During Tuesday morning’s special called meeting, the Brownwood City Council unanimously approved on second and third/final reading the 2026-27 fiscal year budget of $49,269,731 – an increase of 3.12% from the current fiscal year.

Additional information regarding the budget can be found HERE 

Also Tuesday, Council approved on first reading the 2026-27 tax rate of .7175 cents per $100 valuation, a 1.7% increase over the current fiscal year. The matter will come before Council again for second and third/final reading, likely at the next meeting on Sept. 8.

Council also approved on first reading – to be brought back before the Council for second and third/final reading likely at the Sept. 8 meeting – ordinances setting charges, fees, rates, and deposits for customers on the Brownwood water, sewer and sanitation system, as well as charges for fees, rentals, licenses, and permits for the City of Brownwood for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Recommended updates to the Utility Rate ordinance include:

• Increase in water and sewer tap fees to more adequately cover cost incurred
• Addition of a separate rate schedule for outside city limit sanitation customers
• Excessive brush or debris pick up fee increase from $58.44 to $100
• Landfill tonnage rate increase from $52 to $54 for outside city limit customers
• Correction of cubic yard rates used when the scales are unavailable. The current fee schedule results in a customer being overcharged.
• Introduction of an Early Access Gate Pass for the Landfill, fee of $500 per vehicle per year, allowing access beginning at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday.
• Addition of a fuel surcharge
• New fee of $10 assessed for white goods requiring Freon recovery
• Restructure of fees for Roll-off Dumpster or Truck pickup including a haul charge of $195 and separating tonnage charge based on resident location. (Inside city limit $44 and Outside city limit $54)
• Removal of fee for computer monitors and TV recycling
• Addition of an over containment fee for customers who exceed the capacity limit of their truck, trailer or container. ($30 for each truck/trailer, $75 for each large-capacity transporter)
• Any compost eligible material will receive a 15% reduction in gate rate
• Increase in the deposit amount required to establish a utility service account. ¾ in meter deposit would go from $150 to $160 (last increase in 2024, average monthly bill is now $105-$120)

Recommended updates to the Miscellaneous Fee ordinance include:

• Restructure of permit fees for Food establishments
• Simplified fee schedule for Fire Marshal inspections
• Updated fee schedule for various pavilions in city parks
• Increase in fees for rental of the Family Aquatic Center, including an increase from $300 to $400 for the first two hours, and an increase from $150 to $200 for each additional hour
• Addition of fee for AV packages at the Brownwood Event Center Complex
• Minimal increases in hangar rental and other fees at the airport