Brownsville commission adopts FY2026 budget, ratifies increase in property-tax revenue while keeping rate flat

Alan Gard, Brownsville’s deputy city manager and chief financial officer, presented a balanced FY2026 general fund budget at the Sept. 2 commission meeting and said it is based on the same tax rate as last year while producing more total property-tax revenue because of rising assessed values. “We have a balanced budget right now for 2026 based on the same tax rate as last year,” Gard said.

Gard told the commission the budget is organized around six pillars — economic development, planning and zoning, infrastructure, public safety, quality of life and governance — and includes a phased compensation plan to bring non‑sworn employees toward the 50th percentile of the market. The proposal would add two full‑time positions (a makerspace supervisor and a community‑funding specialist), raise the minimum full‑time non‑sworn wage from $13 to $14.50 and increase probationary firefighter pay from $10.70 to $12 an hour, the presentation said.

Gard emphasized that Texas property‑tax calculations combine the tax rate and assessed property values, which this year rose from roughly $7 billion in 2021 to more than $12 billion. Because values increased, the city’s effective rate has moved downward even as total property‑tax revenue rose. Gard noted Brownsville’s diversified revenue mix — including landfill transfers and sales taxes — reduces reliance on any single source.

The commission held the required public hearing, moved to close it and then voted to adopt the FY2026 budget and to ratify the property‑tax revenue increase reflected in that budget. The roll call recorded all voting members in favor (motion recorded as carrying unanimously in the minutes). The record shows the commission also approved the separate ordinance required under state law to acknowledge that the budget will raise more property‑tax revenue than the prior year.

Commissioners praised the presentation’s detail and staff’s work on compensation and service‑delivery metrics. During discussion, Gard highlighted the city’s public‑safety spending — more than half of general‑fund expenditures — and pointed to technology investments such as the Axon body‑camera/reporting system, which Gard said will generate efficiencies equivalent to adding officers in available patrol time without new hires.

The ordinance numbers read into the record included the budget ratification item and the separate tax‑levy ordinance for the ad valorem taxes for tax year 2025. The meeting minutes record the votes and the roll calls accompanying those ordinances. The commission closed the item after adoption; the budget takes effect per the ordinance language and state timing requirements.

Next steps: staff will implement the phased compensation adjustments and return to the commission for any midyear budget amendments if revenues or priorities change.