Weatherford council proposes no-new-revenue tax rate as public hearing opens on FY 2025 budget

The Weatherford City Council opened a public hearing on the proposed FY 2025 budget and moved to propose a property tax rate of 39.842¢ per $100 of taxable value, the city’s no-new-revenue rate. Don Brooks, the city chief financial officer, told the council the budget shows $53,500,000 in expenditures, a projected $13,000 surplus and a projected fund balance of $30,400,000.

Brooks highlighted key priorities in the proposed budget, including a police reorganization that adds a lieutenant rank and another K‑9, three new firefighters to help establish a double company at Fire Station 1, park and library renovations, and animal-shelter improvements. He also noted the city budgeted $3,000,000 for street repairs and set aside $2,500,000 for capital projects and $680,000 for vehicle and equipment replacements. "The budget has been properly filed with the city secretary," Brooks said in opening the hearing, and he confirmed statutory notice and public availability for the document.

During the public hearing, resident Richard Heiser urged council to maintain the no-new-revenue rate, saying the label can be misleading but noting Weatherford’s growth and tax-base additions. Councilman Matt Tiscus moved to propose the 39.842¢ rate, Mayor Pro Tem Wilder seconded the motion, and the council voted to publish the proposed rate and schedule the required adoption hearing on September 10. The council’s vote to propose the tax rate will be included in the public notice with each councilmember's vote recorded for the September 10 adoption hearing.