At a city council workshop, Finance Director Castillo presented an initial draft of the City of Eagle Pass fiscal year 2025–26 budget, describing revenue and expense forecasts and a timeline that will lead to budget filing and the three readings required for adoption.

The presentation showed proposed operational revenues of about $61 million and operational expenditures of roughly $56.2 million across all funds, producing an early estimated deficit of approximately $3.2 million. Castillo said department capital outlay requests total about $6.4 million and that personnel-request detail and line-item requests would be provided to council. He emphasized that the current figures reflect a work-in-progress and that staff will pare requests to deliver a balanced budget for the August 15 distribution.

Key figures presented included projected general fund operational revenues of $22.3 million (plus roughly $6.3 million in transfers) and proposed general fund operational expenses near $34.2 million, which produced an initial general-fund deficit in the draft. The International Bridge fund was shown with projected revenues near $19.7 million and a small projected surplus; Castillo noted bridge transfers are a major source supporting general government operations.

The presentation included debt-service totals and maturities: projected ending principal of roughly $56.2 million and total debt near $72 million at 9/30/2025 (figures provided as the finance office develops final reconciliation). Castillo and staff said they will provide a line-item detailed budget packet, will consult with department directors to reduce capital and personnel requests, and will share the proposed budget with council by email on Aug. 15.

Councilmembers asked for additional details on several items, including staffing proposals in the bridge department, the conversion of a part-time municipal solid-waste clerk to full time, possible victim-advocate or case-management support for the police department’s investigative unit, and prioritization of small capital projects such as finishing the police department building. Staff agreed to follow up with the requested breakdowns.

Timeline stated by staff: provide the proposed budget to the city secretary by Aug. 15 for council distribution; begin readings around Aug. 19; publish the tax and budget notice by Aug. 30; second reading by Sept. 9 and final reading/adoption on Sept. 16, 2025. The session was informational; no budget action was taken at the workshop.