Tomball updates procurement policy to match new state bid threshold and raises departmental spending limits

The Tomball City Council approved amendments to Administrative Policy No. 9 to align the city’s purchasing procedures with recent state law that raises the competitive‑bidding threshold to $100,000. Councilors also approved internal changes to departmental expenditure authority limits and clarified purchasing and exception procedures. Staff said the changes were largely administrative and designed to match state law and to reduce unnecessary administrative burden for lower-dollar purchases; they also allow department directors and the city manager increased approval authority below the $100,000 competitive‑bid threshold. Staff stressed that all expenditures must still be appropriated in the budget and that controls exist through the financial system for oversight. Councilmembers discussed how the changes interact with cumulative vendor spend, blanket purchase orders and multi‑department purchases; staff described procedures and system reports that will flag aggregate spending by vendor and department to prevent bypassing competitive procurement rules. The motion to approve the procurement‑policy updates passed 5–0. Staff will publish updated procurement guidance and train department users on new approval limits.