College Station, Texas Development News

City of College Station Proposes $576.35 Million FY27 Budget with Capital Investment Focus

The City of College Station presented its proposed FY27 budget of $576,346,943, a 21.53% increase from the previous year. The operating budget increased by 1.2%, while the capital budget saw a significant 115.5% rise. Key components include property taxes, with an estimated levy of $51.2 million for city operations and a total of $84.2 million in property taxes for 2027, and sales tax, with an anticipated 2% growth yielding approximately $535,000 in new revenue. The budget also accounts for inflation, with a 3% assumption for CPIU-tied fees and a 5% increase for solid waste services. Personnel costs include a 3% pay scale increase, a 1% market increase for non-step employees, and a 3% cost of living adjustment for public safety employees, with healthcare premiums remaining flat for the seventh consecutive year. The budget allocates funds for service level adjustments, including additional police officers, public works staff, and engineering personnel, as well as $2.5 million in one-time requests for software, maintenance, and studies. Capital appropriations total $181,597,000, with $169,400,000 designated for prioritized items from the January strategic capital meeting. The general fund is projected to have approximately $42.4 million unassigned by the end of FY27 after accounting for reserves and set-asides. The water fund's rates are not expected to increase in FY27 due to no debt payments until February 2027, though future increases in FY28 or FY29 are anticipated. The hotel tax fund shows a 2% revenue increase due to events like the AMTU game and others. A public hearing for the budget is scheduled for July 23rd at 6 p.m.