During a recent government meeting, officials presented an overview of the city’s $194 million budget, highlighting key allocations and ongoing challenges. The budget includes funding for various programs, notably an outside agency program introduced by Joel in a previous meeting, as well as financial support for the Texas Zoo and the community center. The community center and youth sports complex benefit from hotel occupancy tax dollars, which are utilized to attract visitors for events.

Officials emphasized the importance of being mindful of economic trends that could impact sales tax revenue and operational challenges, particularly concerning employee retention and recruitment. Although the proposed pay program may not meet initial expectations, city leaders are committed to addressing these issues through the establishment of internal committees aimed at developing new strategies.

The city plans to use fiscal year 2025 as an opportunity to reassess and tackle retention and recruitment challenges, with the goal of presenting a more effective plan in fiscal year 2026. Officials reassured stakeholders that these challenges remain a priority and that a collaborative approach will be taken moving forward. The budget details are available on the city’s website for public review.