MURPHY E-Newsletter
SEPTEMBER
2026
Table of Contents SEPTEMBER 2026
03 UPCOMING KEY DATES UPCOMING EVENTS &
04 PROGRAMS
07 MURPHY BUSINESS UPDATE 08 BUDGET AWARENESS 09 COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT 10 DID YOU KNOW 16 BOARDS & COMMISSIONS 17 COUNCIL MEETINGS 18 2026 CALENDAR 19 WHO TO CALL 20 CLOSING
02
UPCOMING KEY DATES September, 2026
18 18
September, 2026
Food Truck Friday
3
October, 2026
Maize Days
18 10
October, 2026
Clean & Green
10
October, 2026
Fire Open House
Murphy Central Park
Murphy Central Park
Murphy City Hall
Murphy Fire Station
Subscribe to our city calendar on our website!
VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
G G & & r r n n e e a a e e e e n n l l C C l l l l a a F F tt tthhee cclluutttteerr u u o o n n a a e e Cll C
Saturday, Oct. 10 | 9 a.m.–Noon Murphy City Hall Murphy residents only • Weather permitting
Clothes • Electronics • Paint • Shredding & More
Deettaaiillss Moorree D M
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
NNO 2026
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6TH 2026
STRONGER TOGETHER.
SAFER TOGETHER.
JOIN NEIGHBORS & POLICE FOR A NIGHT OF FUN, FOOD & COMMUNITY! National Night Out is a great opportunity to build connections, strengthen neighborhoods, and help keep Murphy safe!
HOST A BLOCK PARTY! Get to know your neighbors Build community spirit Work together for a safer Murphy
Have fun and make memories!
SIGN UP YOUR BLOCK PARTY
TODAY!
https://www.cognitoforms.com/CityofMurphy1/BlockPartyApplication
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
PARTNER WITH POLICE
BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY
TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE MURPHY AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: Station Tours Medical Helicopter Landing Extrication Demonstration Fire Safety Movies (All Day) Sparky the Fire Dog ?? Inflatable Fire Truck Obstacle Course
DON’T MISS: Fire Bounce House with Slide Jr. Obstacle Course Face Painting Coloring Contest with Prizes Free Hot Dogs, Chips, Water Bottles, Popcorn and Snow Cones!
NEW BUSINESS
COMING SOON: Wonder 203 FM 544
One Rainy Day Cafe 302 FM 544
GRAND OPENINGS: EOS Fitness Opened on August 26, 2026 229 E FM 544
Big Guys Chicken and Rice Opened on August 21, 2026 410 W FM 544 #102
Budget Highlights FY 2026-2027
A budget focused on maintaining the services residents rely on today while planning responsibly for Murphy’s future.
City Council Adopts FY27 Budget: Investing in Murphy’s Future The City of Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2026–2027 Budget has officially been adopted, establishing the funding plan for the services, programs, and investments our community relies on every day. Murphy’s FY27 property tax rate is $0.361832 per $100 of taxable value a slight increase from last year’s rate. The FY27 budget balances the rising cost of providing essential City services with the need to remain financially responsible to taxpayers. It includes investments in public safety, infrastructure, community amenities, technology, equipment, and our workforce, while continuing efforts to improve efficiency and strengthen Murphy’s long-term financial position. The FY27 budget reflects the difficult choices made throughout the budget process to balance available revenue with the services residents rely on. At the same time, the City must continue navigating the long-term impact of rising costs and state-imposed limits on property tax revenue growth. Learn more about the City’s budget and what’s ahead: www.murphytx.org/2067
What Drives the Budget? Murphy’s budget is built around maintaining core services, responding to changing costs and planning for the long-term needs of the community.
Public Safety Police, fire and emergency response
People Competitive compensation and benefits to recruit and retain employees
Infrastructure Streets, facilities, utilities and long-term maintenance
Community Services Parks, recreation, community events, and community integrity
Future Needs Capital projects, equipment replacement and responsible long-term planning
Inside City Hall: Celebrating the Citizens Academy Class of 2026 Congratulations to the Murphy University Citizens Academy Class of 2026! The Citizens Academy is a free, hands-on educational program that gives residents a behindthe-scenes look at how local government works and how they can help shape Murphy’s future. Through interactive sessions, department tours, group discussions and a collaborative project, participants learn about essential municipal functions, including budgeting, law enforcement, community services and policymaking. The program is designed to help residents better understand how City decisions are made, build stronger community connections and discover new ways to get involved. It may even inspire participants to pursue leadership opportunities through a local board or commission.
Members of the Class of 2026 recently completed the program and were recognized for their commitment to learning more about the people, services and decisions that keep Murphy running. This year’s participants also made a special appearance in Episode 4 of The Budget Office, where they took on a “How much do you think this costs?” challenge to learn more about the cost of City services. Thank you to every member of the Class of 2026 for your participation, curiosity and commitment to the Murphy community!
Here is what several graduates shared about their experience:
Keyla Kirton
Moona Eirij
Christy Young
“It was such an enlightening program. Every resident should do it. Highly recommend!”
“I am extremely grateful for the chance to learn directly from leaders in Murphy government.”
“It was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot.”
MURPHY MINUTE A quick read of information about your utilities.
Fall/Winter 2026
Utility Rate Change
Effective October 1, 2026 - New rates became effective, and will be reflected on the November 2026 utility bill.
Residential Sewer Winter Averaging
Changes to how Winter Averaging Works: Effective October 1, 2026 Your residential wastewater rate is now based on a three-month average of your lowest water usage months from November through February. Please note that actual usage is reflected on your bill the following month. (Example: November usage is on the December bill) New sewer rates take effect on April billing statements each year and remain in effect for 12 months. If you are a new customer without a winter average, you’ll be billed using the citywide average, recalculated each April. As of April 2026, the citywide average is 7,800 gallons.
Month
Water Use
Used for Average?
November
6,600 gal
YES
December
7,500 gal
YES
January
8,500 gal
NO
February
8,300 gal
YES
Average = (6,600 + 7,500 + 8,300) / 3 = 7,400 gallons (rounds down to nearest hundreds) Calculation beginning in April is based on 7,400 gallons.
murphytx.org | 972-468-4000 | @cityofmurphy
Fats, Oil & Grease If you put Fats, Oils, Greases, and other solids (FOGS) down the drain, they will harden and cling to the walls in your household pipes or city sewer lines. Once hardened, this reduces water flow and could cause a sewage backup into your home or neighborhood. FOG comes from meats, butter, food scraps, sauces and gravy, dairy products, and cooking oil. For more information, visit: defendyourdrainsnorthtexas.org
Leak detection has never been so easy! Did you know Murphy has a FREE service that allows you to view your water consumption, receive timely leak alerts, and customize your alert settings to help you monitor and budget your monthly water usage? This feature can help you save money on your utility bill. Aquahawk has a feature which will send up to three notifications if constant flow is detected on your account - even before you are a registered user! After registering with Aquahawk, you can maintain your alert settings and analyze water consumption. You can also specify an amount of water (gallons) or an estimated bill amount (dollars) that you don’t want to exceed. If your water consumption or bill amount has exceeded or is projected to exceed the threshold value, Aquahawk will send you a notification! Scan the QR code below for this and other valuable things Murphy offers. Did you know toilets are a top reason for residential water loss? Learn how to detect toilet leaks on the next page.
Residential Sprinkler Evaluations The City of Murphy has partnered with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) and M&M Irrigation and Illumination (MMII) to provide Murphy residents the opportunity to be part of this pilot program. Who can participate? Residential systems with one controller and no more than 12 zones are eligible to participate. Evaluations may be requested once per 12 months by homeowners or tenants. How does it work? Requested must be submitted online (scan the QR code at the bottom of this page). If you cannot enter your information, all appointments for the month are taken. Each month MMII will open the request form at 8:00 am on the 20 th to accept requests for the following month. An MMII representative will contact you to schedule an appointment, the first attempt is normally by email. An adult must be present and available to walk the property with the evaluator during the evaluation. The evaluation report will provide suggested irrigation system repairs, controller settings, and estimated gallons of water saved if you implement all listed recommendations. The irrigation evaluator will not make repairs to your system: if repairs are needed, you are responsible for hiring a licensed irrigator. Important note: Please be aware that the evaluator will share the results of this evaluation with the NTMWD and your water utility. By signing up, you agree to have your water utility share your water consumption data with the NTMWD for no more than 12 months after the evaluation.
City Hall Closures Columbus Day - 10/12/2026 (no impact on trash/recycle service) Veterans Day - 11/11/2026 (no impact on trash/recycle service) Thanksgiving - 11/26-11/27/2026 (Trash delay - no collection on 11/26/2026) Christmas - 12/24 & 25/2026 (Trash delay - no collection on 12/25/2026) New Years Day - 1/1/2027 (Trash delay - no collection on 1/1/2027) MLK Day - 1/18/2027 (no impact on trash/recycle service) Presidents Day - 2/15/2027 (no impact on trash/recycle service) Good Friday - 3/26/2027 (no impact on trash/recycle service)
Scan the QR code for links to important information from this page! murphytx.org | 972-468-4000 | @cityofmurphy
PREPAREDNESS WEATHER-READY STARTS AT HOME September is National Preparedness Month, a timely reminder that North Texas weather can change quickly. In Murphy, families may face severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash flooding,
dangerous
heat,
winter
weather
and
utility
disruptions at different times of the year. Preparing now helps your household respond with confidence when minutes matter. Start by building or refreshing your emergency kit. Include water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, medications,
Sign Up. Stay Alert. Be Ready. One of the easiest steps you can take is to sign up for Rave Alert, the City of Murphy’s free emergency notification system. Choose to receive alerts by text message, email or voice call. In addition to emergency notifications, you can select community alerts for severe weather, safety, health, utility disruptions, major traffic incidents and more. Alerts may be sent citywide or to specific neighborhoods during localized events.
a first-aid kit, phone chargers or power banks, pet supplies and copies of important documents. Make sure everyone in your household knows where the kit is kept. It is also important to make a household emergency plan. Talk about how you will receive alerts, where you will meet if you are separated and who you will contact outside the area.
RAVE ALERT
Identify the safest room in your home for severe weather,
Stay informed before an emergency happens.
typically an interior room on the lowest floor and away from
The City of Murphy’s free emergency notification system. Receive timely updates about severe weather, safety concerns, utility disruptions, major traffic incidents and more by text, email or voice call.
windows. Murphy does not operate public storm shelters, so knowing where you will shelter at home before a warning is issued is key.
SIGN UP TODAY!
PAUSE BEFORE YOU PAY: KNOW THE SIGNS OF A SCAM
Scammers rely on urgency, fear and confusion to pressure people into acting before they have time to verify the situation. They may pose as law enforcement, your bank, the IRS or Social Security, or a well-known company such as Amazon, Apple or Microsoft. Their message may arrive by phone call, text, email, social media or even through an online relationship. A familiar name or phone number does not make a request legitimate. Caller ID can be spoofed, and official-looking messages can be faked. When something feels rushed, threatening or too good to be true, pause before responding.
Common Warning Signs Be cautious if someone: Demands immediate payment. Insists that you keep the conversation secret. Threatens jail time, an arrest warrant, a suspended account or utility shutoff. Claims a family member is in trouble and needs money for bail or another emergency. Sends an unexpected link through a text, email or social media message. Requests remote access to your phone or computer. Refuses to let you hang up and verify the information independently. Claims they made a payment mistake and asks you to send money back. Uses poor grammar, odd wording or a suspicious phone number. Requests payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, Venmo, Cash App or Zelle.
Scams to Watch For Common scams include a caller pretending to be a family member who needs emergency money, an online romantic relationship that asks for photos, money or travel expenses, and a fake tech-support message claiming your device is infected with a virus. Other common attempts include fake bank or Amazon fraud alerts asking you to “verify” an account, sweepstakes messages requiring fees or taxes before you can claim a prize, and callers who claim you missed jury duty or have an arrest warrant.
What To Do If you believe you are being targeted by a scam: Stop all communication immediately. Contact the company or agency directly using a trusted phone number or its official website. Talk to a trusted friend or family member before sending money. Contact your bank if you shared financial information or sent a payment. Never share passwords, PINs, personal or financial information, or verification codes. Report the scam to the Murphy Police Department at 972-468-4200. Remember: legitimate businesses and government agencies will not demand payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. When in doubt, hang up, slow down and verify.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DASHBOARD
Be in the know.
Explore Capital Improvement Projects across the City with realtime updates on locations, budgets, and timelines.
E P H R T O K JECT C A R T Water Service Line Replacement Dashboard See current work areas and project progress
Report issues
Reserve pavillions
Pay your water bill
WE FIX YOUR CITY.
The Fall/Winter Community Guide is now available! Get the new edition now!
Join Murphy’s Boards & Commissions Your voice can help shape the future of Murphy. What could serving look like? Learn how the city works Gain insight into municipal operations and decision making.
murphytx.org/84/Boards-Commissions-List These volunteer groups advise City Council and support responsible decisions about community needs, development, ethics, parks, recreation, public safety, animals, and local growth.
Bring neighborhood perspectives forward
Animal Shelter Advisory Committee
Building & Fire Code Appeals Board
Share your experiences and ideas that reflect our community.
Hears appeals on building and fire code decisions.
Contribute to community priorities
Provides input on animal shelter operations and community animal welfare.
Board of Adjustment
Help identify needs and support meaningful improvements.
Reviews variance requests to support fair and practical zoning decisions.
Murphy Community Development Corporation & Murphy Municipal Development District
Help guide programs and policies Advise on plans, ordinances, and services that shape Murphy.
Serve alongside fellow residents Work together to build a strong, vibrant, and welcoming community.
Ethics Review Commission Promotes transparency and ethics in local government.
Planning & Zoning Commission Guides land use planning, zoning, and development recommendations.
Apply Today Application deadline: October 2, 2026
Supports economic development and business vitality in Murphy by helping plan and fund public improvements and infrastructure within the district.
Parks & Recreation Board Enhances parks, programs, and environmental stewardship citywide.
25 Years of Remembrance: Murphy Honors the Heroes of 9/11 In honor of 25 years of remembrance, the City of Murphy Fire Rescue and the Murphy Police Department came together with the community for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, paying tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost and honoring the firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice. Members of Murphy Fire Rescue also participated in the Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The memorial climb honors the first responders lost on Sept. 11, with participants climbing 110 flights of stairs, representing the height of the World Trade Center towers. Each step serves as a tribute to the firefighters and other first responders who climbed toward danger to help others.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED If you want to stay up to date with the latest news from Murphy, be sure you’re subscribed to our alerts! You can choose which types of alerts you’re interested in receiving. https://www.murphytx.org/List.aspx
WHAT’S THE LATEST FROM CITY COUNCIL?
August 18, 2026 City Council Meeting September 1, 2026 City Council Meeting
JANUARY
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January 1 .................................. New Year’s Day (Offices Closed) January 19 ....................................... MLK Jr Day (Offices Closed) February 7 ........................................... Daddy Daughter Dance February 16 ............................. President’s Day (Offices Closed) February 28 ....................................... Rainbow Trout Roundup March 13 ....................................................... Food Truck Friday March 27 ....................................................... Food Truck Friday April 2 .................................................................... Hop ‘N Hunt April 3 ............................................ Good Friday (Offices Closed) April 11 ................................................... Spring Clean & Green April 25 ............................................... Murphy’s Backyard BBQ April 25 .................................................. Police Drug Take Back May 15 .......................................................... Moonlight Movies May 25 ........................................ Memorial Day (Offices Closed) June 12 ...................................................... Sounds at Sundown June 19 ...................................................... Sounds at Sundown June 26 ...................................................... Sounds at Sundown July 3 ................................... Independence Day (Offices Closed) July 31 ........................................................ Sounds at Sundown September 4 ................................................ Food Truck Friday September 7 .................................... Labor Day (Offices Closed) September 11..............................9/11 Remembrance Ceremony September 18 .............................................. Food Truck Friday October 3 .................................................. Murphy Maize Days October 10 ................................................... Fall Clean & Green October 10.......................................................Fire Open House October 12 ................................ Columbus Day (Offices Closed) November 6 .............................................................. Arbor Day November 1 ................................ Veteran’s Day (Offices Closed) November 13 & 14 ....................................... Murphy Campout November 26 & 27 ...................... Thanksgiving (Offices Closed) December 5 ......................... Jingle Jog & Christmas in the Park December 24 & 25 ........................... Christmas (Offices Closed)
2026 CALENDAR CITY WEBSITE
WHO TO CALL IN MURPHY Need help or not sure where to start? This guide connects you with the City services residents use most.
FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 911 For immediate police, fire, or medical help. Do not use a non-emergency number.
NEED TO REPORT A CITY ISSUE? Use Murphy Connect for requests, questions, or problems with City services. murphytx.org/925
UTILITY BILLING
PERMITS & PLANNING
972-468-4100
972-468-4040
Start, stop, or pay service
Building & development
Parks & park facilities
CODE COMPLIANCE
PUBLIC WORKS
ANIMAL CONTROL
RECREATION
972-468-4064
972-468-4378
972-468-4226
972-468-4444
Tall grass, weeds & code
City infrastructure support
City animal concerns
Programs & registration
MUNICIPAL COURT
FIRE NONEMERGENCY
POLICE NONEMERGENCY
AFTER-HOURS WATER & SEWER
972-468-4300
972-468-4200
972-468-4236
For non-urgent fire needs
For non-urgent police needs
Utility emergencies only
CITY HALL
972-468-4000 General City services
972-468-4250 Court questions & payments
City service requests
USE MURPHY CONNECT
PARKS
972-468-4365
CITY OF MURPHY
Report trash and recycling, roads and streets, water and sewer, animal control, illegal dumping, and other City service issues.
206 N. Murphy Road Murphy, TX 75094 Main line: 972-468-4000
murphytx.org/925/Murphy-Connect
murphytx.org
Photo of the month! Submit a photo to be considered for the next edition of the Murphy e-newsletter by emailing: socialmedia@murphytx.org