Cedar Park proposes $215.6M FY2027 budget, recommends 0.377930¢ tax rate; average homeowner to pay $49 more

Erica Solis, Cedar Park's director of finance, presented the first reading and public hearing on the fiscal‑year 2027 budget and tax rate, saying, "The proposed fiscal year 2027 citywide budget is $215,600,000." The presentation laid out the citywide total, the $84.9 million general fund, a $48.2 million utility fund and $82.5 million in restricted or special revenue funds, and explained key drivers including elevated inflation and energy price shocks.

Solis explained how state and local valuation changes raised the no‑new‑revenue base and the voter‑approval threshold, describing the calculation that produced a proposed total tax rate of 0.377930¢ per $100 of taxable value. She said the average taxable value decline and the proposed rate combine to raise the average annual city levy on the typical home by $49 (about $4.08 per month), a 2.5% increase over 2026. "This illustrates the different taxing jurisdictions reflected on a resident's property tax bill," Solis told the council and public.

Council members and residents focused on whether the council should set the voter‑approval maximum or present a budget at the no‑new‑revenue rate. Solis noted the city foregoes about $2.5 million in ad valorem revenue from optional local exemptions and that a $133 million assessed‑valuation loss tied to House Bill 9 reduced the city's taxable base. The council closed the hearing and scheduled a second public hearing and final consideration at the regular meeting one week later.