Harlingen commission adopts budgets, tax rates and multiple ordinances; staff to pursue energy and drainage studies

The Harlingen City Commission on Aug. 19 approved the city's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, accepted the Harlingen Waterworks system budget and adopted tax-rate measures while clearing a slate of routine items and land-use ordinances.

The commission voted on a mix of routine and substantive items in a meeting that included presentations on water and wastewater capital projects, a proposed energy-savings program from Schneider Electric and a prioritized list of in-house drainage improvements. Commissioners also approved a planning contract for a segment of the Arroyo Colorado hike-and-bike trail and changes to the city's limousine permit rules.

The city's budget ordinance (first reading) and the related record vote moved forward during the meeting. Commissioners also fixed the maintenance-and-operations tax rate at 0.458038 per $100 valuation and the interest-and-sinking rate at 0.068022 per $100. The combined proposed property-tax rate was 0.52606 per $100, described in staff materials as a 3.33% change in the tax-rate calculation. The commission scheduled a second and final reading for Sept. 3.

Separately, the Harlingen Waterworks finance director presented the waterworks budget for FY2026, showing projected revenues of $27,712,334, projected expenses of $29,017,493 and a capital outlay request of $48,258,179 tied to multiple water and wastewater projects. The commission adopted a resolution accepting that budget.

On consent and ordinance items the commission: - Approved installation of speed humps at multiple neighborhood locations requested by commissioners; - Granted a special-use permit for a food-truck park at 2906 S. Expressway 83; - Rezoned a 25.78-acre parcel along Bridal Drive to single-family residential (R-1); - Amended the comprehensive plan to remove a proposed extension of New Hampshire Street as a collector road; - Approved revisions to limousine and commercial passenger-vehicle permitting and fee schedules (ordinance changes were approved subject to legal review); - Approved a planned-development rezoning for the Sun Country Estates area with a street-width amendment; - Approved preliminary construction plans for Sun Country Estates Phase 3 and other subdivision items; - Named a new pocket park the Gale Butterfly Garden Park in District 2.

The commission also approved a prioritized list of in-house drainage improvement projects for FY2026 and FY2027 and authorized the city manager to proceed with implementation in coordination with county drainage and irrigation districts. The list includes, among other projects, outfall work at Limbscomb Ditch, the Westway outfall and larger projects on the Little Creek corridor.

The commission authorized awarding a $332,355 professional-services contract to Shavey Consulting for design and environmental permitting related to Phase 3 of the Arroyo Colorado hike-and-bike trail (planning from McKelvey Park toward Hugh Ramsey Park). A member of the public objected during the meeting to property impacts that could result from future right-of-way work; commissioners said the contract is for planning and design and does not itself take property.

In other business the commission voted to proceed with a detailed energy and building-systems analysis with Schneider Electric. Schneider presented two options, including a smaller LED lighting and building-controls package ($~3 million in project scope that the firm said could be self-funding via energy savings) and a larger, more comprehensive option. Schneider requested $57,000 to fund the 30/60/90 percent design and financial-analysis phase; commissioners asked staff to return with a formal action item for a later meeting.

Several items were approved unanimously; the record vote on tax matters showed at least one dissent on parts of the tax-rate discussion. The commission retired to executive session on a personnel matter and later reconvened to proceed as discussed in closed session.

Votes at a glance (high-level outcomes from the meeting record): - City budget (FY2026): ordinance adopted on first reading; record vote taken; second reading scheduled Sept. 3. - Property tax rates (FY2026): maintenance and operations 0.458038/$100; interest-and-sinking 0.068022/$100; combined rate 0.52606/$100; record votes taken. - Harlingen Waterworks system budget: resolution accepting budget adopted. - Speed-hump installations: approved (consent). - Food truck park (2906 S. Expressway 83): special-use permit approved. - Rezoning and subdivision matters described above: approved as presented or amended. - Limousine ordinance changes and fee schedule update: approved (subject to legal review). - Arroyo Colorado hike-and-bike trail, Phase 3: contract for planning and permitting awarded to Shavey Consulting. - Schneider Electric energy-savings analysis: commission directed staff to return with an action item to initiate the next engineering/financial phase.

For official motions, ordinance language, vote tallies and related documents, the commission record and the meeting packet provide the formal text and record votes.