Georgetown Invites Public Feedback on Proposed FY 2026 Budget & Tax Rate

The following press release by the City of Georgetown.

The City of Georgetown is asking the public to share comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Members of the public can attend any of the public hearings during the budget adoption process or leave comments through an askGTX service request until Sept. 5. Public comments and feedback will be provided to City Council for its Aug. 26 and Sept. 9 meetings. The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and first reading of both the tax rate and the budget at its Aug. 26 meeting and the second reading, and final adoption will be at the council’s Sept. 9 meeting.

The City of Georgetown budget affects every resident in the city. How the City allocates taxpayer dollars and monthly costs as utility customers determines the level of service customers get in return for City functions, such as providing electricity, drinking water, resources to respond to emergencies, well-maintained streets, a world-class library, accessible trails, and more.

“This budget is a direct reflection of the priorities we’ve heard from our residents and Council—focused on safety, reliability, and financial stewardship. As our community continues to grow, we’re committed to engaging with our residents and making smart, transparent decisions that keep Georgetown a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” City Manager David Morgan said.

The proposed budget totals $1.3 billion and lowers the City’s property tax rate to 35.3 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed rate is below the voter-approval rate set by the state, which says cities can only increase 3.5 percent on the operations and maintenance portion of the tax rate.

The City’s rate is among the lowest of all cities in the Austin area with a population greater than 20,000. Although the rate is decreasing to 35.3 cents per $100 of valuation, the average property tax bill is expected to increase by $14/year.

Following rate studies, Georgetown residents and utility customers can expect the following proposed rate increases:

Water/wastewater rates: 9 percent water and 12 percent wastewater rate increase for all customer types, or a total monthly increase of about $13.40 for a residential customer using 10,000 gallons per month.
Electric rates: 2 percent increase, or $2.40 a month for residential customers and $2.80 a month for small commercial customers.
Solid waste rates: 4.5 percent, or $1 a month, increase for residential customers and a 9.5 percent, or $3.65 a month, increase for commercial.

“This budget reflects our continued commitment to delivering reliable services, investing in critical infrastructure, and most importantly, enhancing public safety for our growing community,” Morgan said. “We’ve crafted a fiscally responsible plan that keeps our tax rate among the lowest in the region, even while expanding resources to meet the needs of a vibrant and dynamic Georgetown.”

City staff used the council’s 2025 goals to develop a preliminary version of next year’s budget, which the council discussed during a July 8 workshop. Staff used the council direction from the workshop to develop the proposed budget presented Tuesday. The City’s fiscal year spans Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.

Major themes of the proposed budget include maintaining reliable service delivery, public safety resource investment, and strategic infrastructure investment while maintaining strong fiscal stewardship. Some factors affecting the budget include marginal growth in sales and property taxes, commitment to infrastructure expansion, and maintaining service levels with a growing community.

More information about the annual budget process, details and documents about the proposed FY 2026 budget, and instructions for sharing your feedback are available on our website.