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Navasota staff update proposed FY 2025–26 budget; no tax rate increase proposed
Summary
City staff updated the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget during a public hearing, correcting project line items, adding a maintenance services department page, confirming two part‑time positions convert to full time, proposing a 2.5% COLA, and keeping the city tax rate unchanged at 0.5078.
City staff presented updates to the proposed FY 2025–26 budget at the Navasota City Council public hearing on Sept. 8, 2025, saying the packet will be revised to reflect corrected project amounts and missing departmental summaries.
The staff presentation said the budget book will be updated to include a new maintenance services department page and a consolidated fund summary. Staff corrected specific project figures, including $90,000 for interior repairs at the library and $150,000 for air‑conditioning replacements at the Navasota Center. The presentation also moved a $40,000 allocation for SCBA replacements into the voluntary fire donations fund (Fund 710) to improve transparency.
Matthew Julien, project manager, said the water tower project is “about 50% done” and noted street maintenance and sidewalk work are nearing completion. Staff told council that Navasota Center rental revenue was revised upward from an initial $7,000 estimate to $28,000 in the proposed budget because some amounts in the book reflected deposits rather than realized revenue.
On staffing, staff said the proposed budget does not add new full‑time positions but converts two part‑time positions to full time—a library librarian and a fire department lieutenant position created by promoting a sergeant—and restores an HR generalist position that had been funded in a prior budget but not filled. The budget includes a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment effective Oct. 1; staff also outlined a planned city‑wide salary study with potential further adjustments targeted for implementation around April 1.
Regarding benefits, staff noted the city’s retirement contribution is 5% under current practice but the plan allows contributions up to 8% (in 1% increments); staff said moving toward higher contributions is being considered to remain competitive. Staff emphasized there is no increase to the tax rate and that utility rates are held flat in the proposed budget.
The council closed the public hearing at 6:32 p.m.; staff said they will publish an updated proposed budget after incorporating the corrections and any council‑directed changes.
