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Council approves EDC, TIRZ, water district and chamber budgets; updates hotel‑occupancy tax agreement to increase city oversight
Summary
Council approved FY2025–26 budgets for the city’s economic development and tax‑increment entities, the municipal water district and the chamber’s tourism services, and amended the hotel‑occupancy tax agreement to increase city oversight and require unused hotel‑tax balances be returned to the city at fiscal year‑end.
(Note: This article covers multiple related budget and tourism governance items approved at the meeting.)
The Mineral Wells City Council approved fiscal year 2025–26 budgets for the Mineral Wells Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) No. 2, the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1, and the Mineral Wells Chamber of Commerce tourism services. Council also approved a revised municipal hotel‑occupancy tax funding agreement between the city and the chamber that tightens oversight and changes how unused hotel‑tax fund balances are handled.
The EDC board had approved its proposed budget in August and the council voted to accept it. The TIRZ No. 2 budget — which staff said includes a $2.4 million contract for downtown park amenities (restrooms, pickleball courts and related work) — was approved without change. The water district’s budget was presented in revised form following actions affecting water project timing; staff noted adjustments tied to not issuing a large bond this year for Turkey Peak and related changes to water sales and debt retirement figures.
The chamber’s tourism budget showed a revenue reclassification (the Main Street manager salary portion will remain on the city’s books rather than the chamber’s) and a reduction in travel and trade show expenses; the chamber said it reworked line items to move toward a balanced budget.
Council approved amendments to the hotel‑occupancy tax funding agreement that, among other things, require the city to hold unused hotel‑tax fund balances at fiscal year‑end (hot funds will remain hotel‑tax revenue but the city will hold the balance), add the city manager to the tourism director’s hiring and performance review process, and expand the tourism advisory board from five to seven members with two seats reserved for city representatives. Chamber and city staff said the changes aim to improve fiscal oversight, coordination and alignment with the city’s budgeting timetable. The agreement passed on a council vote.
