New Braunfels Edition | October 2025

Government

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

$114.6M budget approved for FY 2025 26 New Braunfels City Council approved a $114.6 million general fund budget and a tax rate of $0.4089 per $100 valuation for scal year 2025-26 on Sept. 8. What’s changed The city’s general fund budget increased by $1.14 million from the proposed amount of $113.5 million after the city approved two items that were not initially in the budget. A budget order is part of the annual process in which sta recom- mend adjustments based on council direction or updated estimates that provide additional capacity, according to an email from a spokesperson for the City of New Braunfels. In total, the budget order was $3.52 million and included operation increases for the Creekside Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone fund, and a crime analyst. Additionally, the extension of the Landa

Contract approved for oodplain remapping New Braunfels City Council approved an engineering contract with Freese and Nichols Inc.—a privately owned engineer- ing, planning and consulting rm—for the remapping of the Dry Comal Creek, or DCC, Floodplain on Sept. 22. In case you missed it The council allocated up to $240,000 in economic development corporation funds for the project on Aug. 11. The scope and fee will expand on the work Freese and Nichols has already per- formed for the city, agenda documents state. The DCC is a major waterway through New Braunfels and can be a source of ooding. Remapping would update the Federal Emer- gency Management Agency oodplain maps of the DCC and a portion of the Upper DCC.

Budget order breakdown The city’s general fund budget increased by $1.14M after the city approved two additional items through a budget order.

$150K $100K

Operating increases for the Creekside TIRZ Fund *Employee compensation Extending funding timelines for golf, airport projects *Police department shooting/training range feasibility study Crime analyst

$275K

$2M

$992.74K

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELSCOMMUNITY IMPACT *ITEMS FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND

Park Golf Course bridge assessment and the New Braunfels National Airport’s terminal feasibility and planning study timelines was funded. The two items funded by the general fund budget are employee compensation and a feasibility study for a police shooting/training range. After further evaluation of the proposed Aug. 7 budget, it was determined that a higher-than-expected revenue in sales taxes, interest earnings and ambulance services allowed for cost-of-living adjustments, the email states.

‘Ride the Rio!’ aims to enhance public transportation

Cost to the city The service would cost the city $6.08M and the city would pay a one-time implementation fee of $138K, agenda documents state. Years 4 and 5 are optional.

A new way to travel within the New Braunfels city limits is en route. New Braunfels City Council received an update on its Ride the Rio! microtransit service Sept. 22. The service is part of the city’s ongoing eorts to enhance public transportation. Via Partnership Principal Thomas De Ridder said the service will cover a 47-square-mile area.

Two-minute impact A microtransit service is on-demand public transportation that uses technology to create dynamically routed mobility. The service would be available from 7 a.m.-8 p.m., according to the presentation. City sta hope to present the Via contract to council in October, New Braunfels Transit Manager Julie Sitton said.

Annual not-to-exceed operating costs

$1.15M

Year 1

$1.18M

Year 2

$1.22M

Year 3

$1.25M

Year 4

$1.29M

Year 5

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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