City of Temple Adopts Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
    City of Temple Adopts Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
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    City of Temple Adopts Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

    FY 2026 Budget goes into effect October 1, 2025

    TEMPLE, TX (August 29, 2025) - The Temple City Council has officially adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, a $329.9 million financial plan designed to responsibly manage growth and strengthen essential city services. 
    The budget includes a property tax rate of $0.6999 per $100 of valuation, which will generate about $11.7 million more in property tax revenue than last year, including $3.5 million from new construction and development. While this represents a notable increase, city leaders emphasize the additional revenue is necessary to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community and to avoid higher costs in the future.
    For residents, this means: 
    • Stronger public safety – Continued investment in training, equipment, and technology that helps police officers and firefighters respond quickly and keep neighborhoods safe. 
    • Parks and recreation improvements – Upgrades to playgrounds, trails, athletic fields, and green spaces so families have safe, modern, and accessible places to gather and play. 
    • Secured water resources – Long-term planning and agreements to guarantee reliable water for homes, businesses, and schools, protecting against shortages as Temple grows. 
    • Infrastructure that keeps up with growth – Better streets, sidewalks, and traffic signal management to serve new neighborhoods while maintaining the reliability of existing systems. 
    These investments ensure that everyday services, like safe streets, clean water, and welcoming parks, remain strong while Temple prepares for the future. 

    “We understand that any increase in taxes is a concern for residents, and we do not take this decision lightly. Temple is one of the fastest-growing cities in the region, and this budget ensures we can keep pace with that growth while preserving the quality of life our community expects. By making these investments now, we are protecting our residents from even greater costs down the road.”

    Temple Mayor Tim Davis

    Several factors contributed to the property tax rate increase as Temple continues to experience rapid population and economic growth, which drives higher demand for public safety, parks, infrastructure, and water resources. At the same time, the city has seen a 25–30% annual increase in its veteran population. While the growth of veterans enriches the community, the state-mandated disabled veteran property tax exemption has resulted in the city losing over $4.2 million in property tax revenue, and the state does not fully reimburse municipalities for this lost revenue.
    Together, rising demand from population growth, service level expectations, and unfunded exemptions, necessitated a tax rate increase to ensure the city can maintain and expand services without jeopardizing future financial stability. 

    “The FY 2026 Budget is an investment in both today and tomorrow. It allows us to continue providing dependable services while also preparing for the demands of growth. Every dollar is being directed toward projects and services that improve safety, expand opportunities, and support a thriving community for our residents.”

    Temple City Manager Brynn Myers

    The adopted budget ensures that new revenue is directed to the priorities that matter most to residents, keeping neighborhoods safe, maintaining beautiful and accessible parks, securing a reliable water supply, improving roads and pavement, and supporting future economic growth. By investing in these areas, the City of Temple is not only meeting the needs of today but also laying the foundation for a strong, vibrant community for years to come. 
    Residents can estimate their annual City taxes with this formula: 
    Property tax amount = (0.6999) x (taxable value of your property) / 100.
    They can also visit bell.countytaxrates.com/tax, where information regarding property taxes, which also include county, school district, and other jurisdictions, can be accessed. 
    The FY 2026 Budget goes into effect October 1, 2025.
    2025 Notice of Tax Rates