The city of Burnet is preparing to approve its budget and tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year, marking an increase to overall funding that will help kickstart several larger upcoming projects.

The community will have the opportunity to discuss the budget during a public hearing at the upcoming Aug. 25 Burnet City Council meeting, and discuss the tax rate during the Sept. 8 meeting. While the meetings are not yet scheduled on the city’s calendar, they are typically held at 5 p.m at Burnet City Hall, 301 E. Jackson Street.

The budget and tax rate will be up for adoption during the Sept. 8 meeting.

The city’s proposed 2026-27 budget, is to be partially funded by levies made with a proposed tax rate of $0.6131 per $100 property valuation. 

Some included expenditures from the proposed budget compared to last year’s budget are:

• $17.32 million from the General Fund ($16.44 million in 2025-26)
• $11.2 million from the Electric Fund ($11.16 million in 2025-26)
• $5.55 million from the Water and Wastewater Fund ($5.37 million in 2025-26)
• $3.16 million from the Golf Fund ($3.13 million in 2025-26)
• $332,000 from the Airport Fund ($328,000 in 2025-26)
• $985,000 from the Debt Services Fund ($990,000 in 2025-26)
• $1.08 million from the Interest and Sinking Fund ($1.08 million in 2025-26)

The proposed tax rate of $0.6131 is the same as this year’s rate.

• 2025-26 Fiscal Year tax rate- $0.6131 per $100 property valuation
• 2026-27 Fiscal Year proposed tax rate- $0.6131 per $100 property valuation

City Manager David Vaughn discussed the proposed budget during a council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, highlighting some of the city’s upcoming projects that the proposed budget would help fund, including a pedestrian walking bridge, a new concession stand at Galloway-Hammond Park, and multiple land acquisitions at Delaware Springs.

Vaughn added that the city’s budgeting process has been a unique challenge this year, with numerous flood recovery projects still well underway.

Despite the recovery and handful of new capital projects on the horizon, Vaughn said that the city was in a good position financially heading into next year.

“By the time everything works itself out, we’re going to be sitting in really good shape,” he said. “We’ve put 20 years of work into being able to handle what we’ve got right now, and I’m very very proud of that work and what the council has done to set up our reserves to be able to build (a budget) like this.”

For a detailed breakdown of the current proposed budget, view pages 114-180 of the Aug. 11 city council meeting packet here.

Previous reporting on upcoming Burnet capital projects to be funded by the budget

• “Burnet to approve purchase of two properties, expand downtown parking,” Feb. 11, 2026
• “Burnet buys more acreage for golf course preservation,” March 3, 2026
• “Burnet sweetens deal for HTeaO storefront at old Burger King site,” March 17, 2026
• “BRIEF: Burnet’s saga of revitalization through council priorities,” March 20, 2026
• “Burnet eyes disaster mitigation upgrades,” May 26, 2026
• “Burnet funds new water tank for Eagles Nest,” May 28, 2026
• “Burnet pedestrian bridge moving forward, design firm selected,” June 10, 2026
• “ROAD TO RECOVERY: Burnet flood buyouts near,” June 17, 2026
• “Burnet seeks federal grant for Valley Street Well rehabilitation,” July 2, 2026
• “Burnet hotel nearing completion,” July 15, 2026
• “New manager takes Burnet airport under their wing,” July 20, 2026
• “Burnet eyes funding for concessions hub at Galloway-Hammond Park,” Aug. 4, 2026
• “Burnet upping electric grid resilience,” Aug. 6, 2026

caden@thepicayune.com