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College Station council approves $32.7 million budget amendment; council also approves interfund transfers and consent agenda
Summary
On Jan. 8 the City Council approved Budget Amendment No. 1 for FY26 (raising the budget to about $506.94 million) to cover encumbrances, fleet and capital projects including State Highway 6 utility relocations and cemetery columbarium; the council also approved consent agenda items (including a $3.3M Medical District trunk line construction contract) and several interfund transfers.
The College Station City Council voted on Jan. 8 to adopt the city’s first budget amendment for fiscal year 2026, approving additional operating and capital appropriations totaling roughly $32.7 million and moving the amended budget to about $506,939,861.
Mary Ellen Leonard summarized the amendment during the public hearing, identifying roughly $10.48 million in encumbrances (about 75% of that for vehicles), $1.25 million in prior‑year single‑year agreements to roll forward, and operating additions that include an overhaul of Channel 19 control room equipment ($135,000) and a $600,000 deposit to TxDOT tied to tree replacement for the State Highway 6 project. Capital additions include replacement variable frequency drives at the Dowling Road pump station, a new cemetery columbarium ($950,000), $4 million for State Highway 6 utility relocation due to material/timeline increases, Lincoln Center improvements ($350,000), and synthetic field replacements at Veterans Park ($1.5 million).
Leonard read the ordinance reference associated with the amendment (the presentation referenced an ordinance number read aloud during the hearing). The council opened and closed the required public hearing with no public speakers on this item and approved the adjusted budget by motion; the council then approved the interfund transfers outlined in the staff presentation. Mayor John P. Nichols noted that certain consent items (7.7 and 7.9) appeared on the dais and were included in the consent action.
The consent agenda, approved unanimously, included a presentation and approval of a construction contract with Elliot Construction LLC for the Medical District trunk line (approximately $3.3 million plus a $355,150 contingency). City staff (Miss Kane) answered council questions about alignment, coordination with the Highway 6 project and likely temporary impacts to the Little Creek hike‑and‑bike trail, explaining that some segments are upgrades while other segments are new and that the project will be coordinated with the Highway 6 utility relocation work.
Why it matters: The amendment reauthorizes prior‑year commitments, accelerates selected vehicle and equipment purchases to avoid operational shortfalls, and provides funding for several high‑cost capital items tied to development and utility coordination along the State Highway 6 corridor. The interfund transfers move funds into capital projects for execution.
Votes at a glance: the consent agenda motion carried unanimously; Budget Amendment No. 1 and the interfund transfers were approved unanimously; motions to appoint members to boards and commissions also carried unanimously.
Next steps: Staff will proceed with purchasing and encumbrance actions and continue coordination with TxDOT and contractor partners as the Highway 6 relocation and associated water/wastewater projects move forward.
