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Jersey Village officials preview $9.3 million phase 1 of city campus; propose $1.3M in FY27 budget and use of fund balance
Summary
City Manager Luis told the council the city plans a $9.3 million phase 1 of a city campus (administration and public works) and asked council to include about $1.3–$1.4 million in the FY2027 budget while drawing the remainder from reserves rather than issuing bonds for phase 1.
City Manager Luis told the Jersey Village City Council at a May 18 budget work session that phase 1 of a planned city campus — administration, public works and lobby space — is estimated at $7.9 million for construction plus roughly $1.4 million for furniture, fixtures, equipment and contingency for a $9.3 million total.
Luis said the FY2027 budget the city will present in July will include a requested allocation of about $1.3–$1.4 million and that staff plans to draw the remainder from the city’s fund balance. “Our reserve position is fairly strong,” he said, adding that the city finished fiscal 2025 with about $7 million in reserves and currently has an available fund balance just over $8 million.
Why it matters: Funding choices for the campus will affect the city’s short-term fiscal flexibility and future capital planning. Councilors pressed staff on whether to place a bond question before voters instead of using cash. Luis said council retains the option to put a bond proposition on the ballot but cautioned that issuing bonds for the relatively small phase 1 amount would be less cost-effective than using cash on hand.
Staff also flagged other capital needs for FY2027: roughly $17–$18 million in utility construction (water, wastewater and sewer) for which the city is planning bond sales in July or August and said it had secured about $1 million in grant funds to offset some utility costs.
Council reaction and next steps: Councilors asked whether paying for phase 1 primarily from fund balance would limit funding for other items, such as road and bridge projects. Staff replied that no additional road and bridge projects are planned before 2031 and that fund balance allocations are a council decision. Luis said staff will bring final, guaranteed maximum prices and additional budget detail to the council for review as design and procurement progress; he indicated more definitive construction pricing should be available in October.
The work session was an informational step in the FY2027 process; the formal proposed budget will be available to the council in July for further direction and possible revisions.
