The breakdown
The budget will have nearly $30 million in the general fund, a 5% increase from the FY 2024-25 budget’s general fund. Public safety departments such as police and fire received the most from the general fund, with a combined 45% for the two departments.
Nearly $84 million is also budgeted for the city’s capital improvement plan, which City Manager Sharon Citino said is a huge jump in project funding that comes from the amount of grants and state support for numerous city projects, as well as transfer funds from general or enterprise funds, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
For example, Citino said $54 million of the funding comes from the state of Texas to support the city’s Cypress Ditch Improvements Project. The project will work on improving the ditch, which is primarily used for the city’s storm drainage systems, to help against future flooding.
Other infrastructure projects in the capital improvement funds include:
- $7.2 million: remodel of the city’s public works building
- $2.7 million: installation of the Bellaire lift station
- $600,000: Evergreen Park improvements
- $228,000: Parks Master Plan
Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beaman said the budget will include a proposed property tax rate and voter-approval tax rate of $0.4174 per $100 of valuation, a 3.67% decrease from the current tax rate of $0.4333. Because the proposed tax rate isn’t greater than the voter-approval tax rate, the city is not required to hold an election to seek voter approval, Beaman said.
A public hearing and adoption of the tax rate is scheduled for Oct. 6, according to the agenda item.
