San Angelo introduces FY2026 budget, ratifies property tax revenue increase and proposes 0.7947 tax rate

At a scheduled meeting, the City Council conducted the first public hearing and introduction of the fiscal 2025–2026 operating budget and related property‑tax actions.

Finance Director Tina Dierski summarized the budget presentation. She said the proposed budget raises $5,716,170 more in total property taxes than last year (a 9.7% increase) and that $861,795 of the increase comes from new property added to the tax roll. Dierski reviewed revenue and expense composition: operating revenues are split among several funds (general fund accounting for 40% of revenue) and personnel costs make up about 40% of expenses; public safety expenditures account for approximately 59% of the general fund.

As part of the procedural package, council voted to ratify the property‑tax revenue increase reflected in the proposed budget and placed the formal adoption of the tax rate on the Sept. 2, 2025 regular meeting agenda. Separately, Dierski introduced the proposed property tax rate ordinance at 0.7947 per $100 valuation — an increase of 0.0403 — and attributed most of that change to the coliseum bond issue. Council moved and recorded individual votes; the procedural first readings and the ratification passed by recorded voice votes 7–0.

Dierski noted budgeted public‑safety items such as training, software, fire overtime and apparatus, as well as a 5% raise included for personnel. The council will consider the formal tax‑rate adoption and a record vote at the Sept. 2 meeting.