With the fiscal year 2026-27 Jersey Village city budget proposal approaching, City Council will meet May 18 to prepare for the proposal in July.

The overview

Approximately $1.4 million will be moved from the general fund to the Capital Improvement Program for Phase 1 of the City Campus project. According to the FY 2027 budget memo, council established this project as a priority. Phase 1 of the project includes improving the city administrative building and public lobby, the public works building and required site work.

Various existing expenses, such as debt service costs and health insurance premiums, are expected to see cost increases that will shape the FY 2026-27 budget, per the budget memo. The Maintenance and Operations property tax rate is planned to remain flat.

City Manager Austin Bleess and staff will evaluate the following departments’ budget requests:

City SecretaryCommunity DevelopmentFinance and Municipal CourtFire DepartmentHuman ResourcesInnovation and TechnologyPolice DepartmentParks, Recreation, Public Works and Project ManagementAssessing the need

City Council will discuss incorporating three items into the budgeting process:

Continuation of the summer camp program, as the city is anticipated to have an operational pool in 2027Total compensation analysis and organizational GAP analysis for the cityShift of the employee merit increase to reflect the current economic marketNo formal action regarding these items is required to be taken at the May 18 meeting.

Looking forward

The proposed budget book is anticipated to be with City Council no later than July 2, and a meeting to discuss the budget is slated for July 17, per the budget memo.

The upcoming budget work session will be held May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Jersey Meadow Convention Center.

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