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Votes at a glance: Weslaco approves FY2026 budget and tax rate, extends moratorium, and signs off on plats, contracts and closeouts
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting the commission adopted the FY2026 budget, set the tax rate at 0.6867 per $100 valuation, extended the housing moratorium 120 days, approved an event‑center conditional use permit, awarded a $56,830 sewer relocation contract and approved multiple plats and project closeouts. Most motions passed unanimously; one payment (item K) was taken to closed session for legal review and returned for action.
The Weslaco City Commission recorded the following formal actions and outcomes at its Sept. 16 regular meeting (motions passed unless noted):
- Ordinance 2025‑19: Adopt FY2026 budget (final reading). Action: Approved by roll call on final reading. (Motion recorded and roll call conducted.)
- Ordinance 2025‑23: Adopt ad valorem tax rate at 0.6867 per $100 valuation (maintenance & operations and debt service components voted separately); the rate is unchanged from last year but state law requires notice to read as a tax increase because the city will collect more revenue due to greater valuations. Action: Adopted by roll call.
- Item E: Conditional Use Permit for an event center at 310 West IH 2 (Lot 2400 West Expressway 83 Subdivision). Action: Approved; staff reported P&Z recommended approval and no property‑owner objections were filed. The commission took additional action on Item E after closed session legal advice.
- Item F: Approve extension of the temporary moratorium on duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and multifamily development for 120 days (through 01/06/2026). Action: Approved. Staff noted exemptions and administrative waiver/appeal procedures.
- Item I (RFP 20205): Award sewer‑line relocation at Mayor Pablo Pena Park to OMT Utilities LLC for $56,830 as lowest responsive bidder. Action: Approved; commission included direction that change orders are not permitted unless the commission changes the scope.
- Item J: Change Order No. 2 (Collector Hill Detention Pond) decreased contract from $2,905,849.05 to $2,883,639.05; Action: Approved.
- Item K: Pay application No. 14 and final payment to Reiner Construction (Clacker Hill Regional Detention Facility) — staff requested legal review; item was taken to closed session and returned with instructions to authorize assistant city managers to review concerns and close out once issues are addressed. Action: Approved after closed session.
- Items G & H: Final plats (Vaquero West Acosta Subdivision and Barbie Commercial tract) and related permits were approved and staff indicated a permit could be issued as soon as approvals were processed.
- Items L–Q: Appointments, change orders (police department), final payments and administrative items including the EDC budget and holiday schedule were approved as presented.
Most votes were recorded as 'Aye' during roll call or passed by voice vote; where legal advice was necessary (Item K and subsequent Item E follow‑up), the commission recessed to executive session and then took action consistent with counsel’s advice.
Details: Several motions included clarifications from staff — for example, staff said the moratorium contributed to a higher ranking on a state grant application, which positively affected grant eligibility. The commission asked staff to provide bilingual social media and permit literature regarding new sign penalties under House Bill 3611.
What this means: The commission advanced its capital and administrative agenda for FY2026 by adopting the budget and tax rate and by approving multiple capital and permitting actions; the moratorium extension and pursuit of state wastewater grants were highlighted as near‑term priorities for staff.
