Temple outlines FY2027 budget with $337M in all-funds spending; tax rate unchanged

City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 annual budget and its context inside a six-year business plan, with an overall proposed all-funds budget of about $337 million and no recommended change to the property-tax rate (69.99 cents). The presentation outlined staffing additions, capital projects, and recommended rate adjustments for utilities.

Ms. Myers told the council the budget supports five strategic focus areas and recommends additional positions across general services, fleet, engineering and public safety. In police the proposal recommends three additional patrol officers (noting that shift scheduling means adding one staffed position per shift), and in fire the budget recommends staffing for a squad assigned initially to Station 4 plus six positions to cover shifts and three minimum-coverage firefighters to maintain a 3-to-1 coverage ratio. The city also recommended a battalion chief for professional standards and two additional water operators and a hydrant-inspection crew.

On capital spending, Ms. Myers said the current capital improvement program shown in quarterly reports is just under $580 million and proposed $75.5 million in additional capital projects for FY2027: roughly 52% of that for utilities, 28% for public safety, 12% for facilities and 8% for equipment. The Salmons Community Center rebuild is included in the CIP, with $9 million noted and a separate grant application discussed later in the meeting.

Staff proposed a multi-year water and wastewater rate plan that would amount to about a 5% total increase combined (slightly higher on wastewater, slightly lower on water). Solid-waste customers would see a recommended $2-per-month increase. Ms. Myers emphasized the budget is built on estimates while the certified tax roll is pending; the city will update numbers after the certified roll is received.

During the public hearing on the budget, residents raised concerns about rising city debt (one commenter cited roughly $354.7 million outstanding), the transparency of publicly available documents, and whether staffing additions produce full-time head-count increases. Several speakers asked for more accessible detail and time to review the materials; one speaker requested tabling the formal vote until December.

The hearing closed with staff noting a schedule for tax-rate readings and the adoption timeline: proposed tax-rate ceiling on Aug. 6, first reading Aug. 20, and second/final reading and adoption Aug. 27.