House Bill 273 Summary

• Budget officers must include in their budget message all proposed tax rates, fee changes, and other important information deemed necessary by the officer.

• Local governments on the unit assistance list must hold an additional public hearing separate from the standard budget hearing, with at least one hearing providing detailed revenue information for the prior two fiscal years including tax rates, tax bases, collection rates, and public enterprise fund data.

• Property owners must receive written notice by U.S. mail at least 10 days before the budget hearing when a proposed budget raises the ad valorem property tax rate, including the hearing date, time, location, governing board contact information, and how to access the budget ordinance.

• Customers of public enterprise funds must receive written notice by U.S. mail at least 10 days before the budget hearing when rates are raised or funds are transferred from the general fund, with notice potentially included on regular billing statements.

• The act becomes effective July 1, 2024, and applies to budgets adopted on or after that date.