Highland Village CDC adopts FY2025-26 budget and CIP update, omits supplemental requests

The Highland Village Community Development Corporation approved its fiscal 2025–26 budget and the annual update to the facilities development capital improvement program on a motion to adopt the base budget while omitting three supplemental requests.

Staff member Bill said the corporation had budgeted a substantially larger sales-tax increase for 2025 but was seeing only about a 1.1% year-over-year increase in collections to date; staff proposed reducing revenue estimates to reflect the shortfall. "In reality, we're really seeing, 1.1 increase over last year," Bill said during the discussion.

The vote followed extended discussion of revenue assumptions and several supplemental capital requests. Committee members raised concerns about sales-tax seasonality and park rental revenues: staff reported park fees and soccer-field rentals were running well below budgeted amounts (budgeted at $6,500; realized thus far about $2,000). Bill and other staff walked the board through program-level changes, including a proposed $50,000 increase for an additional interactive vertical play element in the splash pad and repairs to trellis and tunnel features on the trail system.

Board members discussed four categories of capital priorities called out in the CIP update: Briar Hill/Bridal Hill Boulevard trail connections, trail links from Barnett Boulevard to the district trail, a Highland Village Road-to-Unity Park trail connection along the railroad, and on-street bike-lane striping for portions of Doubletree Drive. Staff said the city has engaged an architectural firm to study the 407 corridor and will present findings at a joint meeting on Aug. 4.

Several supplemental requests drew detailed discussion but no immediate approval. Those proposals included: (a) repair or replacement of a failing trellis at DoubleTree Ranch Park (structural joists and lighting), (b) replacement or redesign of a sagging shade structure and consideration of lower-cost alternatives (center mast, umbrellas, or tree plantings), and (c) a resident-requested closer access point from ADA parking to the soccer fields (discussion centered on ADA safety implications and lower-cost alternatives such as relocating a handicap parking space rather than building new steps). For the shade structure, staff presented three options (new engineered structure, phased small-shade umbrellas, or tree plantings) and were asked to return with cost comparisons and community input.

Board members also reviewed two trail drainage trouble spots identified by staff and a resident. Staff described a proposed French-drain-style solution and lower-cost alternatives (gravel/rock sump, trench with river rock, or a smaller inlet and piped outlet). Members asked staff to provide both the engineered French-drain option and the simpler rock-sump alternative with cost estimates and maintenance implications.

After discussion, a member moved to adopt the budget without the three supplementals; the motion was seconded by Robert. The board voted in favor; the motion to adopt the base FY2025–26 budget and CIP update passed.

The board also approved the minutes from the April 17 meeting at the start of the session.

Staff and board directions recorded during the meeting included: verify whether the half-cent dedicated sales-tax measure adopted in 2004 included a sunset provision; provide sales-tax seasonal and quarterly collection comparisons for the last several years to firm 2025 projections; provide trending for park-fee and rental income (2023–2025) to support FY2026 assumptions; return with cost alternatives and maintenance implications for the trellis, shade-structure replacement, and the drainage fixes; and evaluate lower-cost options for improving ADA access to the soccer fields such as reconfiguring handicap parking.

Board members emphasized community engagement for any changes affecting parking or on-street striping, and staff said such projects will return for public meetings and council consideration before final design or implementation.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to approve minutes of the Highland Village Community Development Corporation meeting of April 17 — moved (not specified), seconded by Carla; outcome: approved. • Motion to adopt FY2025–26 budget and annual CIP update excluding three supplemental requests — mover not specified, seconded by Robert; outcome: approved.

The corporation directed staff to return with more detailed revenue trend data and cost comparisons for the supplemental requests before any supplemental budget amendments were considered.