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August 20, 2025
Bandera City Council members set public hearing for proposed budget, tax rate
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
As they prepare the city’s budget for the next fiscal year, Bandera City Council members approved a proposed tax rate of $.569939 per $100 valuation.
The city’s current tax rate is $.47 per $100 valuation, however the increase is somewhat offset by the taxable value, which will decrease from $168,112,124 to $155,945,816. At a 97 percent collection rate, the total increase in revenue will be $98,669.
Council members also approved a proposed increase for residential water and sewer rates, at five percent across the board, which drew criticism from city resident Rilla Stephens.
“I’ve just about had enough. You’ve got to think about what you’re doing on behalf of the city. You’re not taking care of us,” Stephens said. “Try living on social security and taking care of a vehicle, house and insurance. Try it when you’re in your 80s. You’re not thinking or caring about the citizens.”
Public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Council is expected to vote on and adopt the proposed budget and proposed tax rate during the regular meeting to follow, which begins at 6 p.m. A draft of the proposed budget is available at https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/banderatx-meet-8401f6cbaad543869a8a83476b0067ff/ITEM-Attachment-001-7fc1b49ca40846beaf08cbecd4b85310.pdf
In other business, council discussed dropping one of the Dallas Street water wells by 75 to 100 feet. The well, drilled in 2018, is currently set at 520 feet. The $20,000 expense is already budgeted.
Council discussed eliminating the $2 additional fee implemented in residents’ utility bills. The fee, intended to subsidize road work, accrues about $20,000 per year.
“I think we need to do away with the $2 bill,” Council Member Brett Hicks said, adding it would never amount to enough to make significant repairs. “It seems we have a fund that will never be meaningful.”
Council also considered ending animal shelter services in the city. Without an interlocal agreement between the city and county, the county would be required to respond to animal calls, the city said.
The city’s current tax rate is $.47 per $100 valuation, however the increase is somewhat offset by the taxable value, which will decrease from $168,112,124 to $155,945,816. At a 97 percent collection rate, the total increase in revenue will be $98,669.
Council members also approved a proposed increase for residential water and sewer rates, at five percent across the board, which drew criticism from city resident Rilla Stephens.
“I’ve just about had enough. You’ve got to think about what you’re doing on behalf of the city. You’re not taking care of us,” Stephens said. “Try living on social security and taking care of a vehicle, house and insurance. Try it when you’re in your 80s. You’re not thinking or caring about the citizens.”
Public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Council is expected to vote on and adopt the proposed budget and proposed tax rate during the regular meeting to follow, which begins at 6 p.m. A draft of the proposed budget is available at https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/banderatx-meet-8401f6cbaad543869a8a83476b0067ff/ITEM-Attachment-001-7fc1b49ca40846beaf08cbecd4b85310.pdf
In other business, council discussed dropping one of the Dallas Street water wells by 75 to 100 feet. The well, drilled in 2018, is currently set at 520 feet. The $20,000 expense is already budgeted.
Council discussed eliminating the $2 additional fee implemented in residents’ utility bills. The fee, intended to subsidize road work, accrues about $20,000 per year.
“I think we need to do away with the $2 bill,” Council Member Brett Hicks said, adding it would never amount to enough to make significant repairs. “It seems we have a fund that will never be meaningful.”
Council also considered ending animal shelter services in the city. Without an interlocal agreement between the city and county, the county would be required to respond to animal calls, the city said.