Pflugerville budget workshop projects higher than normal sales tax revenues

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Pflugerville's proposed fiscal year 2021-22 budget contains $277 million in expenditures, not $316 million. The inaccuracy was the result of separate documents—one on the city's agenda packet and the other, which was updated and presented at the workshop—reflecting different expenditure totals.

Pflugerville officials considered a proposed budget of $277 million in expenditures during a July 13 workshop.

More than one half of that total will go toward water, wastewater and utility capital expenses, with the remainder going into the city’s general fund, debt service and capital programs.

Early numbers within the proposed budget project revenue increases of $1.3 million in property taxes, $1.9 million in sales tax and $1.8 million through franchise fees, recreational income and indirect costs related to water and waste water.

Pflugerville City Council will hold a budget public hearing and propose its tax rate on Aug. 10. Officials have scheduled a tax rate public hearing and adoption of the fiscal year 2021-22 budget on Aug. 24.

Discussion during the budget workshop centered on a number of topics, with concentration on city staff salary taking an early focus.

Of note, figures from the city state sales tax revenues this year are projected at $17.9 million—a 30% increase over last year.

That jump represents an anomaly compared with fiscal years 2016 through 2020, which showed a growth rate of about 12% year to year, according to city staff.

Because tax figures at this time are preliminary, city staff said projected revenues will not be included until sometime after July 26, when the tax assessor provides final tax rate calculations.

City staff also said the proposed FY22 budget meets or exceeds the City Charter's criteria of a balanced budget and a minimum 25% fund balance.