Budget Planning Discussion – 2025–2026 Priorities and Wishlist Items

[Paul Roberts]

Dear Colleagues,

As we begin developing the FY 2025–2026 budget, I’d like to open the door to strategic ideas and early input across a range of areas — including operational efficiency, quality of life, and long-term vision execution.

Here are several items I believe merit serious discussion. Some are modest, others ambitious, but all are grounded in practical feedback from citizens, staff, and prior planning documents — including the draft Comprehensive Plan and Parks Master Plan. These thoughts are intended as a starting point to prompt collaboration and refinement.

Personnel & Staffing​

• Evaluate whether any staff positions can be consolidated or eliminated.
• Consider whether Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are warranted.
• Explore adding an Assistant City Manager position to improve executive capacity.
• Identify any budget needs related to recruiting or retaining staff, especially in high-turnover departments.
• Revisit the need for succession planning in key roles.

Technology & Innovation​

• Consider budgeting for ChatGPT licenses or AI productivity tools for staff (research, summarization, agenda support, etc.).
• Assess the cost of customizable enterprise licenses vs. free/public tools and pilot opportunities.

Parks, Recreation & Facilities​

• Establish a formal Parks & Recreation Department with full-time staffing, not just a coordinator role.
• Hire a parks planner or project manager to implement the goals outlined in the Parks Master Plan.
• Acquire additional parkland — any type — through land banking, repurposing existing city-owned parcels, or partnerships.
• Update the city’s GIS inventory of all existing public green space; several parcels appear to be missing from public maps.
• Resurface the pickleball courts at the Country Club. Cracking is worsening, and a delay will only increase cost.
• Consider funding for more pocket parks, consistent with the Parks Master Plan’s equity and access goals.
• Improve public facilities, including: Council Chamber upgrades (staff desks, chairs, fresh paint).

Economic Development & Tourism​

• Now that the Type B Economic Development Corporation has been created, ensure it has sufficient initial funding to begin executing strategic projects.
• Propose hiring a Tourism Manager to coordinate promotion of Lago Vista as a destination.
• Consider a tourism marketing initiative with components such as:
• • A new, tourism-focused website
• • City branding and messaging
• • Google ad campaign targeting past website visitors
• • Expanded social media marketing (beyond Facebook)
• • Streaming TV ads
• • Print media (e.g., Texas Highways, Tour Texas)
• • Consultant support as needed to execute and track ROI

Legal, Council, and Citizen Engagement​

• Review how the legal budget is holding up year over year, and whether increased costs are anticipated.
• Expand the travel budget so that P&Z and other citizen volunteers can attend TML or relevant planning conferences.
• Provide budgetary support or facilitation for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, which is currently stalled despite strong volunteer interest and vision.

Closing Thought​

One citizen recently said to me:
“The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has a vision, but nothing gets done. Katie does great work, but she’s just one person.”

That about sums it up. We’ve spent time building plans — now’s the time to fund action. I look forward to refining this list with your feedback.

— Paul

 

[Adam Benefield]

Great list Counselor Roberts.

 

[Shane Saum]

Dear Colleagues,

As we begin developing the FY 2025–2026 budget, I’d like to open the door to strategic ideas and early input across a range of areas — including operational efficiency, quality of life, and long-term vision execution.

Here are several items I believe merit serious discussion. Some are modest, others ambitious, but all are grounded in practical feedback from citizens, staff, and prior planning documents — including the draft Comprehensive Plan and Parks Master Plan. These thoughts are intended as a starting point to prompt collaboration and refinement.

Personnel & Staffing​

• Evaluate whether any staff positions can be consolidated or eliminated.
• Consider whether Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are warranted.
• Explore adding an Assistant City Manager position to improve executive capacity.
• Identify any budget needs related to recruiting or retaining staff, especially in high-turnover departments.
• Revisit the need for succession planning in key roles.

Technology & Innovation​

• Consider budgeting for ChatGPT licenses or AI productivity tools for staff (research, summarization, agenda support, etc.).
• Assess the cost of customizable enterprise licenses vs. free/public tools and pilot opportunities.

Parks, Recreation & Facilities​

• Establish a formal Parks & Recreation Department with full-time staffing, not just a coordinator role.
• Hire a parks planner or project manager to implement the goals outlined in the Parks Master Plan.
• Acquire additional parkland — any type — through land banking, repurposing existing city-owned parcels, or partnerships.
• Update the city’s GIS inventory of all existing public green space; several parcels appear to be missing from public maps.
• Resurface the pickleball courts at the Country Club. Cracking is worsening, and a delay will only increase cost.
• Consider funding for more pocket parks, consistent with the Parks Master Plan’s equity and access goals.
• Improve public facilities, including: Council Chamber upgrades (staff desks, chairs, fresh paint).

Economic Development & Tourism​

• Now that the Type B Economic Development Corporation has been created, ensure it has sufficient initial funding to begin executing strategic projects.
• Propose hiring a Tourism Manager to coordinate promotion of Lago Vista as a destination.
• Consider a tourism marketing initiative with components such as:
• • A new, tourism-focused website
• • City branding and messaging
• • Google ad campaign targeting past website visitors
• • Expanded social media marketing (beyond Facebook)
• • Streaming TV ads
• • Print media (e.g., Texas Highways, Tour Texas)
• • Consultant support as needed to execute and track ROI

Legal, Council, and Citizen Engagement​

• Review how the legal budget is holding up year over year, and whether increased costs are anticipated.
• Expand the travel budget so that P&Z and other citizen volunteers can attend TML or relevant planning conferences.
• Provide budgetary support or facilitation for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, which is currently stalled despite strong volunteer interest and vision.

Closing Thought​

One citizen recently said to me:
“The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee has a vision, but nothing gets done. Katie does great work, but she’s just one person.”

That about sums it up. We’ve spent time building plans — now’s the time to fund action. I look forward to refining this list with your feedback.

— Paul

Thank you Councilman Roberts. I will add to the top of your list expanded drinking water and wastewater plant expansions. I think we are in a financial position where our infrastructure needs will diminish our ability to fund new initiatives.

That said, on your technology items, embracing AI and open-source tools we could save the City money potentially and make our systems better automated to help streamline services for citizens. I wonder out loud if ChatGPT could be used to speed up permit reviews. I also think we should explore state DIR contracts we could sub off of for software or ILAs with other cities to get bulk pricing on permitting software etc.

I also hope to see Council take existing budgets and earmark that certain department funds be used strictly for some things citizens are asking for like vet care in animal control.

 

[Paul Prince]

Great list Mr. Roberts.

As liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee I know they will appreciate you calling out a number of specifics in that area. I agree with Mr. Saum that we have a huge investment looming in front of us on infrastructure, so funding parks will be a challenge. But I strongly support doing some appropriate investment and building momentum on parks, trails, and open space. We've heard loud and clear during the Comprehensive Plan process that this is a priority to many of our citizens. I support an increase in spending (over the very meager current budget) to both improve and maintain our parks and trails. Once we finally get past the improved access to Sunset Park from 1431, we may need to defer any big park facility expansions and shift our spending focus more to small expansions and taking better care of what we have. At a macro level this could be a decrease in the cities spending on parks, while increasing the spending on taking care of what we have and even doing some new things on trails and "pocket" (i.e. small local) parks.

Using, and investing in, good tools to allow staff to do more is certainly a good strategy.

Revisiting our spending on things that are intended to drive revenue (economic development, Tourism, marketing, and chasing grants) and optimizing to get the most for our spending is a great idea.

Paul

 

[Adam Benefield]

1. Wish-List

• Ballistic Helmets - The police department needs 23 ballistic helmets at a cost of $500.00 per helmet or approximately $11,500.00.
• Ballistic Shields - The police department needs an additional 8 ballistic shields, we currently have 4 at a cost of $3,500.00 per shield or approximately $28,000.00
• The police department needs two additional vehicles this year but we are approx. $20k short being able to find the money for the second vehicle based on the budget. If we cannot find this money, I would find it highly appropriate to re-allocate the funds for a second vehicle and purchase these helmets and shields immediately.
• Third or Fourth Resource Officer. Our threats to the schools have continued to increase and there is no reason to believe this will decrease. Currently ISD pays for approx. 75% of the police officers salary but these officers are able to perform several duties outside of the school activities. In the end, this becomes a positive for the community, students, and drives safety.
• Start rotating the Police Cars
• Basketball Court at Sunset Park
• Sidewalk down Boggy
• Walking Trail down/near Boggy
• Dog Park
• Golf Course Irrigation System
• Water Infrastructure Improvements.
• Waste Water Infrastructure Improvements.
• Road Improvements.
• Good Water Pressure with Growth
• Pickleball Courts
• Community Fine Arts Center
• Outdoor Amphitheater
• Funds allocated to Animal Control
• Pocket Park next to the Police Station. Artificial turf, corn holes games, maybe a small dog park.
• Connect our Greenspaces with trails.
• Sidewalks and Street Lights along Boggy.
• Speed limit signs and replacing missing street signs.
• Fire Safety Measures and Planning
• Walking Trails connecting Parks
• Dog Park
• Money Toward Economic Development
• Fixing the Splash Pad
• Skateboard Park revitalized.
• Code Compliance Initiatives
• Identity and Complete Outstanding Projects
• Hire a Parks and Rec Director
• Securing City Hall, make the work environment safer.
• New Chairs for the City Council Room, although it’s my understanding the money has already been allocated just not purchased.
• Volleyball Course
• Swing Sets
• Golf Course Improvements after irrigation install.
• General Hiring at City Hall, Better and full staffed.
• Increase funding to the library for expansion.
• City Hall Upgrades.
• Upgrades to the Bunker.
• Vet Services
• Increase Funding to KLVB
• Increase Funding to Chamber Of Commerce

 

[Paul Roberts]

Amphitheater

 

[Norma Owen]

Recognizing the ongoing need for funding infrastructure improvements, I support Councilor Saums’ comments. My priorities include:

1. Staff retention
2. Updating IT tools to reduce staff time while enhancing our ability to report on and share city progress and activities with residents.
3. Additionally, I propose establishing an ongoing grant program based on AI.
4. Also consider a volunteer assistant to expand our volunteer efforts, particularly with Keep Lago Vista Beautiful (KLVB) and Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) activities and projects.

 

[Paul Roberts]

A few more items that came up in discussion tonight:

Encode 10, and exit Open Gov - Norma
Pool software resources via ILA's - Shane
Cost to bringing Splash Pad up to compliance - Paul
Pet care for Animal Control - Shane
APA training - Paul