Willow Park City Council approved the 2026-27 fiscal year budget during its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The budget includes $5,360,440 in projected revenues, offset by projected expenditures of $5,359,868.
That's a difference of $572.
“There’s no buying extra paper clips this year,” City Manager Toni Fisher said.
Fisher noted the budget continues to emphasize financial stewardship while maintaining essential services. Among those most essential is the police department, which is receiving a 5% increase in pay.
Willow Park Police Department pay has been lagging behind other departments in the surrounding area, according to previous reports. The hope is this will reduce the exiting of officers for higher pay.
“The City Council did what they were able to do, and we are appreciative of it,” interim WPD Chief Quincy Hamilton said. “Hopefully we’ll continue to push for more.”
Also, the entire city staff will receive a 3% cost-of-living increase.
The Willow Park fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2027.
Likewise, council approved the new tax rate for the coming fiscal year. While it's an increase of less than a penny, the rate will actually bring in less revenue for the city.
The new tax rate is $0.429041, an increase from the current rate of $0.421646. However, because of adjustments in the economy, the estimated impact on an average property tax bill will actually decrease by about $46.
Just when it seemed the meeting would end with no friction, Mayor Teresa Palmer stirred things up when she strayed away from what was on the actual executive (closed) session agenda. In doing so, she was accused by city attorney Judy El Masri of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Palmer expressed concern that among the executive-session items were discussions about employee complaints.
Palmer began reading text not on the posted agenda. When El Masri advised her to stop, Palmer responded, “So we’re not talking about it in front of anybody?”
Then, instead of stopping, Palmer continued, “So before we recess into closed session I need to confirm on Item 20 whether employee complaints are against me, the mayor, or one of…”
She got no deeper into that statement before El Masri again stressed to Palmer, “Mayor, I’m sorry, but you are not operating within the Texas Open Meetings Act. We can only do what’s on the agenda. You read the agenda item, then we need to go to executive session. We cannot have an open-session discussion on an executive-session item.
“The body can absolutely do something coming out of executive session in open session, but right now our agenda says we’re going into executive session, so that’s what we need to do,” El Masri said.
During the fracas, Palmer said, “I have rights you can’t take away!”
El Masri said, “You are, in fact, violating the Texas Open Meetings Act.”
Palmer refused to call for a vote to go into executive session, so the council moved to do so without her call.
“So you’re going to take away my rights from me? We’re not discussing this in closed session,” Palmer said.
Council took no action on any of the executive session agenda items, so it’s not clear whether or not it was discussed. However, Palmer did leave the closed session and re-entered the council chambers for a bit during that time.
Palmer immediately left the building after the meeting and when reached by phone refused to discuss the incident.
This is not the first time Palmer has been accused of a violation. In January she appeared to violate attorney-client privilege when she shared an email between a council member and the city attorney with a member of the Home Rule Charter Committee who is not a member of city government or city staff.
Also, in March she kicked a member of the public out during the public-comments portion of the meeting because the speaker was critical of her. This was also called into question as a possible TOMA violation.
Council approved annexation of two parcels of land totaling just over an acre identified as Willow Bend Court. The land was originally dedicated to the city as a road and had to be annexed into the city to become a public road as part of the new Tractor Supply development in that area.
Council approved the following holiday schedule for the 2026-27 fiscal year:
Oct. 12., Columbus Day.
Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
Nov. 26-27, Thanksgiving.
Dec. 24-25, Christmas.
Dec. 31-Jan. 1, New Year's.
Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Feb. 15, Presidents Day.
March 26, Good Friday.
May 31, Memorial Day (close at noon Friday before).
June 18, Juneteenth.
July 5, Independence Day (observed since July 4 is on a Sunday, also close at noon on Friday before).
Sept. 6, Labor Day (close at noon on Friday before).
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