Weatherford council holds FY26 budget hearing, proposes no-new-revenue tax rate and signals $500,000 HOT support for Chamber project

Weatherford city staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget during a public hearing on Aug. 26, telling the council the general fund is balanced at about $55.8 million in revenues against $55.7 million in expenditures and that reserve levels will remain above 120 days.

"Our reserve level will remain more than 120 days of operational funding," Assistant City Manager Ashley Asquivel said during the presentation, noting the budget was developed using the no-new-revenue tax rate and includes spending priorities such as transportation projects, the addition of Fire Station 5, park renovations and a sustained $3 million commitment for street repairs.

The council voted to propose a property tax rate of 39.2246¢ per $100 of taxable value, the no-new-revenue rate used to build the budget. "I make a motion to propose a tax rate of 39.2246¢ per 100 evaluation for the fiscal year 2026 budget," Council Member Heidi Wilder moved before the council approved the proposal; the truth-in-taxation process requires a separate public hearing and a final adoption vote, both scheduled for Sept. 9.

Public comment during the budget hearing flagged several items for additional public detail. "I would love for the public to have some idea of what is being planned," Lynn Baber told the council, asking about a regional sports complex listed in the budget as "in progress," the planned sale of the old police station and references to $30 million in continuing-obligation bonds.

Council members asked staff to provide historical context and longer-term projections. One council member asked staff to revisit the compensation-absences reserve worksheet and to review whether existing bond and debt-service assumptions are adequate as the city grows.

Council also discussed funding requests from outside agencies paid from the general fund and hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) dollars. Staff listed nonprofit requests from organizations including Casa Hope, the Chamber of Commerce, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Parker County, Doss Heritage, Freedom House, Manus Storehouse and the Parker County Committee on Aging. While no formal appropriation occurred at the Aug. 26 meeting, council members signaled support for contributing $500,000 from restricted HOT funds toward the Chamber’s building project and asked staff to prepare budget language for formal consideration at the Sept. 9 meeting.

Next steps: the council will hold required public hearings on the proposed tax rate and adopt (or revise) the FY26 budget on Sept. 9.