Bellaire city manager presents $140 million capital plan, staff seeks 3% step raises and utility rate increases

City Manager Sharon Satino presented the City of Bellaire’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget July 21, saying the total appropriation is “close to $140,000,000,” driven primarily by capital projects and one-time transfers.

Satino said the proposed budget continues the city’s five strategic goals—community, governance, infrastructure and asset management, public safety, and land use—and includes a 3% step increase for eligible employees and a projected 20% rise in medical costs that, together with step pay, the staff estimates will amount to roughly a 4% personnel cost increase overall.

Chief Financial Officer Terrence Beeman reviewed revenue and expenditure assumptions: general fund revenues about $30.8 million, enterprise fund revenues about $16.4 million, and property-tax growth assumptions totaling roughly 5% (3.5% voter-approval rate plus about 1.5% from new construction). The budget assumes a 3% increase in sales tax…