Bellaire council sets Aug. 3 public hearing on proposed 2026–27 budget

The chair opened a special session of the Bellaire City Council at 6:00 p.m. July 13 and introduced an ordinance calling a public hearing on the city’s proposed budget for Aug. 3, 2026, at 6 p.m. The proposed fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. "We will have our public hearing on 08/03/2026 at 6PM," the chair said, and directed that required legal notices be published.

A council member raised concern that public notices sometimes create the impression a budget is final even when the hearing is a first review. "People are gonna come confused regardless of what we say," the council member said, urging clearer wording so residents understand the hearing presents a preliminary proposal and that the council may still revise the plan. A staff member responded that the city must comply with legal notice requirements and that the paper needs time to publish; "We're required to have a 15 day notice," the staff member said, and suggested the council could add a sentence noting upcoming workshops.

After the motion to approve the ordinance was made by a council member and seconded by the mayor pro tem, the chair called for a vote by show of hands. The ordinance passed unanimously. The chair confirmed the hearing will be held in Council Chambers, and noted that one or more workshops will be scheduled before the Aug. 3 hearing to allow council review preceding the public meeting.

The special session adjourned at about 6:05 p.m. The public hearing on the proposed FY2026–27 budget is scheduled for Aug. 3, 2026, at 6 p.m.; the council indicated it will consider whether notice language should be clarified in future years to reduce public confusion about the status of budget proposals.