Aledo city budget and property tax rate: FY 2027 adoption, the certified roll and mid-year finances

Council adopts the FY 2027 budget and a $0.352415 tax rate, a 0.77% increase, after hearings at which no one spoke

No one came forward at the public hearings on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, opened and closed at 6:05 p.m., or the proposed FY 2027 tax rate for tax year 2026, opened and closed at 6:17 p.m.

After City Manager Candice Edmondson's overview, the council approved Ordinance No. 2026-O-21 adopting the FY 2027 budget on a unanimous roll call vote. It then approved Ordinance No. 2026-O-22 setting the FY 2027 tax rate on a unanimous roll call vote, on a motion by Poston, seconded by Allen, that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a rate of $0.352415, which is effectively a 0.77% increase in the tax rate. Because the adopted budget generates more property tax revenue than the previous year, Local Government Code Section 102.007(c) requires a separate vote to ratify the increase, which the council took unanimously.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Aug. 20, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Aug. 20, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council adopts the 2026 certified tax roll, proposes a $0.352415 rate, and tables the Friends of the Library agreement

The council unanimously adopted the 2026 certified tax roll for Fiscal Year 2027. City Manager Candice Edmondson said the city's certified total taxable value is $1,057,685,374, including $41,014,945 in new improvements, with no taxable value under protest or otherwise uncertified and no frozen tax-ceiling accounts on the city's roll. The roll includes the Tax Increment Financing zone, whose incremental value is $69,846,799.

The Parker County Appraisal District certified the city's 2026 appraisal roll on July 22, 2026. Staff recommended a proposed tax rate of $0.352415 per $100 of assessed value, calculated under Chapter 26 of the Texas Property Tax Code, as sufficient to fund the proposed FY 2027 budget, and the council voted unanimously to set that proposed rate and schedule the public hearing for Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at 6 p.m. Edmondson presented the proposed FY 2027 budget; no action was taken.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Aug. 6, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Aug. 6, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council seeks $2 million for Lasater Addition water mains, rezones the Aledo mobile home park under the new MH district, and orders a water and wastewater master plan update

City Manager Candice Edmondson presented third-quarter financial and investment reports through June 30, 2026, reporting bank deposits 194.091% collateralized and general fund revenues, including sales and mixed beverage tax collections, exceeding the benchmark for this point in the year. The council met in executive session from 7:13 to 8:27 p.m. on the Dean Ranch development, Aledo and Fort Worth v. Willow Park, downtown development, 2 Dean Drive and the Bailey Ranch development, took no action, and adjourned at 8:27 p.m.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, July 16, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, July 16, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Mid-year review: a $1.6 million general fund surplus, impact fees at 193% of budget, and $24.7 million in cash and investments

The Aledo City Council held a budget work session May 28, 2026, in the City Hall Training Room at 200 Old Annetta Road, with Mayor Shane Davis and Councilmembers Ben Clark, Todd Covington, Matthew Poston, Melanie Allen and Summer Jones present. No one came forward during citizen appearances.

City Manager Candice Edmondson reported the general fund in a strong position at mid-year, with revenues at approximately 85% of budget and expenditures tracking at 50%, for a current surplus of approximately $1.6 million. Sales tax collections for both the general fund and the AEDC are ahead of projections, and property tax revenue has already exceeded the annual budget at the halfway point. In the water and wastewater fund, revenues exceeded expenditures by approximately $979,000 at mid-year and impact fee revenue reached approximately 193% of budget, while several wastewater operating accounts are tracking above budget because of operational and infrastructure needs. The debt service fund has revenues ahead of budget and sufficient resources for all scheduled obligations, and the economic development fund's sales tax revenue is at approximately 65% of budget with expenditures well below budget.

The second-quarter investment report put total cash and investments at approximately $24.7 million as of March 31, 2026, with nearly $200,000 in interest earned during the quarter, most reserves in highly liquid and secure vehicles, and bank deposits significantly over-collateralized. Erick Macha of Hilltop Securities presented an analysis of the city's financial profile and debt service, including current debt and maturity dates.

The council discussed the FY 2027 budget, covering the budget timeline, revenue forecast, council priorities, operations and maintenance, capital projects and the TIRZ fund, and took no action. After an executive session from 7:35 to 9:08 p.m. on the Dean Ranch development, downtown development and a city manager staffing study, the council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to hire a director of development services. The meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, May 28, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, May 28, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council adopts parkland, dark-sky lighting and tree ordinances and orders the May 2 election

The council approved Resolution No. 2026-R-05 ordering the May 2, 2026, election and a joint election agreement and contract for election services with Parker County, and approved an amendment to the Freese and Nichols professional services agreement for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project. City Manager Candice Edmondson presented the first-quarter financial and investment reports for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Feb. 5, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Feb. 5, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council adopts five development-code amendments, calls a special election for Place 4, and votes 3-2 to appraise the old library

Susan LaFollett of Vail & Park presented the city's Fiscal Year 2024-2025 audit, which the council accepted unanimously. The council then voted 3-2 to authorize the city manager to hire a real estate broker and obtain an independent appraisal for the former Aledo Public Library property at 201 FM 1187, after discussion of the building's potential future use and its value. Ford, Jones and Davis voted yes; Clark and Covington voted no. The library study that was tabled in December came back with corrections and was accepted on a unanimous vote with Covington abstaining.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Jan. 15, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Jan. 15, 2026 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal

Council approves the Parkside plat on FM 5, sends the library study back for corrections, and starts the comprehensive plan

The library feasibility study did not get accepted. On Sept. 18, 2025, the council had approved a proposal for ZakTax to model the total cost of ownership of a public library inside Aledo City Hall, including a pro forma financial model and revenue potential. Robert Hanna of ZakTax presented the study. Covington raised concerns about the data, calculations and grammar in the report and asked that it go back for corrections; Ford and Jones said the minor corrections did not change its overall significance. The council voted unanimously on Covington's motion to table the report until corrections are made, with the corrections defined as grammar and calculations, revenue information, the non-resident visitor number, and confirming the council had the correct version.

The council also adopted Resolution No. 2025-R-49, a policy for conservation credits for water and wastewater impact fees, and approved a personnel policy change that removes Veterans Day as an official city holiday and replaces it with New Year's Eve, because most staff work the city's Veterans Day ceremony. On the consent agenda it approved the Nov. 20 minutes, Resolution No. 2025-R-46 disposing of surplus office furniture, a request for proposals and contract for janitorial services, and Resolution No. 2025-R-47 authorizing the purchase of two trucks for Building Services and Code Enforcement.

Sources: City of Aledo: approved minutes, Dec. 18, 2025 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo: agenda, Dec. 18, 2025 (CivicClerk); City of Aledo meetings portal