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Levelland staff outlines FY26 budget timeline, flags certificates of obligation and TIF review
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Summary
City staff told the council the FY26 budget process will be largely flat, highlighted upcoming decisions on certificates of obligation, and said staff is reviewing tax increment financing (TIF) impacts and awaiting the end of the legislative session for changes that could affect the budget.
City staff briefed the Levelland City Council at a May meeting on the timeline for the fiscal year 2026 budget, the planned summer schedule of budget workshops and summer meetings, and upcoming decisions about issuing certificates of obligation and reviewing tax increment financing (TIF) balances.
A city staff member (presenter) said the administration is asking departments to prepare a largely flat budget for FY26 while identifying necessary items separately so the council can prioritize them. The staff member said the city has received preliminary numbers from the appraisal district and is "looking at those to see how they affect us." The staff member also told council the municipal finance adviser will meet with staff to refine proposals before the council receives a memo and draft documents.
Staff flagged several items the council will consider: whether to issue certificates of obligation, the effect of TIF funds as property values rise, and possible state-law changes after the current legislative session affecting voter-approval and de minimis rates. The presenter said the council has "some big decisions this summer" and asked members to send their availability for planned budget work sessions. The city indicated budget work sessions typically intensify from mid-July through mid-August and that a preliminary budget is planned to be ready for council review by July.
Council members raised scheduling conflicts for proposed summer and August meeting dates and asked staff to account for those when setting workshop dates. Staff also noted a separate departmental budget for animal services established in the prior year; other departmental expenditures are expected to be similar to the current year.
No formal budget actions or votes were taken at the meeting; staff provided the timeline and asked council to submit scheduling conflicts so the city can plan the workshop calendar.
