Texarkana A&P Commission approves FY2026 budget, asks for bond timeline and economic-impact analysis

The Texarkana Advertising & Promotion Commission on a voice roll call approved its fiscal year 2026 budget after an extended discussion about a proposed parks capital bond and how it would affect grant funding.

Unidentified staff, who presented the budget, said the packet included a late revision reallocating $267,000 into the parks line and estimated that contractual expenses and the bond payment would bring FY2026 expenses to “about 1,200,000 in expenses, and then you'll end with a fund balance of about $331,000.” The presenter also told commissioners that the commission's A&P fund should keep a minimum reserve of $150,000.

Why it matters: Commissioners weighed whether to prioritize continuing grant awards or to invest A&P money in a larger capital project intended to attract more tournaments and tourism revenue. Staff said a bond would reduce the annual pool available for discretionary grants to roughly…