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Residents and business owners are encouraged to attend the 2025-2026 Budget Town Hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Branch Connection Active Adult Center, 14055 Dennis Lane.
According to the proposed budget, the City of Farmers Branch budget will increase by 5.05% from last year’s budget to $169,968,734. The proposed property tax rate used for this budget preparation remains the same as last year’s budget at $.5435.
Farmers Branch City Council members and city staff will be available to answer questions about the proposed budget at the town hall.
“City Administration attempts to conservatively estimate revenue and expenditure projections to assure a reasonable and sustainable fiscal plan," City Manager Ben Williamson wrote on Page 23 of the City Manager’s Budget Message. "Given the uncertainty of the economy, the proposed budget takes a cautious approach to the future."
The budget reflects $314,452 in additional property tax revenue that will be raised from new property added to the tax roll in this fiscal year, according to the budget message.
“This budget reflects an increase in General Fund revenues of approximately $3,647,800 when compared to the previous year’s adopted budget and is primarily due to increased sales tax, landfill revenue and court revenue," Williamson wrote. "Property tax and sales tax revenue represent 75.00% of total General Fund Revenues, reflective of a strong tax base."
According to the certified property values that the Dallas Central Appraisal District provided to the city, taxable property values within the city are approximately $10.13 billion — a 2.05% increase in value over last year, with new construction valued at approximately $52.8 million, while the commercial tax base provides 72.6% of taxable value.
“While sales tax revenue growth remained strong through this fiscal year, this budget anticipates the leveling off of revenue in anticipation of an economic downturn and a slowdown in consumer spending,” Williamson wrote.
The budget includes the city council’s priorities of public safety, economic development and neighborhoods, infrastructure, city positions and compensation.
According to the Aug. 12 budget review presentation to the Farmers Branch City Council, this includes $1.58 million for streetlights, traffic signals, school beacons, lane striping and a traffic assessment.
The budget also sets aside $450,000 for economic development and neighborhoods and $12.05 million for aging infrastructure, fleet replacement, blockchain and artificial integration and an assessment of city facilities. The budget also includes five new positions for the Farmers Branch Police Department and employee raises of 3%.
The council also has discussed, and will finalize, proposed fee increases for community services, the fire department and public works services.
