top of page

Elgin’s Budget Is Your Business: Speak Up Before the Decisions Are Made

Writer: Elgin Saga
Elgin Saga
Aug 7
4 min read


By Stephanie Lippke 8/7/26 12:00pm


The City of Elgin is working on next year’s budget and property tax rate. These decisions will affect every homeowner, renter and business in Elgin.

The highest rate now being considered is $0.719777 per $100 of taxable value. Last year’s adopted rate was $0.619296. The no-new-revenue rate is $0.629128.

The higher rate has not been finally adopted. Citizens still have time to speak up.


The next budget meetings are scheduled for:

  • August 11, 2026

  • August 25, 2026

  • September 8, 2026


These meetings matter. This is where council members should ask hard questions, compare budget choices and decide which expenses are true needs.

Citizens should not wait until the final tax vote. By then, many budget decisions may already be settled.


Citizens Must Be Allowed to Speak About Agenda Items


Residents should contact the mayor and every council member before these meetings.

Ask them to clearly list the budget and tax rate on each meeting agenda. Also ask them to allow citizens to speak before or during the discussion of those items.


Texas Government Code Section 551.007 says local governments must allow members of the public to speak about an item listed on the agenda before or during the discussion of that item.


The council may set reasonable time limits, but it cannot block public criticism of the city, its policies, programs or services. This right is tied to agenda items. That is why citizens should insist that the budget, tax rate, staffing requests and major purchases are clearly listed on the agendas.


A budget workshop should not be used to discuss millions of dollars in spending while the people paying the bills are told they cannot speak.


Ask for More Than One Budget Choice


The city should not present only one budget based on the highest tax rate. Citizens should ask council members to show at least three choices:

  1. A budget using last year’s tax rate.

  2. A budget using the no-new-revenue rate.

  3. A budget using the highest proposed rate.


For each choice, the city should explain:

  • Which current services would stay the same?

  • Which expenses would be reduced?

  • Which new positions would be removed?

  • Which purchases could wait?

  • How much money would be collected?

  • How much would an average property owner pay?

  • What would happen if the city adopted a lower rate?


Citizens cannot make an informed decision when they are shown only the most expensive option.


What Questions Should Citizens Ask?


Every new employee, vehicle, program and equipment request should come with proof that it is needed.


Ask these questions:

  • What problem will this expense solve?

  • Where is the written proof of the need?

  • Is it required by law?

  • Is it needed for public safety?

  • Is this replacing an old position or adding a new one?

  • Can the city wait one year?

  • Was a less expensive choice considered?

  • Is there a staffing or workload study?

  • How much will this cost over five years?

  • Does the cost include benefits, retirement, training and equipment?

  • What happens if the council does not fund it?

  • How will the city measure whether the spending worked?


Citizens should also ask for a complete list of vacant city positions. Before adding more employees, the council should know how many approved jobs are already empty and how much money is sitting in unused salary accounts.


Ask What Changed From Last Year


Last year, ambulance service was part of the discussion about the need for a higher tax rate.


Citizens should now ask:

  • How much did the city spend on ambulance service last year?

  • Is that same expense included this year?

  • If the cost is lower or gone, how much money was removed from the budget?

  • Is last year’s tax increase now being used for different expenses?

  • How much would it cost to keep today’s services without adding new programs, positions and equipment?

  • Why is another large increase needed so soon?


Keeping police, streets, parks, the library and other basic services running is important.

But keeping current services is not the same as approving every new request.

Families are being forced to cut expenses as food, insurance, housing and utility costs rise. City government should also be willing to delay lower-priority spending.


Contact the Mayor and Council Members



Ward 1


Ward 2

Mayor Pro Tem YaLecia Love yalecia.love@elgintexas.gov


Ward 3

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tiffany St. Pierre tiffany.stpierre@elgintexas.gov


Ward 4


City Council Office512-229-3222


Email the Council Today


Subject: Allow public comment and provide lower-tax budget choices


Mayor and Council Members,


Please make sure the budget and tax rate are clearly listed on the agendas for the August 11, August 25 and September 8 budget meetings. Budget Workshops are council meetings with a quorum present. There should always be public comment for these workshops as well since it is on open and public meeting with a quorum of the council in attendance.


Please also allow citizens to speak about each budget agenda item before or during the council’s discussion, as provided by Texas Government Code Section 551.007.


Before adopting a budget or tax rate, please show the public complete budget choices using last year’s rate, the no-new-revenue rate and the highest proposed rate.


Please provide written support for every new position, vehicle, program and major purchase.


The public should also receive a clear report showing what changed from last year, including the cost of ambulance services.


I support safe streets, strong public services and responsible city employees. I also believe the city must prove that each increase is needed before asking residents to pay more.


Thank you.


Show Up and Speak Up


Send emails now. Call council members. Read the agendas. Attend the meetings. Ask to speak about the budget items before the council finishes discussing them.


Good government is not about saying yes to every request. It is also not about cutting services without a plan.


Good government means protecting essential services while making sure every public dollar is needed, supported by facts and spent wisely.



bottom of page