The Highland Village Community Development Corporation on July 22 approved its fiscal 2025–26 budget but removed several supplemental requests after members said they wanted more data on revenues and project costs.

Board members voted to adopt the budget as presented minus the supplemental items. The board’s staff had presented a revised estimate reflecting a roughly $204,000 drop in expected revenues compared with the amount originally budgeted, driven primarily by weaker-than-expected sales-tax growth and lower park rental receipts.

The decision followed extended discussion about revenue assumptions and a line-by-line review of proposed capital maintenance and park improvements. Staff reported sales-tax receipts were running well below the increases used in the original 2025 budget and revised interest-income estimates after market yields declined from earlier forecasts. Park rental income for the year to date was far below the budgeted amount, and the board asked staff to provide multi-year trend data for park fees, field rentals and other user charges before approving additional spending.

Board members also questioned several proposed supplemental projects, including an upgraded shade structure at the park by the splash pad, additional ADA-aligned boat-launch or nonmotorized craft access, and trellis repairs at DoubleTree Ranch Park. Staff said some items were maintenance needs, while others were enhancements intended to increase use and future revenues. The board asked staff to return with lower-cost alternatives where possible (for example, temporary shade and tree plantings instead of a $62,000 replacement shade structure) and to provide more detailed cost estimates and maintenance implications for each request.

Staff outlined several specific cost drivers in the revised budget: an increase to professional services related to design work and right-of-way, a proposed $50,000 add to interactive play elements at the splash pad, $22,000 for playground tunnel repairs, and deferred interest allocations tied to multi-year capital timing. Personnel costs were forecast to be under budget, but supplies and services were expected to rise because of the extra professional-service charges and certain maintenance projects.

Board members repeatedly asked staff to verify whether the voter-approved dedicated sales tax (commonly called the 4B half-cent) included any sunset provisions and requested that staff confirm how long the tax had been authorized and whether funds may be redirected by a future ballot action. Staff committed to providing that legal and ballot-history information to the board.

The board also directed staff to provide more precise trend information for park field rental income (budgeted at $6,500 this year but realized so far at roughly $2,000), to check historical seasonal sales-tax collection patterns (particularly July–September), and to bring back more detail on how specific maintenance needs (trellis repairs, electrical work, pavilion upgrades) map to the 4B eligible uses.

What the budget vote means: The CDC adopted a baseline budget that preserves core operations and identified priority maintenance projects while deferring or reworking proposed supplemental spending. Staff will return with requested clarifications and lower-cost alternatives for board consideration ahead of any future supplemental allocations.

Votes at a glance
The board recorded a motion to approve the fiscal 2025–26 budget with supplementals omitted. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was given in the minutes beyond unanimous assent by members present.

Next steps
Staff will provide a follow-up packet that includes: (1) the ballot language and history for the dedicated half‑cent sales tax; (2) multi-year trend data for sales tax, park rental income and interest income; (3) refined, lower‑cost design options for the splash‑pad shade structure and other supplemental items; and (4) engineering/maintenance cost breakdowns for trellis repairs, electrical upgrades and the boat‑launch area so the board can decide whether any supplemental items should be funded via a budget amendment or deferred to the next fiscal year.

Ending note
Board members said the board’s fiscal responsibility—given lower revenue estimates and several outstanding project questions—required delaying supplemental approvals until staff could supply more detailed cost and maintenance information.