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Mansfield parks board reviews FY26 budget, 10‑year capital plan emphasizing trails and athletic complexes
Summary
In a lengthy work session the board reviewed a proposed FY26 budget (presented as a 9% increase over this year's appropriation), revenue projections driven by sales tax growth (staff cited an 11.65% increase for the month), and a 10‑year capital plan prioritizing trails, Station 63 (Mansfield Sports Park) and Southwest Community Park.
At its June 19 meeting the Mansfield Parks Facilities Development Corporation held a detailed budget work session on the proposed FY26 budget and a 10‑year capital plan that prioritizes trail connections, athletic complexes and park maintenance.
Director Mr. Burke told the board the budget is being presented at roughly 9% above the current year's appropriation while noting sales tax receipts were up and that "this month, we're up 11.65%." Staff presented a revenue snapshot that included sales tax as the largest single revenue source and projected total revenues of about $14.6 million against projected operating expenditures of about $11.1 million and debt service around $2.77 million.
Key proposed changes discussed included a 3% proposed cost-of-living adjustment for personnel in the initial draft, an increase in the capital maintenance program from $300,000 to $400,000, and a separate $100,000 allocation aimed at ADA improvements and parking/striping fixes. Staff also proposed increasing security-camera funding and funding a mix of capital projects through cash and targeted debt.
On capital priorities, staff walked the board through project phasing for Catherine Rose Memorial Park (continuing work on phase 1B), Oliver Nature Park, a large Southwest Community Park concept (about 130 acres with multiphase athletic fields and infrastructure) and the new Mansfield Sports Park at Station 63. The Station 63 project was described as having operating subsidies the first five years and a projected $425,000 operating expense in FY26 tied to field utilities and a management fee.
Board members pressed for more detail on shared services costs. Staff noted a proposed increase in shared-services charges (the presentation showed a movement from $2.71 to $4.72 for the corporation's share) and explained those are budgeted formula amounts rather than reconciled actuals. A finance staffer said that apportionments are typically reworked as actuals become available and that the current figures are provisional for planning.
Other items covered included trail segments and alignment challenges (several segments labeled "gnarly" because of steep slopes, floodplain and easement constraints), design funding for West Community Park master planning, and grant-reimbursable work on the disc-golf course where Texas Parks & Wildlife may reimburse a portion of costs.
Staff said the next step is to consolidate the numbers and present a legible FY26 package at the July 8 meeting and, if needed, bring items back to the board before the public hearing and adoption expected at the council's August budget meeting. The board did not take final budget votes during this session.
The discussion will feed into the formal budget process; staff emphasized phasing for large projects and a conservative approach to revenue assumptions while noting room in cash for certain near-term projects.
