City Council Meeting - September 1, 2026

The City Council of Killeen held a meeting on September 1, 2026, which included several procurement and budget-related discussions. Key procurement actions included the approval of a resolution to reject all submissions for bid number 27-02 and the authorization of an amendment to the professional services agreement with the Schlutoter Group for state legislative representation, reducing the annual fee from $100,000 to $1 for the second year of the contract. The council also approved multiple zoning ordinance amendments to rezone certain properties from business to residential districts. Significant budget discussions focused on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, including a 5-year capital improvement program totaling $47.5 million for vehicles, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure projects funded through various sources such as governmental CIP, water and sewer CIP, and bond funds. The council approved amendments to water and sewer rates, including a 5% increase in residential water base rates and a $0.65 increase in residential sewer base rates, aimed at addressing tight water and sewer funds and deferred maintenance. The council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2027 budget and ratify a property tax increase, setting the tax rate at 7.301 cents per $100 valuation, which represents a 3.59% increase. Additionally, the council discussed and considered scheduling a local team-building retreat to improve council collaboration, with mixed opinions expressed. Public comments addressed concerns about budget priorities, economic development funding, utility rate increases, and code enforcement effectiveness.