Completing the final steps in the budget process, Weatherford City Council approved the published tax rate of 39.2246 cents per $100 valuation and the 2026-27 fiscal year budget during its meeting Sept. 8.
The tax rate is unchanged from last year and is the sixth time in seven years the city has adopted a rate that is less than or equal to the No-New-Revenue Rate. The budget reflects a small surplus and maintains the established 120-day operating fund threshold.
Linzy Blain, Weatherford's director of Finance, spoke briefly and reiterated that because the rate was below the No-New-Revenue Rate, an election nor public hearing was required for council to adopt it. However, city staff and council wanted residents to be able to speak on the matter so they opted to post and host a public hearing which was held after her presentation.
One resident, Richard Heizer, took the moment to praise staff and council for being "fiscally responsible."
"It's important ... especially for seniors, for different people that are struggling right now and continue to struggle that you do what you can fiscally, and I think the City of Weatherford should be applauded," he said.
He then thanked council for the work they have done to "diligently" remain at the No-New-Revenue Rate.
"Hopefully, you can continue to stay at this rate," he said, ending with a quip the city could always go lower, which made those in attendance chuckle.
Immediately following, Budget Manager Ashley Esquivel gave a brief overview of the budget that was based on the rate, recapping it represents a "strategic and well-balanced" approach and spans 26 separate funds, supports 17 city departments and provides for 333 employees.
"It encompasses all municipal programs and services with the exception of our electric and water utilities," she said. "[It] positions Weatherford for continual fiscal stability."
Total expenditures citywide are projected at $120.8 million.
"Our general fund is balanced with a marginal surplus and does include the funding for the outside funding applications that was approved by council on August 25th," she said.
The general fund is the city's main operating fund and includes $61,403,364 in revenues and $61,338,428 in expenditures, leaving a small surplus of about $65,000.
Included in the expenses are several capital and ongoing projects, in addition to adding a deputy court clerk and a K-9 replacement for when Jack, the city's K-9 officer, retires in the coming year.
Council then unanimously voted to adopt the budget and, in a separate item, voted to adopt the tax rate.
Mayor Paul Paschall took a moment to thank and praise finance staff, department heads and the city manager for their efforts managing expenses and for finding a way to "lower the burden on our citizens that are dealing with these rising expenses."
One of the capital projects included in the budget is the construction of Fire Station 5, and council was asked to consider authorizing a contract not to exceed $8.28 million.
Assistant City Manager Dawn Brooks, along with representatives from Grossman Design Build, presented project details and renderings for the 12,000-square foot facility.
Included are three apparatus bays, a fully furnished living area and dedicated training center highlighted by a three-story training tower to host live-fire simulations, search-and-rescue and emergency-responses exercises.
"It's not every day a city gets to build a fire station so this is genuinely a momentous night for us in Weatherford," Brooks said.
Brooks recapped what had transpired since May 2024 to get the project to where it is today, noting staffing and equipment purchases done to alleviate the financial burdens hitting all at once.
Eric Grossman of Grossman Design Build then walked council through the project site and floor plans, showing renderings, elevations and security features of the site before Brooks noted the timeline and cost for council to consider before they voted unanimously to approve it.
The station will be located at 101 Wossum Road, off Ric Williamson Memorial Highway, on land that was secured in 2022 and should be completed by October 2027.
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