Council direction on the proposed budget of $99,997,327 and proposal to maintain the current property tax rate of $0.4433 per $100 valuation were approved by council at the Aug. 7 budget workshop. Council members and city staff convened in the morning Aug. 7 and worked until late in the afternoon to discuss the fiscal outlook for each city department.
The budget also includes a proposed 4.9% rate increase for water and sewer utility charges.
Not included in the budget proposal are costs tied to the pending annexation of Castle Hills. City staff said the budget can be amended by the proposed November annexation date to reflect the changes the annexation would include. Pending final approval of the budget, property tax rate and utility rate, City Council will hold two public hearings regarding annexation in early November before the official vote scheduled for Nov. 15.
The integration of Castle Hills would add nearly $14 million to the overall budget.
City Manager Donna Barron said an official decision on annexation is crucial as time is running short to begin incorporating Lewisville’s city departments and staff with those of Castle Hills.
“There is lots of work to do,” Barron said during the Aug. 7 workshop. “We don’t want to annex and have people [in Castle Hills] expecting city services, and we can’t do it.”
City officials estimate 30 new staff positions will need to be filled if annexation is approved.
To review the fiscal year 2021-22 proposed budget, click here.
