Council approves budget cleanups, hears manager report on grant applications and parks survey

Council approved Ordinance 16-02, a set of cleanup amendments to the FY25–26 budget, after staff said the changes were primarily technical and included pulling funds from reserve to pay for an incoming fire truck expected next month.

Kara and other staff highlighted specific adjustments: the JLK roof repair line was increased from $40,000 to $60,000; the JLK well development allocation was reduced from $20,000 to $15,000; a three-year electric meter replacement program was noted at about $100,000 per year; staff transferred $10,000 from fund 55 to the general fund to cover administrative costs for handling accounts payable; and earlier worksheets included $56,400 in expense reductions and revenue increases. Staff said those adjustments left the net operating fund showing an $81,000 surplus in the current package after earlier drafts had indicated a $13,539 deficit.

City Manager Finlay reported staff submitted a Texas Water Development Board water supply/infrastructure grant application on July 30 and received a receipt; award notification is expected this fall. Finlay also summarized a parks survey that had 516 respondents and said the Main Street advisory board had discussed LanTech's green room and that estimated improvement costs (with contingency) were about $61,000, with some board funds and a benefactor potentially covering part of the expense.

The ordinance amendment passed by motion and second; council did not alter the reported adjustments at this meeting but directed staff to continue refining the budget and bring additional detail to the August workshop.