Levelland EDC presents $1.24 million budget proposal, projects $241,300 shortfall for 2024–25

The Levelland Economic Development Corporation discussed a proposed $1,241,800 budget for fiscal year 2024–25 and a projected deficit of $241,300 during its meeting. Speaker 6, who presented the budget, said, "Starting off with our revenues, we're allocating $816,000 in sales tax revenue."

Speaker 6 told directors the sales-tax figure is conservative compared with a recent outlier year and represents roughly $68,000 per month in receipts. He outlined other revenue lines including rail access and a maintenance fee, investment income and sponsorships, and noted interest earned of about $106,000 to date with $90,000 proposed to be counted in next year’s budget.

The presenter reviewed major expense lines: personnel services at $210,000; professional services at $75,000 (kept intentionally high for legal and contract work); advertising and marketing at $35,000 for a new website and branding; supplies at $10,000; dues and subscriptions at $25,000 because the EDC subscribed to a property-listing service called Resimplify; and bond-transfer obligations of $300,000 held in a separate account to service debt. Speaker 6 said, "Our total expenditures for fiscal year 24–25 is $1,241,800 which leaves us at a deficit of $241,300," and added the board views that deficit as an investment in workforce development rather than operating failure.

Board members questioned several line items. Directors discussed rising postage and payment-security costs after a check-fraud incident that cost about $2,500; Speaker 6 described the organization’s move to positive-pay and interest in encouraging vendor adoption of ACH to reduce mail-related risk. Members also debated the $35,000 marketing allocation and whether airport ads or a broader community-focused campaign would best attract retail and hospitality businesses to Levelland.

Several speakers raised housing and workforce connections to the budget. Participants said an updated housing study and modest financial incentives could help spur infill development and housing for first-time buyers and college students; Speaker 6 suggested small incentive pools of a few thousand dollars might help recruit developers. Board members also noted the EDC’s role funding workforce equipment and training at local schools and the college, and justified some deficit spending as part of that mission.

No formal vote to adopt the budget appears in the transcript. The meeting recessed at the end of the session and the board discussed follow-up tasks, including requests to produce more detail about specific line items and options for marketing strategy. The city council reconvened in council chambers after the EDC recess.