Keller’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget includes money for renovations for the police department among many expenses.

Aaron Rector, director of administrative services and finance for the city, gave a rundown of the budget before Keller City Council voted to approve the budget and tax rate at its Sept. 19 meeting.

The details

Rector’s presentation included information on budget amendments for various expenses around the city, which were approved, and then he provided detailed information on the budget, which he characterized as operationally balanced. The budget and tax rate—which will have the no-new revenue rate for the sixth year in a row—goes into effect Oct. 1. Some highlights include:

• Total personnel increases in pay were kept under 4%.
• $15.5 million will be allocated for continued investment in streets and sidewalks.
• $27 million in debt is allocated for Keller Sports Park.

Main components of the $109.2 million budget feature $44.3 million in the general fund and $29.9 million for water and wastewater. The next-largest price tag for any expenditure is $7.1 million for the Keller Crime Control and Prevention District, which administers expenditures of the city’s $0.0025 sales and use tax revenue for equipment, technology, accreditation and capital for the Keller Police Department, according to the city website. The Crime Control fund has $4.5 million for police station renovations, Rector said.

“That’s a significant project in there,” Rector said.

On Keller’s Facebook page, city officials said renovation and expansion of the police station at 330 Rufe Snow Drive will include more staff parking, a new fitness facility and locker rooms, demolition and new construction within the existing building, and interior finish upgrades. The post also stated police command staff are finalizing the design and construction details to present to council for approval during its Nov. 7 meeting.

On the approved tax rate, $0.312 per $100 valuation, the average tax bill on the average home worth $440,350 is $1,374. The tax bill is the lowest since FY 2016-17, when it was $1,361.50, according to data provided. The proposed tax breaks down to $0.260403 for maintenance and operations and $0.051597 for interest and sinking.

What they’re saying

Mayor Armin Mizani praised city staff and council for the efforts they put into building the budget.

“I think, frankly, this is probably of all the budgets that I have participated in—we’ve all been part of multiple budgets—this is probably, I think, the most important budget in my opinion that’s going to, I think, really catapult our city moving for the next, honestly, five, 10, 15, 20 years,” Mizani said, adding that the city can accomplish a number of measures—like the parks and trail system, Sports Park, and Old Town Keller—while delivering “historic” tax relief and conducting improvements to infrastructure.

“I don’t think there’s a city in Texas, frankly, that is able to do what we’re doing,” he said to Rector, giving him and staff credit.

Mizani has been mayor since 2020 and served on council from 2014-2020.