Weslaco commission advances FY2026 budget (first reading) and approves multiple contracts and ordinances

Weslaco’s City Commission on Sept. 2 advanced multiple budget and procurement items, giving first reading to the proposed FY2026 budget and approving several ordinance actions, contract awards and a federally funded equipment gift.

Budget and ordinances: Finance staff presented a balanced proposed budget and recommended the first approval of Ordinance 2025-19 (FY2026 appropriations). Commissioners moved to conduct the first reading and a roll-call vote was conducted. Staff also presented the master fee schedule updates (Ordinance 2025-20) and a new construction fund to house recently received bond proceeds (Ordinance 2025-21); both ordinances were approved.

Equipment and procurement: The commission accepted a surveillance trailer donated via U.S. Border Patrol funding through Operation Stone Garden (quoted at about $52,000) for use as needed by police or for city events. Finance recommended awarding the city’s commercial insurance package to Texas Municipal League at an estimated annual premium of $994,134 (a roughly 16.74% increase over the expiring premium); the commission approved the award.

Library and public-works awards: Commissioners approved a $721,000 award to Library Interiors of Texas for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the new Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Public Library (about $570,000 for furniture and $151,000 for shelving), and awarded RFB #20201 for rehabilitation of the NWWTP sludge-pump station to Texas Machine Shop Pump Services LLC for $97,000 as the lowest responsive bidder.

Drainage funding: Staff reported receipt of approximately $30,000,000 in bond proceeds and the commission established Fund 419 as the 2025 Construction Fund to account for that capital. Separately, the commission approved a $29,500 assessment and design agreement with Melden and Hunt Inc. to scope drainage improvements on Business 83 at Pleasant View Drive.

Votes and procedure: Most approvals were taken by motion and voice vote; the budget first reading was carried out as a roll-call action per statutory requirements for budget adoption. The commission then recessed into executive session on personnel, legal and multiple real-property matters and returned to take several executive-session actions before adjourning at 7:06 p.m.

Next steps: Staff will continue design work on drainage items, proceed with library FF&E procurement and implement insurance coverage as awarded. The budget will return for additional readings and final adoption according to the city’s public-notice schedule.