Government
BY KAROLINE PFEIL
Lake Travis, Westlake cities pass FY 2025-26 budgets, tax rates With budget season coming to a close, here are a few highlights from Bee Cave, Lakeway, Rolling- wood and West Lake Hills’ recently adopted fiscal year 2025-26 budgets. Bee Cave Tax impact Bee Cave Lakeway Rollingwood West Lake Hills Fiscal year 2024-25 2025-26 2024-25 2025-26 2024-25 2025-26 2024-25 2025-26
The city voted to maintain its $0.02 property tax rate this year, a decision it has made for the past 20 budget cycles. The budget projects just under $13.8 million in revenue with $11.4 million in operating expenses, leaving the city with a budget surplus of about $2.4 million. The average Bee Cave homeowner will pay about $154 in city property taxes this year, up from $148 the previous year. The city expects to spend $1.22 million on Planning and Development this year, compared to $941,651 last year, to ensure adequate capacity for project review, engineering work and inspections. The city also increased its planned spending on police slightly, from $3.67 million to $3.73 million, to purchase new radios and safety gear. Lakeway The tax rate in Lakeway was passed with a 6-1 vote on Sept. 22, setting a rate of $0.16964. This marks a 6.2% increase from the previous year’s rate. For an average taxable homestead value of $845,98, annual tax bills are estimated to be $1,435, representing a $114 increase compared to the previous year. The largest revenue collection for Lakeway is expected to be ad valorem taxes—a total of $9.7 million. The police department received $7.9 million of
Average taxable homestead value Tax rate (per $100 valuation)
$743,897 $769,846 $826,808 $845,983 $2.2M $2.42M $2.02M $2.17M
$0.02
$0.02 $0.1598 $0.16964 $0.2058 $0.202039 $0.1786 $0.176783
Estimated annual tax bill
$148.78 $153.97 $1,321.24 $1,435.13 $4,537.35 $5,014.22 $3,601.62 $3,828.72
SOURCES: CITY OF BEE CAVE, CITY OF LAKEWAY, CITY OF ROLLINGWOOD, CITY OF WEST LAKE HILLS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Police spending increased by 30.8% due to items including new video cameras and microphones, computers and new vehicles. West Lake Hills The tax rate in West Lake Hills was adopted on Sept. 16 at a rate of $0.176783—a 1.02% decrease from last year’s rate of $0.1786. The total amount of city taxes paid for an average taxable residence of $2.17 million will be around $3,828, an increase of about $227 from the previous year due to rising home values. The approved budget shows revenues at $10.12 million, with expenditures totaling $10.1 million, leaving a budget surplus of $16,393. Revenue from taxes makes up 78% of the city’s revenue, and interest and miscellaneous revenue total 9% of revenues. Police spending makes up 39% of expenditures this year, compared to 45% last year.
city expenditures, and parks received $2.3 million. Based on expected expenses and revenues, the city anticipates a budget surplus of $8,048. Additional requests included in the budget are a city IT assistant for $53,006 and a police depart- ment pay scale increase, which costs $54,283. Rollingwood The city adopted the voter-approval tax rate of $0.202039, which is a 1.8% decrease from last year’s rate of $0.2058. The average taxable home value in Rollingwood is $2.42 million, meaning the average annual city tax on a home will be $5,014, an increase of $477 from the previous year due to rising home values. The budget will raise $103,453 more in property tax revenue than last year’s budget—a 5.48% increase. The general fund is expected to have a projected shortfall of $450,123.
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LAKE TRAVIS - WESTLAKE EDITION
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