What’s happening
The budget was discussed at the city’s July 23 City Council meeting, with significant revenues and expenditures highlighted.
In terms of impacts for residents, the property tax in West Lake Hills is down slightly from last year, at $0.17783 compared to last year’s $0.1786.
Sales tax is expected to remain the same in the upcoming fiscal year, according to city documents.
The details
In total, city revenues for West Lake Hills are estimated at $9.8 million for FY 2025-26, and city expenses are listed at $9.5 million, giving the city a budget surplus of $390,322.
By department, the West Lake Hills Police Department has the highest expenditures listed at $3.3 million, $2.8 million of which is requested for payroll. Other expenses include contract services like dispatch and city attorney fees, which, when combined, total $311,009.
The department with the second-largest budget, administration, requested $982,000 of its $1.4 million expense budget for payroll, with other expenses including contract services, which total $357,210 and cover items like tax collection and staff training.
In terms of budgeting for payroll, salary increases for the West Lake Hills Police Department were recently approved by City Council at a June 11 meeting.
Chief of Police Scott Gerdes said at the July 23 meeting that following those salary increases, the department is now fully staffed.
Continued budget discussions and approval of the proposed ad valorem tax rate will take place at the city’s Aug. 13 meeting, City Administrator Trey Fletcher said.
