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College Station - Massive Proposed Budget and Future Property Taxes

4,015 Views | 30 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by Bob Yancy
TLRS
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College Station staff has presented a massive budget increase, to include another Taj Mahal city building. The proposed public works facility has increased from a $30M project to a $60M project, primarily for the purpose of maintaining trucks and emergency vehicles which could be done with a much more reasonable solution. Is it just me, or has the staff done a really good job of spending our taxpayer money on top of the line new city buildings for the last 7 years?

There are so many hot topics in this budget discussion. Please listen to the last 32 minutes of the budget meeting that took place yesterday. Once again, Councilman Yancy seems to be the only person concerned with this massive budget, and the other council people seemed to attack him on his reasonableness.

Here is the video, the council members comments are the last 32 minutes.

localag0165
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I agree, the public works facility for $60M is crazy! But, not a surprise since we have built a new city hall and a new police station under this city manager. I thought we needed a new the police station, but we still haven't done anything with the old one. Let's just house public works office people at the old police station and build a new maintenance building! This plan will leave us with another major public facility sitting vacant for no reason. Not to mention the vacant Macy's building the staff pushed on us, the citizens, to buy and sit vacant.

However, I think the biggest problem I see is the Hensel Park contribution. Texas A&M doesn't need our money to do their projects, and they certainly wouldn't contribute to ours. Why do we keep giving them money? Maybe because their employees are always on our city council? I think one of our current council members is the parks person at TAMU. Remember when we gave them $35M for the Kyle Field West expansion in exchange for conference space use, but then they made the rules so strict we can't really use it? Come on people! TAMU is going to do whatever TAMU wants to do, and our taxpayers don't need to subsidize them!
MsDoubleD81
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Well, the filing period for candidacy is July 18 through Aug. 17. I think they are waiting to see what Yancy/Nichols decide to do.
hydes11
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It appears the budget has officially passed through the council chamber. I'm more at peace with it than I was on Monday, but there are still a couple of funding decisions that concern me.

Throughout the discussions, Council emphasized that many of these projects are "needs," and to be fair, many of them are. However, I also see the City preparing for a major redevelopment effort along Harvey Road without any corresponding capital investments planned over the next five years.

Midtown tells a similar story. While significant funding is going toward the baseball fields and Texas Independence Park, the Town Lake Drive extension still isn't scheduled until, at the earliest, 2029and that's assuming the City ultimately uses the unassigned roadway extension funding for that project.

One phrase that kept coming up was that the budget is a "guiding document." I'll be interested to see whether that proves true as individual capital projects and expenditures come before Council on future consent agendas. That's where priorities become real.
doubledog
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localag0165 said:

I agree, the public works facility for $60M is crazy! But, not a surprise since we have built a new city hall and a new police station under this city manager. I thought we needed a new the police station, but we still haven't done anything with the old one. Let's just house public works office people at the old police station and build a new maintenance building! This plan will leave us with another major public facility sitting vacant for no reason. Not to mention the vacant Macy's building the staff pushed on us, the citizens, to buy and sit vacant.

However, I think the biggest problem I see is the Hensel Park contribution. Texas A&M doesn't need our money to do their projects, and they certainly wouldn't contribute to ours. Why do we keep giving them money? Maybe because their employees are always on our city council? I think one of our current council members is the parks person at TAMU. Remember when we gave them $35M for the Kyle Field West expansion in exchange for conference space use, but then they made the rules so strict we can't really use it? Come on people! TAMU is going to do whatever TAMU wants to do, and our taxpayers don't need to subsidize them!

When you are the big dog, you get the big bone. It is not that TAMU employees are on the council, it is that TAMU can play CoCS off of Bryan any time they want something shiny. The fact is that TAMU is the economic engine for CoCS and Bryan and they know it.
hopeandrealchange
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While watching the budget meeting video I saw something I have not seen in quite sometime in College Station.
Thank you Councilman Yancy for bringing a business mind to the process.
localag0165
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1. The city of CS private sector surpassed TAMU as the leading employer a while back.
2. TAMU isn't really going to take our desires into consideration no matter what we do as a city.
3. Hensel Park is practically in Bryan anyway, and hardly any of our taxpaying citizens in College Station live anywhere near it.
4. TAMU can't leave CS, it's here.
maroon barchetta
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Tailgate88
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What is the proposed project for Hensel park?
Valen
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It's a massive budget and I truly wish they'd trim down some of the CIP. I am more interested in how much of a tax rate increase they're going to increase. I will say, I'm the only citizen who protested the arbitrary tax rate increase that was done out of fear from state legislation. (Again Councilman Yancy was the only one who didn't vote for it.)

There's a 3% increase on tax base, but a 2% decrease on property tax value. (Seems like a lot more people are protesting!)

Fire & Police are getting a 3% cost of living & Step raise.

One of my biggest concerns is the fact we spent 10+ million dollars on Krenek tap road rebuild, but now we don't want to use the public works building attached to that road…. Major problem.

I also think 10 million dollars for Hensel is a bit of a joke because we've received (to my knowledge) absolutely 0 idea of is even going to go there as a result.

Just my perspective as a hopeful future city councilman
2020
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Valen said:



Fire & Police are getting a 3% cost of living & Step raise.

Just my perspective as a hopeful future city councilman


And yet somehow still hemorrhaging experienced employees while struggling to recruit untrained folks to send to school. I'd love to see a figure on the dollar cost spent on training & developing police officers and firefighters over the last decade who then left for greener pa$ture$. Last I heard was in the area of 10 FD vacancies & climbing in the last few months…..and not a whole lot different at PD.

Just providing some perspective to a hopeful future city councilman.



.
doubledog
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localag0165 said:

1. The city of CS private sector surpassed TAMU as the leading employer a while back.
2. TAMU isn't really going to take our desires into consideration no matter what we do as a city.
3. Hensel Park is practically in Bryan anyway, and hardly any of our taxpaying citizens in College Station live anywhere near it.
4. TAMU can't leave CS, it's here.

1. It is not the number of employees, it is also the students, the private contractors, construction etc.
2. Most decision makers at TAMU are residents of Bryan or CoCS. They are involved directly.
3. Both Bryan and CoCS residents will use the park.
4. And CoCS cannot exist without TAMU, it is a symbiotic relationship.
rocketscience
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Tailgate88 said:

What is the proposed project for Hensel park?

This is all I've found:
https://www.cstx.gov/media/aw4b3trx/final-hensel-report-9-26-23.pdf

Phase 1 costs were ~$9.3 million in 2023.
Valen
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This is a big deal to me, we have two agency's in police and fire that are recognized as being some of the best due to their accreditation and certifications.

We have to get the attrition rate down and I believe we may finally be headed in that direction, but still needs a lot of work.

If my numbers and homework are right then we're between 6-15% under what comparable departments are getting paid. This can't be solved overnight, but just as we plan and commit money to other projects this is an area of focus that should be talked about more.

Public safety is a #1 priority for me even my website says so haha. (Valencepak.com shameless plug)
Bob Yancy
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hopeandrealchange said:

While watching the budget meeting video I saw something I have not seen in quite sometime in College Station.
Thank you Councilman Yancy for bringing a business mind to the process.


Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it. I worked hard on my list of proposed adjustments and, depending on where the certified property values come in, those recommendations would have likely resulted in a modest 2% reduction in the tax rate.

I didn't prevail on much of it, but that's okay. Council consists of 7 not 1. And, frankly I'm used to standing alone initially but with some success in the end. That's happened a lot. Apparently my policy positions are ultimately more persuasive than I am with my colleagues. ;-)

I'll keep plugging away on the issues I see with this budget.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Craig Regan 14
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FWIW - And I think this bares remembering:

Debt in and of itself is not bad.

It is merely the proper or misuse of debt and its accompanying debt payment structure (positive or negative) that leads to issues.

We must take wholistic approach to how we pay for our infrastructure and how we use the debt for it. We are an urban island surrounded by a rural sea. Some call this "land locked" but I see it the other way around.

There is not 1 single line item in the budget in the short-med-long term that comes even close to the impact on our budget and taxpayers then our infrastructure (roads, bridges, CULVERTS!, water lines etc etc).

I have shared my concerns but also what I see as our opportunity's with most people I have spoken to about these issues. If we see it only as a negative then that is what it will become, rather than a source of strength and ingenuity. Building our roads and water lines is a requirement, not a luxury. Let us adapt our approach accordingly.
Hornbeck
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I find it completely disingenuous that the new Public Works facility is an all cash deal, and not run through a bond referendum that is ultimately decided by the taxpayers. It gives off an air of "we know better than you", to me.

Also - I have heard no plans with what to do with the existing public works facility. This is in line with the empty former police station on Texas and the empty Macy's at the mall. More property taken off the tax rolls, without proper maintenance, which leaves more for everyday citizens to shoulder the burden.
(Why maintain what we have when we get shiny new ones?)

If it is that important, let the voters decide how important the new facility is!

I have a suspicion that we have a lame duck mayor who is not going to face any consequences for this, and this is being completely driven by the city manager's office.
hopeandrealchange
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Hornbeck said:

I find it completely disingenuous that the new Public Works facility is an all cash deal, and not run through a bond referendum that is ultimately decided by the taxpayers. It gives off an air of "we know better than you", to me.

Also - I have heard no plans with what to do with the existing public works facility. This is in line with the empty former police station on Texas and the empty Macy's at the mall. More property taken off the tax rolls, without proper maintenance, which leaves more for everyday citizens to shoulder the burden.
(Why maintain what we have when we get shiny new ones?)

If it is that important, let the voters decide how important the new facility is!

I have a suspicion that we have a lame duck mayor who is not going to face any consequences for this, and this is being completely driven by the city manager's office.

One of the things that impressed me about Councilman Yancy is the details he was aware of with the construction of the current public works building. He had apparently done some homework on the demo costs and the negatives the original design would be if trying to repurpose the site. His comments on the condition of Rockprarie trying to accommodate that traffic.
As he mentioned in a previous post he is only 1 of 7.
We would all be better off if he can possibly rub off on his counterparts.
Details matter and have been overlooked in Aggieland for decades.
Bob Yancy
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Now that workshops are over, here were my documented suggestions- I omitted the tax rate section, but it reflected an estimated 2% tax rate decrease if these were initiated, but was highly speculative due to being based on uncertified property values….

My bottom line is, I don't think it's appropriate to saddle 4 councils with no new debt capacity until FY34 coupled with an unavoidable tax increase for debt service soon. I have issues with that, as one member of council.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
Bob Yancy
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Bob Yancy said:



FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS SUMMARY

Prepared for Council Workshops (July 1315, 2026)
Councilman Bob Yancy Place 5

OVERALL GOAL

Preserve debt capacity, avoid over-committing before key prerequisites are met (e.g., land), prioritize public safety and neighborhood protection, and use targeted value engineering/phasing rather than blanket cuts. Total adjustments represent approximately $63-65 million in near-term debt relief or deferral.

CAPITAL ADJUSTMENTS

1. PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS CENTER (CONSTRUCTION)

Original: $55M in FY27 (part of $60M total project)
Proposed: Limit initial allocation to $10-12M now. Direct staff to return with a focused plan (phased construction or a right-sized 45 bay apparatus maintenance facility sized for current and future fire engines/ladder trucks).

Budget Pages: 15, 114-115

Rationale: Land is not yet approved/secured. The FY26 budget only appropriated $5M and deferred the rest "once the project is closer to construction." Jumping to $55M over-commits debt capacity before prerequisites are met.

2. TEXAS INDEPENDENCE PARK (PHASE 2)

Original: $16.2M in FY27
Proposed: Value engineer at least $3M in savings through scope, materials, or phasing.

Budget Pages: 15, 112

Rationale: Achievable savings while preserving core function. Contributes to debt capacity preservation.

3. MIDTOWN BASEBALL/BUSINESS ROAD

Original: $14M in FY27
Proposed: 50% reduction (~$7M). Pursue a simpler, more direct alignment instead of the current "C" configuration requiring two Midtown intersections. Leave flexibility for a potential Terafab supplier/other business to extend part of the road to serve their business park acreage.

Budget Page: 15

Rationale: Current design is overly elaborate. A streamlined approach still serves the baseball fields while allowing private-sector participation on the balance of the site.

4. HENSEL PARK (I amended this later to keep at $4m )

Original: $10M in FY30
Proposed: Remove entirely from the capital plan.

Pages: 15, 112

Rationale: Located on Texas A&M University property. City resources should not improve land controlled by another entity, especially while other intergovernmental issues (e.g., Easterwood Station 4) remain unresolved.

5. FUTURE FIRE STATION PLACEHOLDER (NEW)

Original: Not currently funded in the 5-year plan
Proposed: Add a $20M placeholder in the five-year plan for one or more future fire stations needed within 10 years due to growth.

Pages: N/A (new); see page 16

Rationale: The current plan has zero remaining governmental debt capacity until FY34. Legitimate public safety needs will likely arise in that window. A placeholder forces proactive planning and protects capacity for core services.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENTS

6. ANNUAL RENTAL REGISTRATION FEE

Current: One-time $90 per building fee (as of Oct 2022)
Proposed: Reimplement as an annual $20 fee per rental house. Dedicate all revenue to additional code enforcement personnel.

Budget Pages: Code Enforcement operations

Rationale: Creates a self-funding mechanism for enhanced code enforcement without raising property taxes. Annual registration provides regular compliance touchpoints and supports neighborhood integrity, especially in high-rental areas.

SUMMARY OF TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS

PURE REDUCTIONS & DEFERRALS:

Public Works phasing/deferral: ~$43-$45
Texas Independence Park VE: $3M
Midtown Baseball Road reduction: $7M
Hensel Park removal: $10M
SUBTOTAL: ~$63-65M

ADDITIONAL CAPACITY PROTECTION:

Future Fire Station placeholder: $20M

OVERALL FISCAL IMPACT: ~$63-65 in direct debt relief/deferral + $20M in protected future capacity for core public safety infrastructure.

These adjustments maintain momentum on priority projects while restoring fiscal flexibility for future needs before the city's governmental debt capacity returns in FY34.

DEBT CAPACITY CONTEXT (PAGE 16)

The FY27 Proposed Budget states:

"Given Council's direction related to capital projects, there is no available capacity until FY34."
Governmental debt peaks at ~$340.7M in FY29 under current assumptions. (Excludes Enterprise debt)
The plan "currently requires an increase in the I&S rate in future years." (Property tax increase)

The adjustments directly address this constraint by reducing near-term issuance and protecting room for core public safety infrastructure.

NEXT STEPS / WORKSHOP QUESTIONS

Staff should be asked to return with:

Value engineering / phasing options for Texas Independence Park and Midtown Baseball Road.
A focused Public Works plan within a $10-12M initial allocation (including a dedicated apparatus maintenance facility option).
Updated debt capacity modeling reflecting these changes.
Revenue estimate and implementation plan for the annual $20 rental registration fee dedicated to code enforcement.
Timeline and cost estimate for future fire station needs within 10 years.


UhOhNoAgTag
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Amazing how Midtown used to be a joke of an area and they are paying 65 cents more in taxes. And now all of a sudden, baseball fields, Bombers move in and money goes there. No mention of the Town Lake extension to Highway 6.

Is Independence Park going to be delayed even more with your reductions? How about fixing the mesh fence and mowing that property? That property looks like it is in foreclosure.
UhOhNoAgTag
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I think a couple of previous posters have run or had plan to run in city council elections. Any plans for this time?
MsDoubleD81
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Certainly not me!
hopeandrealchange
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UhOhNoAgTag said:

I think a couple of previous posters have run or had plan to run in city council elections. Any plans for this time?

I hope some well rounded business people from the private sector will run. Mayor Yancy is going to need some help turning this ship around.
Bob Yancy
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UhOhNoAgTag said:

Amazing how Midtown used to be a joke of an area and they are paying 65 cents more in taxes. And now all of a sudden, baseball fields, Bombers move in and money goes there. No mention of the Town Lake extension to Highway 6.

Is Independence Park going to be delayed even more with your reductions? How about fixing the mesh fence and mowing that property? That property looks like it is in foreclosure.


No not delayed. Mesh fence is a construction fence. That construction will begin soon.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
UhOhNoAgTag
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There's not much of the mesh fence left. I believe it was put up when the ball fields were supposed to go there 4 years ago.

Oh, well only a few weeks left until construction starts again. LOL hopefully.
Bob Yancy
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UhOhNoAgTag said:

There's not much of the mesh fence left. I believe it was put up when the ball fields were supposed to go there 4 years ago.

Oh, well only a few weeks left until construction starts again. LOL hopefully.


Yes very frustrating and not a good look. It'll get going soon. Hang in there a little while longer and you'll see movement on it.

Respectfully

Yancy '95
woodometer
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Mr Yancy, I really appreciated you pushing back and at least questioning the capitol projects. I feel like you are one of the very few fiscally sane council members. I was curious though why you chose to abstain and not vote no.
Bob Yancy
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woodometer said:

Mr Yancy, I really appreciated you pushing back and at least questioning the capitol projects. I feel like you are one of the very few fiscally sane council members. I was curious though why you chose to abstain and not vote no.


I wasn't going to prevail, and some of the projects on that list must commence. In order to, staff need appropriation so that contracts can be negotiated and executed under state law.

I felt an abstention properly logged my objection, while a nay vote would've been more… petulant, perhaps? I lost. That's how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Each of those projects must later be voted on individually before any contract can be executed, except for those already underway. There'll be other bites at the apple, or more appropriately, other opportunities to not take a bite!

Respectfully yours,

Yancy '95
UhOhNoAgTag
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Bob Yancy said:

UhOhNoAgTag said:

There's not much of the mesh fence left. I believe it was put up when the ball fields were supposed to go there 4 years ago.

Oh, well only a few weeks left until construction starts again. LOL hopefully.


Yes very frustrating and not a good look. It'll get going soon. Hang in there a little while longer and you'll see movement on it.

Respectfully

Yancy '95


Mr. Yancy

I just drove by the spot for Independence Park!!! Thank you!!!!. They've mowed and the mesh fences are gone! Things are looking up! Looks like there are a few porta potties out there as well.
Bob Yancy
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UhOhNoAgTag said:

Bob Yancy said:

UhOhNoAgTag said:

There's not much of the mesh fence left. I believe it was put up when the ball fields were supposed to go there 4 years ago.

Oh, well only a few weeks left until construction starts again. LOL hopefully.


Yes very frustrating and not a good look. It'll get going soon. Hang in there a little while longer and you'll see movement on it.

Respectfully

Yancy '95


Mr. Yancy

I just drove by the spot for Independence Park!!! Thank you!!!!. They've mowed and the mesh fences are gone! Things are looking up! Looks like there are a few porta potties out there as well.


Yessir we're rolling! :-)

Respectfully,

Yancy '95
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