By Anton Riecher
An amendment totaling $780,000 made to the fiscal year 2025-2026 Devine city budget – nearly a fifth of the budget total – won approval during the Oct. 20 city council session but not without substantial objections from some members.
District 3 Council Member Jeff Miller described the amendment as “an awful lot to expect without much explanation.”
“My question is why (is the council) just now finding out about this because these are not small amounts of money?” Miller asked. “This is my third year on the council and I’ve never seen amounts like this before ever.”
The largest amount among the items composing the amendment is $500,000 for the city water and sewer fund related to expenses involving a Texas Water Development Board bond project. The amendment also includes $65,000 for airport and golf course maintenance, respectively.
Remaining items under the general fund include $40,000 for street light improvements, $35,000 for municipal court collections, $30,000 for city hall and other improvements, $30,000 for tree maintenance, and $15,000 in consulting services.
City Treasurer Cassandra Maldonado told the council that the purpose of the amendment was to officially complete the city’s fiscal year 2025-2026 budget in preparation for the annual state-required audit. Approval by the council is required to close the books for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
“The amendment addresses previously approved expenditures and projects that require corresponding budget adjustments to ensure the adopted budget more accurately reflects the city’s financial activity for the fiscal year,” Maldonado said.
However, council members pressed for more explanation of the…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!