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Dripping Springs reviews parks budget; parks director outlines $3 million in prioritized projects
Summary
At an Aug. 19 budget workshop, city staff and the parks director reviewed parks revenues and operating costs and presented a prioritized list of park projects and equipment requests. Council set follow-up budget hearings for Sept. 2 and Sept. 16.
The Dripping Springs City Council reviewed proposed parks spending at a budget workshop during its Aug. 19 meeting, hearing from staff and the parks director about department revenue and a list of prioritized capital projects.
"Tonight's primary review will be over the parks general fund, parkland dedication, and parkland development," staff member Sean Cox said as he opened the workshop. Cox told the council that recent posting and notice concerns had been resolved with the city attorney, leaving a Sept. 2 public hearing on the tax rate and budget intact and adoption scheduled for Sept. 16.
Andrew Benz, director of parks and community services, said the parks department projects roughly $685,964 in revenue and $514,380 in operating expenses for the coming year and presented a list of projects prioritized by the parks and recreation commission. Benz said the commission’s top projects include a path-to-pond and playground access at Dripping Springs Ranch Park, restroom improvements, fencing replacements, irrigation work, and athletic-field lighting at the Sports & Rec Park. "The total project's coming in close to 3,000,000 at this point," Benz said.
Benz also outlined equipment needs: replacement of an aging tractor, an additional skid steer to avoid work stoppages when the only current unit is in use or being repaired, and a Z-turn mower plus trailer to handle site-specific mowing needs. Council members asked for a five‑year equipment and replacement schedule to support budgeting; staff said a five‑year vehicle and equipment replacement plan is being prepared.
Cox explained that some park-related revenues and expenditures were temporarily removed from the general fund projection until council decides which projects to restore to the FY26 budget, and he noted that late receipts had increased certain fund balances for parkland dedication and Founders' Day. He also said hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) receipts for FY25 were higher than initially estimated and that those figures may continue to rise as remaining receipts are posted.
Next steps: staff will present DSRP, DSVB and HOT fund details at the Sept. 2 workshop and conduct the public hearing on the budget and tax rate that night; adoption and ratification are scheduled at the Sept. 16 meeting.
