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City manager presents $30.7 million proposed budget, proposes tax rate at voter‑approval level
Summary
City Manager Cliff Blackwell presented Glenn Heights' proposed 2025–26 budget with $30.7 million in revenue, a proposed tax rate matching the voter‑approval rate (56.28¢ per $100) and an estimated $362,000 general‑fund surplus; councilmembers pressed staff on water/sewer drivers, personnel requests and capital supplementals.
City Manager Cliff Blackwell opened the budget workshop by describing the process as an "interactive discussion" and urged councilmembers to send staff feedback before the public hearings. He presented an operating revenue total of about $30,700,000 and operating expenditures near $30,400,000 for the 2025–26 fiscal year, with capital outlays around $9,000,000 offset by approximately $3.7 million in inflows.
Blackwell said staff balanced the budget to show a modest surplus and emphasized transparency and statutory disclosure obligations. "This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year's budget by $357,487 or 3.48%," he told the council, citing the calculation required for the House Bill 3195 statement. He proposed a tax rate that matches the voter‑approval rate at 56.28¢ per $100 of assessed value while explaining components that separate maintenance & operations from the debt portion.
Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about sales‑tax forecasts and how to communicate rate changes to residents who receive two county bills. Blackwell said staff will produce simple graphics and outreach material. He asked councilmembers to submit requests and direction by the next Tuesday so staff can meet agenda deadlines ahead of two scheduled public hearings and first reading on September 2 and second reading and adoption on September 9.
