The Temple City Council will hold the first hearing on the city's proposed $61 million 2000-01 budget at its 5 p.m. meeting today in the municipal building.The plan carries an increase in the tax rate from the current 55.72 cents per $100 property valuation to 59.22.The council will also discuss allowing the Temple Planning and Zoning Commission to have final approval over plats that don't have any requested exceptions to the city's laws.A brief overview of the budget will be given before citizens have the opportunity to comment, said Temple City Manager Mark Watson.A second hearing will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7, before the group considers the budget. The document may be viewed at the Temple Public Library, Watson said.The current Planning and Zoning Commission regulation states that the Temple City Council examines all the plats, Watson said.If the regulation modification is approved, all plats with exceptions would still proceed to the council for final approval, he said.The change would allow developers to proceed with their projects faster, said Temple Planning Director B.A. Bailey. by Jonathan Walburgh