Ballinger reviews draft FY2026 budget, flags personnel and dispatch cost pressures

Ballinger city staff presented the draft fiscal year 2026 budget and explained key revenue and expenditure lines at a council budget workshop. Lindsay, who led the presentation, said the general fund will cover core services including police, fire, streets and parks and described the budget’s major revenue sources and fund structure.

Lindsay said the general fund revenue breakdown in the presentation included roughly 33.23% from property taxes and 18.81% from sales tax, and noted that personnel costs are a large share of spending. “Every penny of your property tax rate is worth $23,874 to the city,” Lindsay said. She described a 3% cost-of-living adjustment scheduled to begin Oct. 1 and clarified that personnel was already consuming a substantial share of the budget.

Council members pressed staff on whether the 3% adjustment is a one-time payment or an ongoing raise; staff said it takes effect Oct. 1. Lindsay also noted a projected police vehicle purchase (a Tahoe) that may not be funded until FY2027. The presentation called out the need to monitor rising personnel spending so that payroll does not crowd out other services.

Staff flagged a late change in external cost estimates from the regional dispatch provider: Lindsay said the draft used $81,000 but the dispatch office later provided $89,000, leaving an $8,000 gap staff had not planned for. She urged better communication so the city can budget more accurately in future postings.

The council did not adopt a final budget at the workshop; staff said follow-up work remains, including confirming external invoices and finalizing the tax rate to be posted.