Seabrook City Council on Sept. 9 reviewed a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget of more than $60 million and approved several floor amendments to the capital improvement program and one‑time spending requests.

City staff presented a high‑level budget showing total spending of roughly $60,000,000 across general, enterprise, special and capital funds. The general fund was presented at about $15.6 million, with personnel costing about 71 percent of that total. Staff said property tax revenue accounts for roughly 44 percent of the city’s revenues and sales tax about 15 percent. The capital improvement program (CIP) in the packet totaled more than $26 million and listed projects in wastewater, streets, parks and facility work.

Because the certified tax roll from the Harris County Appraisal District was not yet available, staff recommended moving forward with the budget calendar while waiting for certified values to set the tax rate. Staff proposed holding a public hearing on the budget and tax rate on Sept. 25.

At the meeting councilors approved multiple amendments and one‑time expenditures. Council voted unanimously to:

- Add $600,000 for facility renovations to address prioritized needs in the police department and City Hall and to fund a design phase; staff said the $600,000 would be drawn from anticipated prior‑year surplus and return with recommended projects.
- Approve $24,000 to resurface a full basketball court at Brommerhoff Park and direct that cost be paid from prior‑year funds (staff said the parks fund showed roughly $36,000 on paper, with $10,000 of that a recent donation).
- Remove Hester Park parking from the FY‑26 CIP and instead add Robinson Park parking as the nearer‑term parking project.
- Restore demolition of the Pine Gully pier to the CIP and budget an approximate $400,000 demolition, with staff identifying $200,000 of capital fund match and county grant matching potential; staff said the 2022 estimate for demolition was about $400,000.

Council also voted to accept the budget schedule and set a public hearing on the fiscal 2025–26 budget and a tax‑rate public hearing for Sept. 25. The council-recorded motions and votes were unanimous on the listed amendments.

City staff said they will post the full budget and CIP to the city website and return on or before Sept. 25 with the certified tax roll numbers to finalize the tax rate and adoption.