Wichita Falls City Council members got a glance at a proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year Tuesday.
Total revenues and expenditures for the coming fiscal year would be $330.3 million, almost a 24.9% increase over the present year.
Chief Financial Officer Stephen Calvert said much of that increase would be one-time expenditures for capital projects with funding coming from certificates of obligation, outside sources and community support.
The biggest capital cost would be about $40 million for the new police station at the former Kirby Middle School.
Fleet and heavy equipment and rehabilitation of the Cypress Plant are estimated to cost just under $10 million each.
The Lake Ringgold project would receive $1 million.
The budget calls for adding 20 people to the payroll, ranging from three firefighters and an assistant parks director to two positions in the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Water utility infrastructure, renovation of the artificial waterfall, expansion of the hike and bike trail and sewer, street, alley and sidewalk improvements are also on the capital spending list.
Firefighters would get a 10% pay raise through a collective bargaining agreement and police officers would get 5% raises.
Total civil service pay increases would cost the city $3.6 million.
Other city employees would receive 3.4% raises.
City residents would see a typical reduction in their base water bills of $1.04 per month but increases in garbage and stormwater charges, leaving them a total bill about 73 cents lower than this year.
The proposed budget will raise $490,338 in additional property taxes in the next fiscal year. Most of the amount will come from new property that was added to the rolls.
Mayor Tim Short said the proposed tax rate of 67.79 cents on each $100 of property value represents the lowest tax rate in 11 years.
The council will hold public hearings on the budget and tax rate on Aug. 18 and Sept. 1. The City Council will consider adopting both on Sept. 1.
(This story was updated to meet our requirements.)
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Bigger spending, lower tax rate highlight new Wichita Falls budget
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News | USA TODAY Network
