Buckeye council adopts $765.44 million FY2027 budget and approves 2% property tax levy increase

The Buckeye City Council on June 2 voted unanimously to adopt a $765,436,200 final budget for fiscal year 2027 and approved a Truth in Taxation increase that allows the city to raise the primary property tax levy by 2% plus new construction.

Keith Fallsstrom, Buckeye’s chief financial officer, told the council that the statutory 2% levy increase equals $357,396 and — combined with growth from new construction — would set the maximum primary levy at $18,208,644 for FY2027. Fallsstrom said the primary tax rate would be about $1.5568 per $100 of assessed value; under that rate, a property with a $100,000 assessed value would pay roughly $155.68 in primary property taxes. He noted the combined primary and secondary levies amount to about $2.25 per $100 of assessed value.

Fallsstrom outlined several changes between the tentative and final budgets: moving passport processing from the clerk’s office to finance (including associated staffing and costs), removing Harker Heights debt service from general contingency so staff can pay it without returning to council, increasing a higher-education feasibility study contract from $75,000 to $100,000, and increasing airport development lead-generation services from $50,000 to $65,000. Fallsstrom said those adjustments reduce contingency but that more than $3 million would remain in contingency for allocation during the fiscal year.

Council opened and closed the Truth in Taxation public hearing with no public speakers and approved the levy in a roll-call vote; Councilmembers Yonker, Berry, Haggardstad, Beard, Huestis and Mayor Orsborn voted in favor, with Vice Mayor Goodman absent.

After convening a special council meeting as required by state statute, council approved Resolution 53-26, the final FY2027 budget, by unanimous vote. The council also adopted Resolution 28-26 to set the final budget for street light improvement districts (SLIDs) for FY2027.

The council did not amend the budget on the dais; staff will proceed with implementing the approved spending and the council expects to adopt the formal property tax levy at a subsequent meeting consistent with state-required notice and levy-adoption procedures.

Actions at a glance: 5A — Truth in Taxation approval (roll-call recorded: Yonker, Berry, Haggardstad, Beard, Huestis, Mayor Orsborn — yes; Vice Mayor Goodman absent). 6B — Resolution 53-26 final budget adopted ($765,436,200) — unanimous. 6C — Resolution 28-26 SLID budgets adopted — unanimous.

The council adjourned with no additional business; staff said the formal property tax levy adoption would follow required statutory steps.