City of Midland City Council met Sept. 16.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council convened in regular session in the Council Chamber, City Hall, Midland, Texas, at 10:00 a.m., September 16, 2025.
Council Members present: John Burkholder, Amy Stretcher Burkes, Robin Poole, Lori Blong, Brian Stubbs, John Norman
Council Members absent: Jack Ladd
Staff members present: City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, Interim City Attorney Nicholas TouletCrump, City Governance Officer/City Secretary Marcia Bentley-German, Deputy City Manager Morris Williams Jr., Deputy City Manager Jose Ortiz
The meeting was called to order at 10:01 a.m.
BUDGET & TAX RATE
1. 10662 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIDLAND PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, BY APPROVING THE BUDGET FOR SAID PERIOD AND APPROPRIATING AND SETTING ASIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS OUT OF THE GENERAL AND OTHER REVENUES AND UNAPPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE OF THE CITY OF MIDLAND FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY; AND ORDERING PUBLICATION.
TAXPAYER IMPACT STATEMENT:
A. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20242025 MEDIANVALUED HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF MIDLAND, (1) THE CITY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ($0.348662 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE) IS $907.49, (2) THE ESTIMATED CITY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ADOPTED ($0.347999 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE) IS $909.22, AND (3) THE ESTIMATED CITY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IF A BALANCED BUDGET FUNDED AT THE NONEWREVENUE TAX RATE AS CALCULATED UNDER CHAPTER 26, TAX CODE, IS ADOPTED ($0.336458 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE) IS $877.40
B. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20252026 MEDIANVALUED HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF MIDLAND, (1) THE CITY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ($0.348662 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE) IS $922.41, (2) THE ESTIMATED CITY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ADOPTED ($0.347999 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE) IS $924.16, AND (3) THE ESTIMATED CITY PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR IF A BALANCED BUDGET FUNDED AT THE NONEWREVENUE TAX RATE AS CALCULATED UNDER CHAPTER 26, TAX CODE, IS ADOPTED ($0.336458 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE) IS $891.82 (DISTRICT: ALL) (FINANCE) (PROVIDE SOUND GOVERNANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT)
After Mayor Blong opened the meeting, she read a statement regarding political violence in the United States and offered a brief moment of silence.
Deputy City Secretary Rachel Guentensberger read the caption of Ordinance No. 10662.
Chief Financial Officer Christy Weakland gave a brief presentation of the 20252026 budget and reviewed the proposed tax rate of .347999, which is a 2.1 million decrease.
Mrs. Weakland reviewed the notice of public hearing on tax increase, the general fund, the five year forecast for the general fund, what the City has absorbed, inflation and property tax comparison, deferred general fund supplemental request, and property tax (what do you get for your taxes), just to name a few.
Mayor Blong reported on concerns the Fire leadership has regarding the way the pay is structured. City Manager Tommy Gonzalez reported on affordable adjustments that will help.
Managing Director of Public Safety Chuck Blumenauer also reported on the adjustments and how they came about.
Mayor Pro Tem Poole reported that it is important to look at the markets the firefighters (who are leaving Midland) are going to and make comparisons accordingly.
Note: Council Member Stubbs attended the meeting via Teams.
The entire presentation may be heard online at https://www.midlandtexas.gov/1231/MeetingsAgendasandMinutes
John Norman moved to approve that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.347999, which is effectively a 3.43 percent increase in the tax rate, the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 10662; seconded by Amy Stretcher Burkes.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYE: Burkholder, Stretcher Burkes, Poole, Blong, Stubbs, Norman
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Ladd
2. 2025125 – RESOLUTION RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20252026 BUDGET (DISTRICT: NONE) (FINANCE) (PROVIDE SOUND GOVERNANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT)
John Burkholder moved to approve Resolution No.; seconded by John Norman.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYE: Burkholder, Stretcher Burkes, Poole, Blong, Stubbs, Norman
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Ladd
3. 10663 – AN ORDINANCE FIXING THE TAX LEVY FOR THE CITY OF MIDLAND, TEXAS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 (DISTRICT: ALL) (FINANCE) (PROVIDE SOUND GOVERNANCE & FISCAL MANAGEMENT)
John Burkholder moved to approve second and final reading of Ordinance No. 10663; seconded by John Norman.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYE: Burkholder, Stretcher Burkes, Poole, Blong, Stubbs, Norman
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Ladd
EXECUTIVE SESSION
4. Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.101, the City Council will hold an Executive Session, which is closed to the public, to discuss the following matters as permitted under the following sections of the Texas Government Code:
Mayor Blong recessed the City Council meeting to go into Executive Session at 10:29 a.m.
a. Section 551.071, Consultation with Attorney
a.1. Discuss matters in which the duty of the attorney(s) to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.
a.2. Discuss pending or contemplated litigation
b. Section 551.072, Deliberation Regarding Real Property
b.1. Discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.
c. Section 551.074, Personnel Matters
c.1. Deliberate the employment, evaluation, and duties of the City Manager, Interim City Attorney, City Secretary, Municipal Court Presiding Judge, and Municipal Court Associate Judge.
c.2. Deliberate the appointment of members to the Midland Development Corporation Board of Directors and the Planning and Zoning Commission.
d. Section 551.087, Deliberate Economic Development Negotiations
d.1. Discuss business prospects that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the City of Midland, Texas, and discuss possible incentives.
All the business at hand having been completed, the meeting adjourned at 10:56 a.m.
https://www.midlandtexas.gov/967/PrimeGov-Meetings