Richardson holds public hearing on proposed FY27 tax rate, staff outlines $432M budget

Richardson City staff presented the proposed FY27 tax rate and budget during a public hearing, outlining revenue sources and how the city plans to allocate funds in the coming year. City staff said the maximum tax rate on the table is 0.54218 per $100 valuation and that the adopted operating budget would total about $432,000,000.

Mr. Magner, the staff presenter, said property-tax revenue remains the primary driver of the general fund and walked council through revenue trends and planned expenditures, from public safety investments to infrastructure pay‑as‑you‑go projects. "A typical taxpayer will see about a $70 increase in city property taxes," Magner said, and staff estimated combined increases to the typical household (city property tax, water, sewer, drainage and solid‑waste changes) would amount to roughly $230 year‑over‑year.

Magner highlighted budget priorities: personnel services (the single largest budget line at about 68 percent of general‑fund spending), public safety expansions (including funding for two drones to support a real‑time crime center and new firefighter apprentices), and a multi‑year living‑wage and benefits strategy. He also described proposed adjustments to the city’s core health plan, including premium changes and steps to encourage migration to an HMO option.

During the hearing, resident Kathleen Bourne said she is on a fixed income and asked council to consider the effect of rising valuations on homeowners. "When I first retired I was having to save about $600 a month just to pay my property tax," Bourne said, urging sensitivity to the burden on older residents.

The council closed the public hearing after receiving the presentations and public comments; no final adoption occurred at this meeting. Next steps announced by staff include a follow-up public hearing on the drainage fee and scheduled votes to adopt the budget and the property‑tax rate in subsequent meetings.