BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW BUDGET, TAX RATE ON FIRST READING
The Brenham City Council voted unanimously in favor today (Thursday) on first reading of the new budget and property tax rate for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year.
proclamation recognizing the month of September as
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and supporting the
Color Brazos Valley Gold initiative. Joining the council
were representatives of Adam's Angels Ministry.
The $131,926,584 budget is up from the past year’s adopted budget of $116,262,861 and will raise more total property taxes by $381,755, or 3.23 percent, which includes $207,787 in tax revenue from new property added to the tax roll this year.
The budget accounts for a 3 percent step increase for full-time public safety positions and a 2.5 percent step increase for full-time general government positions. Additionally, it calls for the renovation of Brenham Fire Department Station No. 1 and the purchase of a new ladder truck. Other key initiatives figured in are expansion of the water plant, the addition of a groundwater well, a new elevated storage tank, upgrading water and street infrastructure, completing the first phase of the Brenham Family Park, and engineering for utility relocation related to TxDOT’s cloverleaf project.
The tax rate of $0.4750 per $100 valuation is higher than the previous tax rate of $0.4676 and the total no-new-revenue rate of $0.4669, but below the voter-approval rate of $0.5108.
Chief Financial Officer Julie Flagg noted that the city is adopting the no-new-revenue maintenance and operations (M&O) rate of $0.3330, which is up from the past year’s M&O allocation of $0.3256, and keeping the interest and sinking (I&S) portion of the rate the same at $0.1420. With the new rate, the tax on the average homestead is expected to go up $25.08, or 1.87 percent.
(courtesy City of Brenham)
The second reading to adopt the budget and levy the tax rate will take place at the council’s next regular meeting on September 17th.
Also at today’s meeting, the council:
- Awarded a request for proposals to Dudley Construction for a basketball court cover at Henderson Park. The project is slated to cost $539,000, but the city received a donation in March from the Gen 4 Family Fund to cover all costs associated with the project.
- Approved a digital marketing agreement with Madden Media for the new fiscal year’s digital marketing and programming for the Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization in the amount of $100,460.
- Approved an agreement with AJR Media Group related to advertising for Visit Brenham in the new fiscal year for $53,056.
- Agreed to renew a vocational work contract between the city and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on behalf of the Brenham State Supported Living Center for document shredding at Brenham City Hall and litter management services at city parks. The term of the agreement is for 48 months, until August 31, 2030.
- Recognized the Brenham Police Department for its work during the investigation into a fatal shooting on August 16th and the apprehension of a suspect three days later.
- Held executive session discussion regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation and duties of a new city manager.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.
