Highland Village City Council held a public hearing Tuesday and approved its first reading of the fiscal year 2018-19 budget.

The budget includes a proposal for a two-stage tax rate decrease with the first stage implemented with the FY 2018-19 budget and the second stage targeted for 2021 with consideration of existing economic conditions.

The proposed decrease would lower the tax rate from $0.56802 to $0.56302 per $100 valuation.

The budget includes two new positions: the addition of a school resource officer in the police department and an applicator technician in the parks and recreation department.

A master plan for Copperas Branch and the eastern quadrant of Highland Village over to Doubletree Ranch Park is also included in the proposed budget in order to gather input and determine the best use and development of the area.

The proposed utility fund budget for FY 2018-19 would maintain the current rate structure for water and sewer services. The utility rate and structure change implemented last year is working as designed with enough funds in reserve to pay for repairs to three wells that have failed this year, according to city staff.

The budget is expected to be approved at the next council meeting this month.