[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587756,"mediaKeyId","5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7","parentId",5551726,"title","Bedford proposes FY2025–26 budget that would raise tax rate to fund employee COLA, public-safety step increases","audioSeconds",4508,"startMs",1232000,"endMs",5740000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7&start=1232&end=5740","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587756/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/Bedford-proposes-FY202526-budget-that-would-raise-tax-rate-to-fund-employee-COLA-public-safety-step-increases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587756-68d91fe9dd6496251f14fa67a47d09bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770420028&Signature=SSjknLr69tR-7QzAKYL8JUnxIohXygDzG9c2cBMeyR7tnpI2uZhg83tgSGZJgS5J9-ByzRi63e1hL9SaMPtAjhYbMbJnfFWymXvd4UWfdpvSLXAwqelsqXFWO8uLxDtwbuH-leAHCZV-hD5SQ-hxigiv4PfFc9qz~s~xdV8FNIZemqaS4FdyI5N2Br6DJH9nVj5DYTt~6mZX66UkEk6j5QyzmTEfyz8jGLvmwRB-DXzkT1Z7chGLqtDwSst0RfKGihp4odUoNWL21A-rIebCcIXcQ2pCTNMTURq9gTyeNO5grIwMMBEnrA94RqvY4KUOYzuxOdlUD4-ctfgWMZ8uXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bedford","date","2025-08-07T00:00:00Z","article","Bedford Assistant City Manager Karen Riggs on Aug. 7 presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget that would raise the city’s property tax rate to the voter‑approval level to help pay for employee compensation adjustments and public‑safety step plan changes.

Riggs told the council the proposal includes a 3% across‑the‑board pay increase for employees and a 30% non‑retroactive cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) in the Texas Municipal Retirement System that would take effect Jan. 1, 2026. “We did a 3% for all employees,” Riggs said; she added the TMRS item is “30% non retroactive TMRS COLA, which means that it goes into effect 01/01/2026.”

Why it matters: the council was shown that moving to the voter‑approval tax rate — a roughly three‑cent increase described in the presentation — would generate about $1.3 million across the property‑tax funds and roughly $1.2 million for the general fund. Riggs said the TMRS COLA would add roughly $400,000 to the general fund on an ongoing basis. Council members and staff repeatedly emphasized the budget choices are intended to preserve service levels while addressing recruitment and retention.

Key details and context

- Taxes and revenue: The staff presentation explained the “no‑new‑revenue” rate would simply collect the same total property tax revenue as the prior year, while the voter‑approval rate (the higher option presented to council) would allow the additional revenue the administration is recommending. Riggs said Bedford’s taxable value growth this year was modest — about 0.6% — and the budget team used conservative sales‑tax projections (2% for the rest of the year and 2% for FY2026) because sales tax receipts have flattened.

- Compensation and public safety: The budget proposal prioritizes employee compensation. In addition to the 3% general COLA, public‑safety step plans for police and fire would be adjusted to improve market competitiveness. Riggs said police recruits were proposed to be separated into their own recruit step and police officer steps compressed incrementally; fire step counts would be reduced from seven toward a lower number over time. Staff identified roughly $1.35 million of the proposed ongoing increases as directed to employee compensation and benefits overall.

- TMRS COLA: Staff described the TMRS change as non‑retroactive (no back pay) and ongoing. Riggs said the retroactive option was previously unaffordable because of compounding liability going back to the system’s 2009 implementation; the budgeted non‑retroactive 30% option has a smaller, ongoing fiscal impact.

- Cost pressures and tradeoffs: Riggs noted health‑insurance and workers' compensation costs have trended up, and the city bid health coverage and switched carriers last year to moderate increases. She said the administration recommended sharing some insurance increases with employees for the first time in seven years while protecting retention. Staff also described a multi‑year view in which reappraisals and new construction will create periodic swings in taxable value and tax‑rate calculations.

- Fund management and budget balancing: Finance staff said the general fund budget is tight but near balanced after accounting for about $828,000 in one‑time expenditures; the administration proposed using existing fund balance for limited one‑time items while protecting the city’s 20% reserve policy for ongoing operations.

- Supplementals and targeted additions: The proposed budget includes a small number of targeted new or one‑time items, such as a new neighborhood services officer for code enforcement and property maintenance, funding for managed IT security monitoring, and several one‑time public‑safety and parks purchases. Riggs said the neighborhood services officer is intended to reduce inspection turnaround times and help with multifamily and rental inspections.

Nut graf: Bedford’s proposed FY2026 budget asks the council to accept a modest tax‑rate increase to fund pay‑related investments — primarily public‑safety step adjustments and a citywide COLA plus a 30% non‑retroactive TMRS adjustment — while keeping one‑time spending limited and preserving the city’s reserve policy.

What’s next: Council and staff set a schedule to accept the certified roll and hold public hearings; staff said a public hearing and adoption of the budget and tax rate are planned for Sept. 9.

Ending: Councilmembers asked for follow‑up materials on several topics, including a detailed breakdown of the general‑fund revenue impact and options for implementing TMRS or debt financing in future years if interest rates change. Staff said they will return with the certified property roll and formal tax‑rate ordinance at the next public hearing sequence.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bedford - City Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Assistant City Manager Karen Riggs presented the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget at a council work session Aug. 7, saying the package relies on moving to the voter‑approval tax rate to fund employee pay increases and public‑safety step adjustments.","taxTitle","Bedford, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",50915,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587746,"Bedford 4B fund proposal includes Gregory addition, sidewalk survey, public‑art projects and rotating sculpture plans",352,4561000,4913000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7&start=4561&end=4913","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7/thumbnail_4561000.jpg","/articles/6587746/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/Bedford-4B-fund-proposal-includes-Gregory-addition-sidewalk-survey-publicart-projects-and-rotating-sculpture-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587746-dd3bbed78157cd5cb876f11f1afb9012/orig.mp4?Expires=1770420028&Signature=N~e~Qv161cC0mhO2lGBAS-7S0w5xhQ6PjQdf6bOt7Hc0t1YoptXyKoZxZuxc5B~C~SP862~ybVO9WqAUUo7hx4knakj9aaJR-q76Bct7lJwM2hj0ifp3Z81P1ExxNBh0lKmUGuMjyYGyAvEJkIM0WAB3ZJ9-aVSQIaQeU2fBlKd3DE0GIJ9XuwpNUDuGsQFTA3YWw8~uU1mq-dWXpY~~byFZ8KN~WYMtbRRK98VGCcBYQnWFHZ9hJDvfqrIyTVKTV1cIozkQ4xGrWgKauZRtewz8S2vVTXaYRWVA53qYHmJkukhxQzhtDRg0pSAJ1R8pZ0ga6Mha9c9oY7JAtoUPcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the council on Aug. 7 that the proposed 4B fund budget (hotel occupancy tax) and cultural‑arts line items include several one‑time capital and arts initiatives intended to support tourism, parks and community identity.

Highlights discussed

- Gregory addition: The 4B plan lists a $2.8 million project described as the “Gregory addition,” carried as a one‑time capital item in the 4B fund.

- Sidewalk condition survey and PCI: Staff proposed the city’s first sidewalk condition survey at about $60,000 and a pavement‑condition‑index update of about $55,000; the PCI was last done in 2022 and the survey is intended to inform the capital‑improvement plan.

- Roy Savage Pool mural and a park sculpture: Cultural‑arts staff presented a planned community mural inside Roy Savage Pool sketched by an artist selected by staff; the budget includes $10,000 for the mural. The 4B budget also includes a $10,000 placeholder for a park sculpture; staff said the artist (Dale Rogers) has worked with other communities, but the sculpture and placement have not been finalized.

- Other tourism programming: The budget funds concerts and event programming, with proposed additions to the outdoor concert series and a proposed enhancement for the holiday tree lighting and related seasonal programming.

Staff comments and next steps

Karen Riggs and cultural‑arts staff said the sidewalk survey will be the first such inventory for the city and will inform the CIP beginning in 2027. Danielle, the cultural‑arts manager, said the selected mural artist will prep the surface, supply paint and lead a community painting event before finishing and sealing the mural.

Nut graf: The 4B fund proposal mixes capital maintenance planning (sidewalk survey and PCI), park and pool improvements, and increased arts and events programming to promote tourism and local engagement; some projects are defined (cost estimates provided) while others — notably the park sculpture and rotating sculpture program — remain conceptual and would return with location and scope details.

Ending: Staff said projects will be scheduled and refined as the budget moves through hearings; councilmembers asked for follow‑up on park placement for the sculpture and timelines for the sidewalk and PCI work so those results can feed the 2027 CIP.","The city’s proposed 4B (hotel occupancy tax) fund budget includes one‑time capital projects and cultural arts items — a $2.8 million Gregory addition, a first‑time sidewalk condition survey, a pavement condition index update and public‑art investments including a Roy Savage Pool mural — staff said at the Aug. 7 work session.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587751,"Consultant recommends 12.4% water/wastewater revenue increase for Bedford; wholesale TRA costs drive most of the rise",943,3279000,4222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7&start=3279&end=4222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551726-4e8ee00279beadf8d89e2e4c83c71ed7/thumbnail_3279000.jpg","/articles/6587751/Bedford/Tarrant-County/Texas/Consultant-recommends-124-waterwastewater-revenue-increase-for-Bedford-wholesale-TRA-costs-drive-most-of-the-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587751-91fe91d6b8541d066b6ebb1c1b497501/orig.mp4?Expires=1770420028&Signature=cNv3Nbj3ZHff1k0Kfpp5m2wKB8-9z7gDXML4FOSmNwND4XDkRtNfpUvMYjKE3wzRW9XYeug79iMMN-wVUPvx53fwtAdfZStzSCAjQOr25ebWU-zfjNNUQT2V5KwUttugv~-~Yn3mv36C44wbm95ZvmPJp3Q3lp08zsbabAHXw0ayU3rtgKx4XZ~5jVEkLq1kJqKO20RUE1u~LAUVLtk15YaCcj75pVfwo7VNV1RvFXiffW~7~c7nm6mBFQsrlOvwZQ-gxdMGQu8Cb5qyIpZsxdj5LhqHo17mpJZHkSn08E3rFLVFtvl9xI4bDJ-o7GYV1X6rvTCPTraBBTnSIct-bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultant Chris Eckert of NuGen told the Bedford City Council on Aug. 7 that substantial increases in wholesale and wholesale‑pass‑through costs from regional providers are driving the need for higher water and wastewater rates.

Eckert said the city should plan an overall 12.4% revenue increase for the water and wastewater fund to preserve reserve levels, meet debt‑service coverage and keep the utility’s 90‑day cash‑on‑hand policy. Under NuGen’s recommended rate plan, staff estimated a typical summer household bill (about 11,100 gallons of use in the consultant’s sample) would rise by $10.83 per month to about $134.48; NuGen attributed roughly $9.37 of that increase to wholesale cost pass‑throughs from TRA.

Recommendations presented

- Tiered water pricing: NuGen proposed increasing the unit‑price differential between residential tiers from about 15% to 25% to strengthen the conservation signal and put more cost burden on higher users.

- Senior and commercial structure: The consultant recommended tying the senior minimum fixed charge to 90% of the regular residential minimum, and linking the commercial volumetric rate to the second residential tier to maintain consistency across customer classes.

- Pass‑throughs and reserves: NuGen said it is passing TRA increases into the volumetric (usage) portion of the rates so customers who use more water pay a larger share of TRA‑driven cost growth. The consultant showed Bedford’s reserves would fall below the city’s policy and debt coverage could be jeopardized without rate increases.

NuGen’s presentation put the largest driver of the proposed increase on TRA, noting that TRA’s budget included heavy capital investment and higher operating costs that are passed to member cities. “Costs are going up, rates are going up,” Eckert said, summarizing the regional trend and the need for predictable revenue to protect debt and reserves.

Customer impacts and timing

NuGen presented sample bills for summer and winter usage and for average commercial customers. The consultant and staff said the bulk of next year’s increase would appear in volumetric charges tied to wholesale costs; they also emphasized ongoing monitoring and the possibility future recalibration as TRA or other inputs change.

Nut graf: Bedford’s water and wastewater fund, where treatment and purchased water are the largest cost drivers, faces rising wholesale costs; consultants advised a targeted rate package that raises revenue by about 12.4% and shifts more cost recovery to volumetric charges so higher users — and wholesale pass‑throughs — cover a larger share of increases.

What council asked: Elected members asked about regional comparisons and whether TRA customers elsewhere use tiered pricing; Eckert said most peer TRA customers use tiered structures, though individual community factors make strict comparisons imperfect. Council members also asked how much of the sample bill increases were TRA pass‑throughs and how the proposed design affects seniors and commercial customers.

Ending: Staff said they will return with an ordinance and formal rate schedules for council consideration during the budget adoption process and will continue to monitor TRA’s billed cost trajectory.","Rate consultant NuGen told the council Bedford faces rising wholesale costs from the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRA) and recommended a rate package that would raise water and wastewater revenue about 12.4% next year; NuGen estimated a typical summer bill would rise about $10.83 per month, with most of that tied to TRA pass‑throughs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bedford proposes FY2025–26 budget that would raise tax rate to fund employee COLA, public-safety step increases

Bedford 4B fund proposal includes Gregory addition, sidewalk survey, public‑art projects and rotating sculpture plans

Consultant recommends 12.4% water/wastewater revenue increase for Bedford; wholesale TRA costs drive most of the rise