Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Finance director outlines FY2027 timeline, small staff raise and proposed fee changes
Summary
Finance Director Jay Patel told the Farmers Branch City Council the city is finalizing FY2027 revenue projections pending certified property values, proposes a 1% merit pay increase for most staff, and will bring fee changes — renaming the trash fee and raising the card convenience fee from 2.5% to 3.5% — to council in August.
Jay Patel, the city’s finance director, told the City of Farmers Branch Council on July 21 that staff is entering the final phases of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process and awaits certified property values from the appraisal district to finalize property-tax revenue projections.
“Once we receive those, we’ll be able to finalize the property tax revenue portion for the upcoming year, as well as begin those tax-rate discussions,” Patel said. He told council staff intends to submit a proposed budget book by the charter deadline of July 31.
Patel outlined several priorities the finance team expects to carry forward: a 1% merit-based increase for eligible city staff (excluding some directors and deputies), a naming change of the current solid‑waste/trash charge to a “landfill closure fee,” and a convenience fee increase on card payments from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent. He said the convenience fee would be applied uniformly to all card users through utility billing operations.
Council members asked practical questions about outreach and how the card fee would affect customers who pay by autopay. Councilman Reid noted that some residents on autopay had not previously been charged and asked whether they would now see the fee. Patel confirmed they would: “We’ll be fulfilling the intent of council by uniformly applying these charges to anyone using this convenience tool through our utility billing operations.”
Councilman Neal asked staff to broaden budget communications language from “keep the same tax rate” to “keep or cut the tax rate.” Neal also pressed staff on payment options and due-date timing so residents could avoid convenience fees; Patel said the city will emphasize alternatives such as ACH/bank draft, in-person payments and a parking-lot kiosk and that due-date timing is roughly two weeks from bill receipt.
Councilwoman Villafranca pressed for more detail on employee benefits, saying she wanted options that protect staff care without unduly increasing costs. Patel said staff will continue internal reviews and return with comparative information. On the proposed water-rate increase discussed in the packet, Patel warned that delaying a planned rate adjustment would push out needed capital improvements to the water system.
Patel said staff plans a communications campaign — including budget 101 videos, social media, lobby displays and a printed trifold — to explain the budget and invite resident participation at a town hall scheduled as part of the FY27 process. The council did not take formal action; staff will return with the proposed budget and any ordinance language on fee changes in August and continue tax-rate discussions in August and September.
