A Message From Mayor Chris Riley

LETTER TO LEON VALLEY CITIZENS

From Mayor Chris Riley

September 26, 2025

                    SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING –September 20, 2025

     The following is a snapshot of how we ended up approving the FY 25-26 budget last Saturday:

August 5^th – The city received the no-new revenue rate of $.505 from Bexar Appraisal District, which would generate approximately the same tax revenue as last year. When applying this rate to our proposed budget, the city still had a deficit of approximately $47,000. That evening, the Council directed the manager to raise the tax rate a full penny to $.515, which erased the deficit with a surplus of approximately $64,000.

August 19^th – Keeping the tax rate at $.515, the council allocated the surplus of $64,000 to fire department repairs, park maintenance and a mass notification system. The Council also appropriated $475,000 from the $5.7 million reserve fund for future capital needs.

September 2^nd – The 2^nd read for adopting the FY 25-26 tax rate at $.515 per $100 valuation was scheduled for a vote.  At this meeting, the city manager informed the Council of Senate Bill 10, pending in the special legislative session.  This bill would cap the property tax rate at 1% rather than the current 3.5%, which would mean your governing body could not raise taxes over 1% in future years without voter approval. Assuming SB10 would become law, the Council directed the manager to increase the tax rate an additional three cents to $.545, for a total of a six cent increase from the current FY24-25 tax rate of $.484. This was to primarily hire 3 new firefighters, generating $347,000 more in property taxes. The manager then re-figured the budget at this rate to present to city council and the public on September 16^th.

September 3^rd – The next day, the city manager informed the council that SB 10 died before the special legislative session ended and was not voted into law, so the 1% restriction would not apply in the future.

September 16^th- The manager presented the FY25-26 budget at the $.545 rate. Councilor Heyl and I advocated to go back to the initial decision to raise the tax rate to $.515 rather than raising to $.545. Our concern was the impact on families’ budgets, including rising cost of food, health care and an increase in water and sewer fees beginning October 1^st. Councilors Bolton, Campos, Orozco and Mursch voted to raise the tax rate to $.545 citing the need to hire three firefighters as recommended by the utilization study several years ago.

 Saturday, September 20^th - The council meeting began at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 9:55 a.m. The sole purpose of this meeting was to conduct a second reading on setting the tax rate for FY25-26 city budget, as required by the city charter.

     After Council heard from citizens who were in attendance, Councilor Heyl moved to approve a tax rate of $.515.  I also supported keeping the tax rate at $.515, but do not have a vote, so her motion died for a lack of a second.

     As Mayor, I then asked if there was another motion on the tax rate and Councilor Bolton moved to adopt a tax rate of $.525 as a compromise that would enable the council to hire one firefighter rather than three.  Councilor Heyl seconded the motion.  The vote was (2) Ayes (Bolton & Heyl) and (3) Nays (Campos, Orozco & Mursch), so the motion failed.

     A third motion was made by Councilor Orozco and seconded by Councilor Mursch to adopt a tax rate of $.545 for FY 25-26.  The votes were (2) Nays (Bolton & Heyl) and (3) Ayes (Campos, Orozco & Mursch), so the motion passed.

     With the tax rate of $.545, it is estimated the homeowner will pay an additional $169.30 for a home’s average value of $230,620. Homeowners over age 65 will not have to pay this increase.  Homeowners will receive their property tax bill for FY 25-26 in October.  Your home’s taxes will be assessed for the period of January 1^st – December 31, 2025 at this new rate. Payments are due by January 31, 2026 with the exception of split or quarter pay accounts.                          

                                        JUST A REMINDER…..

Saturday, September 27^th – Trash and Treasure from 9 am to 2 pm at the Leon Valley Community Center, sponsored by the Northwest Seniors.

Monday, October 6^th – is the last day to register to vote in the November 5^th election on 17 Constitutional amendments and the Bexar County Referendum on the new Spurs arena and revamping Joe Freeman Coliseum and Frost Bank arena.

Tuesday, October 7^TH – ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – Please mark your calendars to have a simple gathering on your street for an hour or two (6-8 pm). This is a great way to meet your neighbors, your council members, city manager, police and fire department chiefs and staff. The Council meeting for that night has been cancelled. Please register your gathering at www.leonvalleytexas.gov. DEADLINE to register is October 2^nd.

Tuesday, October 21^st – City Council meeting at city hall chambers or on-line at 6:30 pm.

        The Council and I are here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way.

Sincerely, Chris

(210) 618-2092 (cell)

mayorriley@leonvalleytexas.gov