Lake Dallas City Council Regular Called Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Lake Dallas City Council held a regular called meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget, a property tax rate ordinance, and a resolution ratifying the tax increase, all by a 3-2 vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:18 PM.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes from the August 13, 2026, meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public appeared for the Citizen Agenda and Public Comment portion of the meeting.

Mayor and Councilmember Announcements

• Councilmembers discussed the potential creation of a Parks and Recreation board and holding a workshop with residents affected by the Atmos reconstruction funds.
• A request was made for a workshop to discuss zoning regulations and processes with city staff.
• The Mayor reported attending the TML Legislative Policy Summit as a delegate, where public safety and infrastructure were discussed.
• Upcoming community events were announced, including the Friends of the Lake Dallas Library Book and Bake Sale (Sept 17-19), a Morning of Prayer and Support for First Responders (Sept 23), and a community bike rally.

City Manager's Report

• The City Manager reported that the agreement for the $2.9 million Atmos reconstruction funds is being finalized and will be presented on September 24. Roads will be reconstructed to their original width; no expansion is planned.
• The City Manager confirmed that city drainage funds could be combined with the Atmos project to replace culverts while roads are under construction.
• Hunley West road construction began on the south side on September 10 and remains on schedule. LCRA is developing its GIS mapping system to help identify water and sewer line issues.
• Finance Director Sarah Cochrane was publicly thanked for her extensive work preparing the budget.

Discussion Items

• Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget & Tax Rate: Finance Director Sarah Cochrane presented the finalized budget. The proposed tax rate of $0.621953 per $100 assessed valuation represents an 11.12% increase over the current rate of $0.559711. According to the Taxpayer Impact Statement, this results in a $132.51 increase in the property tax bill for the median-value homestead property (taxable value of $306,127) compared to the current fiscal year.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance Adopting FY 2026-2027 Budget: Passed 3-2 (Ayes: Councilmembers Evans, Fitzpatrick, War; Nays: Councilmembers Barbara, Lou Elling). The budget is effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
• Ordinance Levying Ad Valorem Tax Rate: Passed 3-2. The rate was set at $0.621953 per $100 assessed valuation for the 2026 tax year.
• Resolution Ratifying Property Tax Increase: Passed 3-2. This resolution ratified the property tax increase reflected in the FY 2026-2027 budget, as required by Local Government Code 102.007(c).