Keller City Council Adopts $111.9 Million Budget with Property Tax Rate Adjustment

The Keller City Council recently approved a $111.9 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year, effective October 1st, alongside a 2-cent increase in the property tax rate. The new rate is set at 30.0417 cents per $100 valuation, up from 28.7 cents in the previous year. This adjustment is projected to increase the annual city property tax bill for the average Keller homeowner by $7.34, bringing their total to $1,381. Mayor Ross McMullin highlighted that this marks the ninth consecutive year the city's tax rate has remained below the no-new-revenue rate.

A significant portion of the new budget, 25%, is allocated to public safety, including the largest pay adjustment in a decade for police and fire personnel, an 8% increase, and $7,500 sign-on bonuses for police officers. Council member Shannon Dubberly noted additional investments in public safety equipment and police department renovations. Residents will also face higher utility fees, with water bills increasing by an average of $6.02 monthly and a $1 drainage fee increase, partly due to a 7% rate bump from the Trinity River Authority.

The city's five-year capital improvement program outlines substantial investments, including $35 million for street projects, $17 million for water infrastructure, and $9 million for wastewater initiatives. Specific projects include the Alta Vista waterline collaboration, improvements to Elm Street in Old Town Keller, and park enhancements. For developers and property owners in Keller, these budgetary decisions mean slightly increased operational costs through taxes and utilities, balanced by planned municipal infrastructure upgrades and enhanced public services.