Schertz budget adds four police officers; council split 4-3

The minutes were attached to the Oct. 13 council packet and were identified as draft minutes.

Finance Director James Walters told the council that the adopted budget raises $1,207,415, or 4.2%, more total property-tax revenue than the previous year’s budget, with $1,203,307 attributed to new property added to the tax roll. Those are citywide revenue figures, not an estimate of the change on any particular homeowner’s bill. The tax rate alone does not establish a household’s tax change because taxable values and exemptions also matter.

At the budget hearing, the draft minutes summarize two residents supporting retention of the four officer positions. One said she would be willing to pay $100 more a year; that was her stated preference, not a city calculation of household taxes. The recorded split on the final budget shows council members reached different judgments about the plan.

What the adopted documents can show next

The city directs readers to Schertz.com/budget for the adopted budget. Its detailed spending schedules are the next record to inspect for the four positions’ costs, funding and comparison with the prior budget. The final approved minutes will also provide the authoritative account of the Sept. 15 votes and hearing.