Fulshear voters will have an additional proposition on May 2 ballots in addition to all City Council seats that are up for election following redistricting.
What residents need to know
Fulshear voters will determine whether to increase the city’s general fund sales tax from 1% to 1.25% while reducing the city’s Economic Development Corp. A-Board sales tax from 0.5% to 0.25% during a May 2 special election.
The proposition comes after a police pay subcommittee determined Fulshear’s wages were around the 55th percentile in pay compared to surrounding departments.
What it means
If approved, the reallocated sales tax would be available for any “lawful municipal purpose,” including police services, economic development or other City Council priorities, per the city’s website.
However, officials specified this would be moving money to a different source and would not increase the 2% sales tax rate.
What residents need to know
- General fund: the city’s primary operating fund, which funds general government services such as public safety, street maintenance and administrative activities
- EDC-A: funds industrial development projects such as business infrastructure and manufacturing as well as research and development
- EDC-B: can fund all projects eligible for EDC-A, as well as parks, museums, sports facilities and affordable housing
Why it matters
If approved, the change will take effect in fiscal year 2026-27, which begins in October.
The subcommittee recommended a three-year plan to adjust police pay annually, including officers reaching the:
- 55th percentile in FY 2026-27
- 65th percentile in FY 2027-28
- 75th percentile in FY 2028-29
The funding could help the city keep up with agencies, including the Houston Police Department and Harris County, which both approved increases to law enforcement pay last year, Community Impact reported.
“We can’t do it all in one step, that’s a huge undertaking, but what we can do is we can take incremental progress in order to get there and show a path of how we’re going to get there,” council member Jason Knape previously said.
Looking ahead
Early voting will run from April 20-28, with election day May 2, according to the Texas Secretary of State's website.
