City Council Raises Property Tax Rate; Grants Tourism Funds

The La Grange City Council met Monday night, Sept. 8, and gave final approval to the City Budget for next year.

The Council voted unanimously to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance to set appropriations for the next fiscal year. The budget totals $17,925,190. Of that amount, $6,102,637 will go towards the general fund, which pays for police, library, streets, parks, administration and most other non-utility departments. The utility fund accounts for $11,458,529 of the total budget. It pays for electrical, water, sewer and garbage collection services. The remaining $364,024 will pay for the City’s debt service next year.

Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance setting the property tax rate for next year, which will be $0.18194 per $100 of taxable property value, which is slightly higher than the current rate of $0.18022. The new rate will raise approximately $76,293 more in taxes than the current year, which is an 8.2 percent increase.

The Council held a public hearing on the new tax rate at the beginning of the meeting, but no one from the public spoke.

In addition, Council passed the first reading of an ordinance setting new utility rates for the upcoming fiscal year.

In other business, Council awarded eight tourism grants totaling $70,000 to local organizations. The money comes from hotel occupancy taxes and may only be used for activities that attract tourism to La Grange. The eight grants awarded Monday night are listed below:

• $10,000 to the Fayette County Fair Association to promote the 2026 County Fair;

• $10,000 to the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center for advertising activities throughout the year;

• $10,000 to Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill to advertise the Bluff Schuetzenfest on May 17, 2025 and the Trail of Lights in December 2025;

• $10,000 to the Texas Quilt Museum to market museum events and children’s activities;

• $10,000 to the Bugle Boy Foundation to support promoting the arts and approximately 90 shows throughout the year;

• $10,000 to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse to advertise and promote the Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo on April 3-4, 2026;

• $5,000 to the Texas Heroes Museum to advertise the museum and events;

• $5,000 to the Rotary Club of La Grange to advertise and promote the Oktoberfest on the Square on Oct. 4, 2025.