Jersey Village Council adopts $72.6 million budget, approves tax rate and calls Nov. 4 bond election

The Jersey Village City Council adopted a $72.6 million budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and ending Sept. 30, 2026, approved a total property tax rate of $0.814625 per $100 of taxable value and voted to place three bond propositions on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot.

The budget total presented by city staff was $72,600,000 including interfund transfers; excluding interfund transfers, total expenditures were reported as $69,070,000 and budgeted revenues as $45,589,000, leaving a planned drawdown of fund balance of $23,480,000 largely to pay for capital projects and bond-funded work. City Manager Austin Blais and finance staff told council the drawdown is mainly for capital expenditures tied to bonds sold earlier in July and for scheduled equipment purchases, including a tower truck expected in fiscal 2026.

Why it matters: the votes move major capital planning choices and tax decisions to final steps. The tax-rate action will increase the city's tax burden as reflected in the FY2026 budget; the bond election will give voters the opportunity to approve borrowing for a new civic campus, water and sewer projects, and a pool project.

Key details and council discussion - Budget and reconciliation: Jennifer Brown (city finance staff) presented a reconciliation showing changes since the July filing, including revenue adjustments tied to certified values and the recommended tax rate, salary adjustments for merit increases, and capital carryovers from district…