The Winnsboro City Council approved a preliminary 2026-27 budget and reviewed a proposed property tax rate that officials said would generate no new revenue from existing properties.
Council members unanimously approved the budget draft during their regular meeting. Final adoption is expected at the council’s Sept. 8 meeting following a public hearing.
City Finance Administrator Tawnya Austin told council members the budget remains subject to change before final adoption and invited them to meet with her individually to review specific portions of the proposal.
The council also reviewed the proposed 2026-27 property tax rate but took no action.
Austin said the rate used in the proposed budget is the city’s no-new-revenue rate, meaning property tax revenue from properties already on the tax rolls would remain approximately the same as the previous year.
“The tax rate, I believe, actually goes down a little bit, but it raises the same revenue,” Austin told the council.
New construction added to the tax rolls is expected to generate about $4,500 in additional property tax revenue, Austin said.
Austin also explained that the property tax revenue shown in the proposed budget is higher than the figure in last year’s budget because the previous figure did not include all property tax revenue.
The council is expected to consider the proposed tax rate following a public hearing Sept. 8.
Council members also received an update on Winnsboro’s proposed social district, with several related ordinances expected to come before the council in September.
Officials said the council will likely consider three items related to establishing and operating the district, including an overlay ordinance creating the district and an operations ordinance setting days and hours of operation and requirements for participating businesses.
Other details, including whether special cups or stickers would be required and how businesses would participate, are still being developed.
Officials said the proposals remain in draft form, and council members and the public will have opportunities to provide input before the regulations are finalized.
A public hearing on the proposed social district is expected Sept. 8.
The Winnsboro City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Civic Center.