Brownwood residents will face a higher city property-tax rate and a broad set of updated utility and service fees after the City Council approved the measures during its Tuesday morning meeting.
On second and third readings, the council adopted a 2026-27 fiscal-year tax rate of $0.71750 per $100 valuation. The rate is 1.7% higher than the current fiscal-year rate and exceeds the $0.67707 No-New-Revenue tax rate by 5.97%. The city said the approved rate will increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll by 7.13%.
Water, sanitation and landfill changes
The council also gave final approval to a Utility Rate Ordinance covering water, sewer, sanitation and landfill services. The changes include higher water and sewer tap fees, a separate sanitation rate schedule for customers outside the city limits and an increase in the excessive brush or debris pickup fee from $58.44 to $100.
For landfill customers outside the city limits, the tonnage rate will increase from $52 to $54. The ordinance also corrects cubic-yard rates used when scales are unavailable after the city determined the current schedule overcharges a customer.
A $500-per-vehicle annual Early Access Gate Pass will allow landfill access starting at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday. Other changes include a fuel surcharge, a new $10 fee for white goods requiring Freon recovery, and revised roll-off dumpster and truck pickup fees. Those charges include a $195 haul fee and separate tonnage rates of $44 inside the city limits and $54 outside the city limits.
The approved schedule removes the fee for computer-monitor and television recycling, adds over-containment charges of $30 for each truck, trailer or container and $75 for each large-capacity transporter, and provides a 15% gate-rate reduction for compost-eligible material. The deposit to establish utility service for a three-quarter-inch meter will rise from $150 to $160.
Facility, permit and airport fees
A separate Miscellaneous Fee Ordinance restructures food-establishment permit fees, simplifies Fire Marshal inspection fees and updates rental fees for several city park pavilions.
Family Aquatic Center rentals will increase from $300 to $400 for the first two hours and from $150 to $200 for each additional hour. The changes also add a fee for audiovisual packages at the Brownwood Event Center Complex and make minimal increases to airport hangar rental and other airport fees.
The council approved a $2.446 million 2026-27 budget for the Brownwood Municipal Development District. It also declared a fire truck, five-inch supply hose and miscellaneous computer equipment surplus, authorizing city staff to sell, scrap or donate the items.
Other council actions
Council members authorized the city manager to sign an interlocal cooperation contract with the Texas Department of Public Safety for electronic conviction reporting, required by Dec. 31. They also approved an agreement with Justice Benefits, Inc. to continue preparing and filing Medicaid Administrative Claiming funding requests for the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department.
Lisa Dick was reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the Center for Life Resources through Aug. 31, 2028.
The council accepted a $3,000 donation from Heart of Texas Crime Stoppers for National Night Out activities scheduled for Oct. 6. The donation was presented by Donna Wilhelm.