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City separates community engagement and tourism funds, shows staffing adjustments in FY2026 budget
Summary
Staff presented a split budget for community engagement (general fund) and tourism (tourism fund transfers), listing recent accomplishments and projected FTE changes: community engagement holds roughly 3 positions and $401,004.61 in expenses; tourism shows 3.5 positions and a transition of some positions to the general fund.
City staff separated the community engagement division and tourism fund budgets during the July 29 FY2026 budget workshop, explaining how positions and expenses are split between the general fund and the tourism fund.
The presentation listed recent achievements from community engagement — including a comprehensive communications plan for the Andapas project, a reported 150% increase in social media followers, and a revised special-events permit process — and a tourism program that relaunched the tourism website, hosted regional events such as the Bluebonnet Trails and festival, and secured a historic designation for the Ellis Bluebonnet Trails.
Staff showed the proposed community engagement general-fund expense total of $401,004.61 and a staffing plan that results in approximately 3.0 FTEs for community engagement and 3.5 FTEs funded from the tourism fund for tourism-specific roles (market coordinator, welcome center staff and related positions). Several part-time positions are consolidated into full-time equivalents; staff noted transfers from the tourism fund into the general fund began in prior fiscal years and continue to fund some positions.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about which positions are part time, who receives salaries from which fund, and the effect on general-fund obligations if positions are carried forward while vacant. Staff responded that the presentation includes an organizational chart and that the FY2026 budget will show the funding source for each position and the net effect on the general fund.
Next steps: Staff will include the separated budgets and org-chart clarifications in the next workshop materials so the commission can review any proposed position changes before final budget adoption.
