Victoria council adopts preliminary 2026 levy and general fund budget

Victoria’s City Council adopted preliminary resolutions Monday to set a maximum property tax levy for 2026 and to adopt a preliminary general fund budget, city finance staff said.

Trisha Pollock, assistant city manager and finance director, told the council the draft general fund includes $7.46 million in operating expenditures and $1.67 million in transfers to capital. Maintaining at least a 30% unassigned fund balance will require a projected $193,000 increase to fund balance, Pollock said.

Pollock said the preliminary levy amount for collection in 2026 is $9,879,558, which staff characterized as a 9.96% increase in the city’s maximum levy compared with 2025. Staff projected the median home value at $583,100 and estimated the tax on that median‑value home would be about $1,776 annually — roughly $87 higher than in 2025.

Council Member Evansky moved approval of the levy amount; a second was given and the motion carried without recorded opposition. The council then voted to adopt the preliminary 2026 general fund budget.

The finance presentation also outlined revenue and expenditure breakdowns: roughly $7.65 million in taxes and franchise fees, about $1.66 million from licenses, permits and charges for services, and expenditure categories including general government ($3.15M) and public safety ($2.27M). Pollock said long‑range projections anticipate continued population and household growth and an expected 2026 year‑end population near 13,240.

The council’s actions are preliminary steps required before final levy certification and final budget adoption; staff noted additional budget and levy hearings and legal deadlines that will guide next steps.