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RCGCD board debates 2026 budget, designates reserve for land purchase and drops rodeo sponsorship
Summary
Board members reviewed the proposed 2026 budget, agreed to designate remaining reserve funds for a future land purchase, considered higher IT and fuel allocations and a 15% proposed salary increase for staff; the board removed a rodeo sponsorship after the district attorney raised legal concerns.
Directors of the Reeves County Groundwater Conservation District discussed the proposed 2026 budget at their July 17 meeting, focusing on several operational and one-time items including a substantial planned increase in software and IT spending, allocation of reserve funds for future property acquisition, staff compensation and whether to sponsor a local rodeo.
Amber Redden explained the proposed Software/IT/Website line would rise to $30,000 for system upgrades, website enhancements and ADA compliance, up from $11,550 in the 2024 budget. The board discussed the district’s office lease, which expires at the end of 2027, and agreed to designate remaining Reserve Fund dollars toward a future land or building purchase rather than waiting to amend the budget later.
General Manager Greg Perrin proposed a 'Special Projects' line to support water-quality research and potential collaboration with Sul Ross State University, including sponsoring graduate students to assist with research. James Beach noted that Texas currently lacks a dedicated hydrology degree program; the board considered the research collaboration as a potential investment in technical capacity.
President Benjamin Burnham recommended raising the fuel and mileage allocation to $10,000 and vehicle maintenance to $3,000; Amber Redden said she monitors fuel usage to prevent overruns. Burnham also proposed increasing Redden’s salary by 15% (previously suggested at 8.63%) while keeping her current car allowance; Ginny Barmore voiced support for boosting compensation. The board also discussed retirement and health insurance options but recorded no final decisions at the meeting.
District attorney Emily Rogers raised concerns that sponsoring the West of the Pecos Rodeo may not serve a valid public purpose under relevant legal standards; the board agreed to remove the rodeo sponsorship from the proposed budget. The board left the current tax rate unchanged and plans to vote on the final 2026 budget and tax rate at the next meeting on Aug. 22, 2025.
The minutes record discussion and direction but no final budget vote. The proposed line items and the board’s designation of reserve funds will reappear on the August agenda for formal action.
