Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council presses staff on delayed audits, tax‑rate calendar as budget season begins
Summary
City staff and consultants told the council that certified property values should arrive by month‑end and recommended starting budget workshops early; consultants warned the state’s no‑new‑revenue rules and overdue audits complicate tax‑rate choices.
City consultants and staff briefed the council on the fiscal timeline for the 2026–27 budget and urged early budget workshops. Mary Hernandez, working with Ernest Garza’s firm, said insurance recoveries will offset some recent fire‑related expenses but that certain line items (liability insurance, IT and postage) have been higher than projected.
Council members expressed concern that the city’s audited financial statements are several years behind, which can affect eligibility for some grant programs and constrain tax‑rate decisions. Legal/finance advisors explained the state’s no‑new‑revenue mechanism under recent state guidance: if audits are not current, the city risks being limited to the prior year’s revenue base. Staff said certified values should arrive by the end of the month and recommended multiple budget workshops in July and August so council can act before statutory tax‑rate deadlines in September and the October 1 notices to taxpayers.
