Live Oak EDC approves transfer to fund parks projects after budget workshop

The Live Oak Economic Development Corporation on July 22 reviewed its 2025–26 budget, discussed major line items and funding priorities — including a $600,000 water-rights allocation and continued support for the hometown news publication — and approved a transfer from the EDC fund to the city’s capital projects fund to support parks projects identified in the city’s 2024 parks master plan.

EDC staff member Donna explained the budget overview, saying the EDC’s budget “stayed very conservative this year while still providing the long term investments that we make with our city.” She described several recurring and planned expenditures, including a $5,000 increase for postage and production of the hometown news, a continued $100,000 allocation for VIP (parking and lighting improvements among the priorities) and a $600,000 line item for purchasing water rights as leases become available.

Leroy, city staff, framed the budget-setting approach and revenue assumptions: “A budget is predominantly a book of assumptions,” he said, noting sales-tax receipts were expected to grow modestly and that he used conservative assumptions to avoid overestimating revenues. He also described a drop in the EDC’s required debt-service transfer (from an older bond) that freed capacity in the fund, and said staff expects the health-insurance renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield to come in materially lower than earlier projections.

The largest funding proposal discussed was a set of parks projects recommended from the 2024 parks master plan. Staff presented a consolidated project list with an aggregate estimated cost of roughly $1.8 million to $1.85 million for items such as playground equipment, walking trails, a basketball pavilion (listed at about $522,000) and a kayak launch (about $150,000). Staff noted the pavilion and kayak-launch line items would require a local match if grant funding is awarded — staff said the grant match would be 50 percent for those two items, meaning the EDC/city share would be roughly half of those project costs if the grants are approved.

Board members debated scope and pacing. Some members urged a cautious, multi-year rollout so projects do not compete with other obligations; others advocated funding the full package. Questions included maintenance and liability for amenities such as a proposed sand volleyball court; one board member opposed pursuing the volleyball court because of ongoing maintenance and liability concerns. Staff clarified that if the EDC agrees to fund the package, the actual transfers to capital projects would be staged and City Council would decide which projects to include in each year’s capital budget.

After discussion, Director Coburn moved — and a second was recorded — to transfer the recommended amount from the EDC fund to the capital projects fund. The motion text as captured in the meeting record was transcribed as: “Motion to go ahead and fund the recommended presented amount of $1,000,008.05 3.988. Transfer that to the council budget.” Staff later summarized the motion in the record as a transfer from the EDC fund of $1,853,988 (transcript text: “transfer from the EDC fund 1.853, $9.08 8, to the … capital projects fund”). The motion carried on a voice vote; the meeting record shows unanimous assent and does not list individual roll-call votes.

Other budget items raised during the workshop included: - Water rights: staff proposed retaining a $600,000 allocation for purchasing water rights as leases or sellers become available. Staff said the line could be revisited if a seller offers more water rights than the budgeted amount; any transfer above the line would be returned to the EDC board for approval. - Hometown news: staff said the $5,000 increase was driven by postage and production costs and discussed continuing a printed edition vs. a digital-only approach; Mad Women Marketing (the publication vendor) will be asked for distribution analytics. - VIP program: the EDC’s $100,000 VIP allocation will focus on parking-lot and lighting improvements rather than new signage. - Professional fees and land purchases: staff noted budgeted professional fees to cover closings and title services if the city completes small land acquisitions, including a parcel discussed for a small park/monument site (funded at roughly $100,000–$150,000 in the draft budget).

Staff and board members emphasized the transfer is intended to create capacity to fund projects identified in the parks plan and that actual project starts will be subject to City Council decisions and timing. Staff said projects could be completed over multiple years and that transfers will be staged within the capital projects fund based on council direction.

The motion to transfer the recorded amount carried by voice vote. Staff said the proposed transfer and the budget as discussed would be reflected in the draft budget published for the city secretary and later considered by City Council for inclusion in the annual budget process.

The EDC adjourned following the workshop.