muse, interim finance director, reviewed a five‑year fiscal forecast and the city’s budget policies, including a 90‑day general fund reserve target, a self‑imposed 5% debt limit (the city currently estimates its debt at roughly 3% of assessed value), and guidance on using one‑time revenue for capital and deferred maintenance. Muse said the proposed FY2026 budget uses the voter‑approval tax rate — described in staff slides as a 1.68% increase over the current rate — in revenue…