Pampa staff previews budget process; departments present $34 million initial request

City staff presented an introductory briefing on the City of Pampa’s fiscal-year budget and timeline at the commission meeting on June 23, 2025, laying out department requests, projected personnel increases and statutory deadlines for adoption.

The briefing — led by staff member Teresa and supported by staff member Shane — outlined that the city maintains 22 separate funds, 15 of which staff expect to review during the formal budget process. Staff said departments’ initial, untrimmed requests total roughly $34 million when capital needs are included; the initial general fund proposals were about $18.6 million, rising to $19.7 million after a personnel analysis and to roughly $34 million when capital requests are added.

Why it matters: staff emphasized that the figures presented are the departments’ opening requests, not a final proposed budget, and asked commissioners for guidance ahead of a July–August work schedule that culminates in formal filings and public hearings required by charter and state law.

City staff explained the process and timetable. Teresa said the city started the process in early March by requesting departmental budgets and capital requests and that management will now review and trim requests. Shane described the cycle of meetings as “the first round” for departments to list needs and later rounds to reconcile needs with available resources.

Staff detailed several calendar milestones: a budget work session proposed for August 4, a target to file the proposed budget with the city secretary by August 15, and a note that state law requires a formally adopted budget by Oct. 1. Teresa said a public hearing must be held at least 15 days after the proposed budget is filed.

On fund structure and revenue mix, Teresa told commissioners the city’s general fund revenue sources are varied; property tax accounted for about 22 percent of the general fund, sales tax about 25 percent, franchise fees roughly 8 percent and charges for services about 29 percent. She noted those ratios vary across municipalities.

Personnel and on-going costs were a focus. Teresa said staff completed a personnel- compensation analysis that compared Pampa to at least ten similar cities and identified several positions that lag market pay, notably in police and fire. Incorporating personnel adjustments would increase the general fund to about $19.7 million. Separately, departments requested new positions and ongoing compensation changes that would add about $1.3 million in annual recurring personnel costs if fully funded.

Capital asks were also substantial. Staff pointed to expensive enterprise needs in water and wastewater — including replacement equipment — and cited a recent compactor cost that rose from $800,000 to about $1.2 million. Teresa characterized the $34 million number as a “wish list” that staff expects to pare down during upcoming work sessions.

Commissioners and staff discussed the compressed calendar and the charter requirement that budget-related ordinances and resolutions receive two readings before final adoption, which compresses the timetable for votes. Staff asked that commissioners note potential conflicts in their summer schedules because quorum is required to meet statutory deadlines.

Next steps: staff advised commissioners to review the binder of departmental requests and return with guidance and questions prior to the August work session. Shane said the coming meetings will move from broad requests to realistic funding options and trade-offs.

Ending: staff said they will present a formal proposed budget for filing after the August work session and noted that detailed departmental justifications are in the distributed packet for commissioners’ review.