The Bandera City Council adopted the city’s budget and tax rate for the 2025 fiscal year during its Aug. 19 meeting, though no residents spoke during public hearings on either issue.
Ordinance 455 will levy a property tax of $0.569939 per $100 valuation, consisting of a $0.110258 debt rate and a $0.459681 maintenance and operations rate.
Resolution 2025-029 ratified the increase.
Mayor Denise Griffin also read aloud Ordinance 454, adopting the city budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and running through Sept. 30, 2026.
The budget is expected to raise $150,387.12 more in property tax revenue than last year — a 20.36% increase.
Utility rates were raised 5% across the board. Councilmembers also voted unanimously to remove the $2 up-mark on utility bills and approved a resolution for the Bandera Investment Policy.
Councilmember Debbie Breen suggested tabling the utility rate increase until council could take a closer look, but Councilmember Brett Hicks noted that per the city attorney, the council could pass the motion and amend it later. The motion passed unanimously.
Bandera local and council candidate Tammy Morrow questioned Republic Services’ utility fees.
“I know we went up 5%, but it seems they are inflated 30%,” Morrow said. “I know some of that is administrative, but 30%?” “Part of that increase is our new contract we have with them,” Griffin said.
“According to their contract, the fee schedules stay the same at 5% increments,” Morrow said. “We are charging 34.55 for the 26-gallon.”
City Treasurer Allyson Wright responded that she did not have the contract in front of her but said the rates were not part of the contract.
A question raised at the previous meeting by Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Patricia Moore about the possibility of smaller totes to reduce costs was also answered.
Wright said she spoke with the city’s Republic Services representative, Terry Gawlik, and confirmed that while smaller toters exist, the cost would remain the same because the company uses the same truck, driver and route.
Council also voted to upzone George Tinsley’s property at 152124 and 152125, lots 54 and 5, from P3 to P4, making it mixed use for both residential and commercial. Bandera Economic Development Corp. Vice President Laura Devenport said the city has a shortage of mixed-use properties, which could bring in additional sales tax revenue.
The BEDC budget approval was delayed because the EDC was not yet ready to present its proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget. Councilmember Breen also announced her resignation as EDC treasurer. Wright said she is working with Breen to manage the budget until a replacement is appointed.
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