The Pilot Point City Council approved a tax rate of $0.604974 per $100 valuation at its Sept. 11 meeting.
The average property tax annual bill would increase by $69.97 from the previous fiscal year.
“It’s really only a 2.06% increase across all of our municipal services,” Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer Michele Sanchez said.
Following the Aug. 28 meeting, residents were allowed to voice their opinion on the budget and increased tax rates.
When it came time for public comments, some residents spoke at the podium and expressed gratitude and support.
“As far as the tax rate is concerned, I just wanted to say thank y’all very much for what y’all deliberated,” resident William Harrison said. “I know that a couple of the councilmen had strong issues with the tax rate going up the way it was. But the way Michele brought information to everyone, citizens, to y’all, to explain the tax rate, and the way it’s going to be I just wanted to thank you, Michele, for that explanation, and for y’all discussing that, trying to keep the tax rate as close as we can, from last year to this year.”
Resident Cindy Faris agreed.
“Even though people did not want it to go up, they understood why perhaps it needed to,” she said. “And I congratulate y’all for that united effort and compromise, when it’s not always what you want to do but what’s best.”
One resident submitted a form in opposition to the proposed tax rate but did not speak at the podium.
Changes to the budget were also discussed.
“There were two major objectives that this budget was able to accomplish—we were able to give cost-ofliving adjustments to all employees, and we were also able to add additional positions in building and permitting, police, fire, water and sewer departments.”
The city has several major streams of revenue: 24% was garnered through Development Services fees, 24% transfers and interest, 22% comes from property tax and 16% sales and use tax.
The total proposed revenue equates to $13,084,381.
Of the major general fund expenditures, 35% went toward fire and EMS, with another 21% going to police.
“Public safety is obviously always the No. 1 expense in any city that you go to,” Sanchez said. “You’re never going to see a city whose public safety expenses are not the highest percentage cost of their operating budget.”
The discussion concluded with the budget and the tax rate for the fiscal year 2025-26, unanimously approved by the mayor and city council.
Afterward, City Manager Britt Lusk took to the podium to discuss the Pilot Point Promise—an acronym for Professional, Respectful, Open, Mindful, Inclusive, Service-Oriented and Excellent.
“It feels like this is the perfect mission for us because we want to be able to promise that we’re going to do these things,” Lusk said. “We want to be able to promise that we are fulfilling the stuff within the pages of our master plan.”
In October, another presentation regarding the master plan/strategic plan will be discussed. Then, in November, the project will be available to the community members for updates on progress.
The plan received support from the council members.
“This is excellent, in my view, especially with the number of people input within the staff,” Mayor Chad Major said. “It’s very powerful, and I think y’all did an excellent job.”
