By Edmond Ortiz
Officials in Balcones Heights, Fair Oaks Ranch, Grey Forest and Helotes are sticking with the basics in their newly passed Fiscal Year 2026 city budgets, which took effect on Oct. 1.
Helotes
City Council voted on Sept. 25 to adopt an $11 million general fund budget, which will support the replacement of police and fire equipment, information technology system upgrades, repairs at the City Hall complex, and a cost-of-living adjustment for city employees.
Projecting $11.2 million in general fund revenue, local officials are dropping the property tax rate from 31 cents per $100 valuation to 30.9 cents. Even with the property tax cut, city leaders project an increase in property values and sales tax revenue.
Balcones Heights
City Council on Sept. 22 approved a balanced $5.70 million budget that includes the addition of three new police department positions and one administrative position.
However, the city is removing three fire department positions, one police lieutenant positions, and three other administrative spots. Altogether, the removal of these positions will save the city more than $825,700, according to local officials.
The city is projecting increases in general fund revenue, sales tax income, and property tax collections in Fiscal Year 2026. The city is keeping its property tax rate at 60.4 cents per $100 valuation.
While local leaders are cutting $526,000 in personnel costs overall, 79% or $3 million of general fund expenditures are designated for public safety. The city is also raising its contingency fund by $25,000 to $200,000.
Additionally, Balcones Heights’ new budget contains $873,000 for road improvements on Hillcrest Drive and Crestview Drive, and $20,000 for fire station renovations.
Grey Forest
City Council on Aug. 19 voted to pass a $1.29 million total budget, higher than the $1.26 million budget that local leaders adopted for FY 2025.
Grey Forest officials project collecting $1.39 million in total revenue in FY 2026, an increase over $1.37 million in the last fiscal year.
The town is decreasing its property tax rate from 7.59 cents per $100 valuation to 7.30 cents. Even so, local officials project an increase of nearly $3,900 more in property tax revenue over last year.
Fair Oaks Ranch
City Council voted on Sept. 18 to approve a balanced $13.3 million general fund budget, which supports upgrades to Fire Station No. 3, drainage improvements along Rolling Acres Trail, development of a city facilities plan, water infrastructure projects, among other initiatives.
The city is keeping the same property tax rate of 28.5 cents per $100 valuation.
