Bulverde’s Sept. 8 council agenda combines hearings on a $10.6 million proposed general-fund budget and $0.295343 tax rate with decisions on conference-center negotiations, the city manager’s review and a municipal risk-pool ballot.
For a median-value homestead, the city’s estimate rises from $1,358 to $1,605 a year—$247 annually, or about $20.58 a month—if the proposed budget and rate are adopted. The estimate covers the city portion of the property-tax bill, not amounts levied by other taxing entities.
Tuesday’s hearings are opportunities for public testimony, not final adoption. Council previously chose $0.295343 per $100 of taxable value as its proposed rate, a decision detailed in Comal.News’ earlier tax-rate report.
Budget and tax hearings
The agenda packet lists $10,597,573 in proposed general-fund revenue and $10,326,549 in expenditures, after unaudited July results showed $9,007,132 in year-to-date revenue and $7,369,193 in spending.
The proposal raises projected property-tax revenue by $507,614 while reducing projected sales-tax revenue by $42,800. Listed additions include a wastewater-treatment operational analysis, intersection-safety and asset-management programs, municipal-court safety and technology work, computer and sign replacement, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and potential 2% merit raises.
Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2027 budget. Council will also hold a public hearing on the proposed $0.295343 property-tax rate. A previous Comal.News guide explains the hearing and the city’s household example in more detail.
Road work and monthly reports
The finance report shows unaudited general-fund revenue of $9,007,132 and expenditures of $7,369,193 through July. Those amounts equaled 85.39% of budgeted revenue and 71.24% of budgeted expenditures with 83% of the fiscal year elapsed.
The public works report says the road-maintenance program was about 80% complete, with $627,519.33 earned on a $1,148,984.90 contract. Remaining listed work included striping, cleanup, punch-list items and rejuvenation resurfacing in Edgebrook.
The police report scheduled for presentation lists 1,312 calls for service, 17 crashes and 697 citations in August. The council is scheduled to receive a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board report.
A conference-center decision before the renewal window
Council could authorize the city manager to negotiate a three-year extension of the conference-center lease with LHSH, Ltd. The conference-center proposal follows an Aug. 11 discussion, and Comal.News’ lease explainer traces the agreement’s timeline and terms.
The existing 10-year term began Oct. 1, 2017, and expires Sept. 30, 2027. Its renewal window runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Jan. 1, 2027. The current arrangement provides $200,000 in annual base rent, up to $2 million over the original term, and a rebate of the hotel’s city hotel-occupancy taxes.
The city pays the conference center’s electricity and receives meeting-room revenue, minus a 10% fee when the landlord recruits or books an event. If council authorizes negotiations, the city manager would return any negotiated terms for council consideration at a future meeting.
City manager review and risk-pool ballot
Council’s city manager review follows an Aug. 19 workshop in which members adopted an evaluation form for use Sept. 8. The recorded workshop vote was 4-1, and council directed members to return completed evaluations for compilation by Sept. 1. Comal.News previously covered the evaluation process before that workshop.
After closed session, the council may take action on the city manager’s appointment and other listed legal matters. The meeting notice identifies the subjects eligible for private deliberation; any council action would occur after the body returns to open session.
Council may also select one candidate for each of four Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool trustee positions, choose write-in candidates or decline to submit a ballot. The ballot must reach the board secretary by Sept. 30, and staff assigns the proposed action no city expenditure.
Council will consider approving minutes from Aug. 11, Aug. 19 and Aug. 25. Three proclamations and the regular opportunity for comments on matters not listed on the agenda round out the public portion of the meeting.
How to attend and what comes next
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the Bulverde City Hall Council Chamber, 30360 Cougar Bend. People who want to address council on a posted item must register before the meeting and are limited to three minutes. Accommodation requests must be made 48 hours in advance through the city secretary.
The city’s Agenda Center lists the Sept. 8 council meeting and provides the agenda packet. Residents can use the index to check for revisions and, after the meeting, find later records.
The council is expected to set Sept. 22 for final budget and tax-rate consideration; any conference-center terms negotiated by the city manager would return for a later council decision. The recorded votes, amendments and post-meeting minutes will establish the outcomes.