Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Dripping Springs City Council held its fifth budget workshop of the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 cycle, listening to presentations on multiple sectors of the budget.
Founders Day
For Founders Day, the proposed revenue is $241,960.35 — which includes a balance forward of $68,247.85 that carries over — and expenditures at $223,601.80.
There is a balance forward anticipated for the end of FY 26 at $18,358.55 that includes expenditures of $30,000 for electrical work, as the city is working on what the route and the set-up for the Founders Day parade may be for next year.
“We did not plug any revenues in for the parade, looking at possible changes in the parade and not necessarily charging participants to be in it. If [they] are not driving, but possibly walking, there wouldn’t be a fee necessarily for those,” explained deputy city administrator Shawn Cox.
Other items that the Founders Day board may come forward with include an increase in security costs, depending on if the parade route will be changed, but that would be brought back to council.
Farmers market
The farmers market revenue is proposed at $96,795.17 — including a balance forward of $9,529.41 — and the expenditures are $90,102.53. A balance forward for the end of FY 26 is anticipated at $6,692.64.
“Once [the markets] have been inside, they have been as successful as they have ever been,” Cox said.
Parkland dedication
Prior to FY 2024-25, the city had not received revenue in the parkland dedication budget for multiple years. However, $84,084 came in at the very end of last year and was attributed to this year because the budget was already adopted, Cox presented.
Currently, there is a balance forward coming into FY 26 at $392,690.61 that is expected to carry over into the next fiscal year, Cox explained to council: “In the original version of the budget that was in the packet, you would have seen that $392 as an expenditure and a zero balance forward, but then, having removed that expenditure, it’s all going to balance forward now. So, you will see that as we plug those projects back in. There’s your funding source for some of the parkland improvement projects that Andy [Binz, Parks director] and the Parks board have.”
Parkland development
Similarly, the city does not anticipate revenue for parkland development. For FY 26, there is a balance forward only, with no revenues or expenditures, at $116,610, which will go into the next fiscal year.
Parks general fund
In the Parks and Community Services budget, revenue sits at $685,964, including transfers in, sponsorships/donations, aquatics program, pool rental income, community service permits and community services programs, according to director Andrew Binz. Operation expenses are anticipated at $514,380.
Some of the improvements and projects that the Parks department is looking at include:
Dripping Springs Ranch Park (DSRP) Path to Pond: $73,500
DSRP Path to Playground: $147,000
Restroom improvements at Founders Memorial and Sports and Recreation parks: $225,000
DSRP trail signage: $185,000
Founders Memorial Park Pool furnace to gas: $50,000
Sports and Recreation Park fence project: $35,000 total
Sports and Recreation Park light replacement at adult softball fields: $15,000
Sports and Recreation Park irrigation improvements to landscaping beds: $15,000
Skate park improvements/possible lights: $25,000
Founders Memorial Park trail extension project: $3,000
Binz also said that they are looking at obtaining new equipment, including: replacing a tractor that has been used since DSRP opened up, proposed at $40,000; adding a second skid steer at $71,000 for efficiency, as the staff only has one; adding a zero-turn mower at $14,000; and an equipment trailer at $15,000 to transport the mower to parks when needed.
Dependent on alternative funding, the department is also looking at the first phase of Rathgeber Natural Resource Park design and construction documents at $695,150 and the fourth phase of new lights at the soccer field at Sports and Recreation Park at $400,000.
Additionally, to be considered for future budgets, according to Binz’s presentation, is wayfinding signage at both DSRP and Charro Ranch Park, at $100,000 each.
Dripping Springs City Council will meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, where a public hearing will be held on both the tax rate and budget.
