Shavano Park City Council’s passage of a fiscal year 2022-23 budget is marked by pay raises for city employees and a $0.01 property tax hike to support the voter-approved $10 million bond issue.

Council unanimously voted Sept. 19 to approve the $6.21 million general fund budget that was to take effect starting Oct. 1. The new daily operational budget is higher than the $5.82 million budget amended for FY 2021-22.

The new budget includes a nearly $13,000 increase in spending on the fire department and more than $150,000 in increased expenses for the police department.

According to City Manager Bill Hill, highlights in Shavano Park’s new budget include cost-of-living increases of 4%-7% for city staff, replacement of two water pumps and restructuring of the assistant to the city manager job to assistant city manager.

Shavano Park is also raising its total property tax rate to $0.297 from $0.287 to begin implementation of road improvement projects that will be supported by the bond package that voters passed in May 2022.

Citing higher appraisals, city officials project that they will receive $4.05 million in property tax revenue compared with $3.82 million in FY 2021-22.

Council members praised city staff for their handling of city fiscal affairs.

“Seems we’ve done a great job over the years, not just with this budget,” Council Member Konrad Kuykendall said.