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Graham staff reports sales-tax dip; council adopts midyear budget amendment and approves monthly financials
Summary
City staff presented a sales-tax report showing a year-over-year decline and forecasted a lower revenue range; council adopted Ordinance No. 1193 to amend the FY2024–25 budget, approved monthly financial reports and scheduled an FY26 budget workshop.
City staff on May 20 reported that sales taxes collected for March 2025 totaled nearly $260,000, down roughly 7% from March 2024. Fiscal-year-to-date sales-tax receipts stood near $1.98 million; staff projected total FY2025 collections in the $2.9 million to $3.0 million range, short of the prior budget estimate of about $3.07 million.
Finance presentation notes highlighted that Graham and nearby Wichita Falls were outliers in the region with year-over-year declines, while several neighboring cities reported increases. Staff said construction-related retail (lumberyards, hardware) and general retail/restaurant activity showed declines that partially explain the drop; staff also noted that audit adjustments can produce month-to-month volatility in the reported figures.
In related action, the council adopted Ordinance No. 1193 to amend the FY2024–25 annual budget to account for midyear adjustments, including repairs to emergency communications equipment, arena and water-fund adjustments (pipe purchases, new billing system, increased electricity and vehicle repairs) and funding for generator installations at the arena and police department. Motion to adopt the ordinance passed by voice vote.
The council also approved the monthly financial reports for the period ended April 30, 2025. Staff summarized fund-level positions: the general fund retained cash and fund-balance reserves to cover a projected FY deficit of $300,000–$400,000 if realized; the garbage fund and sewer fund showed positive year-to-date operating positions; the water fund anticipated using fund balance to even out revenues and expenses.
Staff scheduled a public FY2026 budget workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22 at City Hall to review the proposed FY26 budget and discuss additions or deletions. Staff emphasized conservative revenue estimates heading into the FY26 budget cycle given sales-tax uncertainty.
Separately, the council unanimously accepted Resolution No. 215 to retroactively accept a Priddy Foundation grant supporting library information-technology needs; the resolution names City Manager Eric Garrity as the city’s grant administrator.
