What to watch: The Midland City Council met Aug. 13 to set the maximum property tax rate and review the proposed $460.6 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26.

Why it matters: The plan lowers the property tax rate but would cost the average homeowner about $55 more due to higher valuations. Facing a projected $190 million, five-year budget gap, the proposal preserves service levels, invests in public safety and infrastructure, and leverages technology to improve efficiency.

Key points:

  • Financial strategy: Expenses are rising 8.1% annually compared to 2.7% inflation. To meet growing service demands, the city uses $35 million in sales tax revenue to subsidize public safety. The city achieved zero audit findings for a second year and is targeting a third.

  • Public safety: Police vacancies fell from more than 50 to under 20, the lowest since 2018. Crime dropped 10% last year and nearly 4% in the first half of this year. Starting firefighter pay increased from $49,000 to $65,000, with 3% annual raises for firefighters. Twenty percent of fire calls occur in the county, costing $10 million.

  • Roads: Roadway mileage has increased 17% in less than a decade, with 10% more expected by 2028. City crews completed Garfield Street with $12 million in savings through in-house paving and project phasing. The Todd Drive project moved up six years after leveraging MDC funding. City engineers accelerated the Highway 158 intersection at Wadley and Briarwood through in-house design.

  • Water: Satellite leak detection cut water main repairs by 56. A manhole rehab program fixed 105 manholes and saved $4.6 million this year. A $50 million east side sewer expansion will support development.

  • Parks and recreation: The Beal Park Soccer Complex expansion grew to $46 million through $18.2 million in donations. The city completed the Doug Russell Aquatic Center rebuild under budget in one year. The $16 million Reyes Mashburn Nelms baseball complex project successfully opened Phase 1. The city expects golf course revenue to exceed the FY25 budget with a self-sustaining goal.

  • Technology: The “Jackie 2.0” AI assistant will provide 24/7 citizen support. The city is implementing a Strategic Plan scorecard with real-time progress tracking for all goals and expanding public dashboards for project and budget transparency.

  • Airport: Record traveler numbers necessitated a third TSA line and $10.7 million in terminal expansion funding. Parking revenue increases will support a future parking garage, with surface lot expansion in progress.

  • Economic growth: Costco was completed in a 4-month record timeline from annexation to building permit.

What’s next:  The final budget and tax rate are scheduled for adoption in September.