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Aransas Pass reviews FY26 operating budget; adoption set for Sept. 15
Summary
City staff presented a FY26 operating budget that would leave capital projects to a separate October review, proposes a $29.1 million overall budget and a 1%–2.5% COLA depending on exempt status, and scheduled final adoption and tax-rate action for Sept. 15.
The Aransas Pass City Council on Monday reviewed a proposed FY26 operating budget that city staff said balances through department cuts and leaves capital projects for a separate discussion in October.
Finance Director Sandra told the council the proposed general‑fund operating budget for FY26 is “about $14,690,000,” with debt service around $3.8 million and proprietary funds — water, sewer, the aquatic center and the civic center — at roughly $7,270,000. She said the overall proposed city budget is about $29,100,000 and that the general‑fund balance is approximately $5.5 million, equal to about 36.8 percent of the general fund.
Sandra outlined revenue assumptions the budget relies on, including roughly $4.4 million in property tax receipts and about $3.0 million in sales tax. She also described a modest reduction in the city’s property tax rate as part of a plan to accommodate maintenance-and‑operations growth; staff noted the state permits a 3.5 percent maintenance‑and‑operations adjustment.
Council members pressed department leaders on savings and tradeoffs. The Police Chief presented a police operating budget of $5,319,455, with salaries and wages accounting for roughly $4.2 million; he said around $404,500 in forfeiture funds are proposed for vehicles, training and equipment. The Fire Chief described cuts to training and prevention line items while noting a likely $300,000 reimbursement from a Texas Forest Service pass‑through grant for apparatus purchased earlier.
On personnel, staff proposed a 1 percent cost‑of‑living adjustment for exempt employees and a 2.5 percent adjustment for nonexempt employees; Sandra said that COLA package would cost about $225,000. Staff also recommended two additional positions — one in public works and one in municipal court — in the operating plan.
City staff scheduled formal adoption of the budget and the tax rate for the Sept. 15 council meeting. The council did not vote on adoption Monday and directed staff to return with any clarifying numbers and additional outreach materials ahead of the September vote.
