City of Laredo projects roughly $9 million general-fund shortfall; staff outlines tax-rate, financing and spending options

City of Laredo budget staff told the City Council at a March 28 pre‑budget workshop that revenues currently projected for fiscal 2025–26 leave a gap with proposed expenditures and that council direction is needed on borrowing and spending priorities.

Jesus Esparza, budget department, presented updated revenue estimates and said the city’s preliminary taxable value is about $27.8 billion and that staff now expects about $98 million in property tax revenue for the general‑fund maintenance & operations (M&O) portion next year. “With now the preliminary values that come in, we’re projecting about $98,000,000 being generated through this the the new appraisal,” Esparza said. He and city manager Ramon Neff also flagged that some proposed expenditures and personnel requests would push general‑fund growth…