New Braunfels’ economic development corporation proposes spending $20.8 million next year, a plan that would draw its projected fund balance down by $8.4 million while financing infrastructure, civic projects, business development and debt.
The largest categories are $6.51 million for public infrastructure tied to economic development and $6.13 million for quality-of-life projects. The plan also assigns $3.44 million to incentives, business development and strategic plans; $3.53 million to debt service; and $1.21 million to administration and promotion.
Those figures appear in the fiscal 2027 budget scheduled for consideration by the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation at 5 p.m. Thursday. The corporation can act on the proposal, but the packet says the budget is also part of the city’s overall proposed budget and requires City Council approval.
Spending Would Outrun New Revenue
The operating-fund table projects $12.38 million in fiscal 2027 revenue against $20.81 million in appropriations. The difference—$8,434,508—matches the planned decline from a $23.88 million beginning fund balance to $15.44 million at year’s end.
Proposed operating appropriations are $4.37 million above the fiscal 2026 estimate of $16.44 million and $7.09 million above the fiscal 2025 actual total. The figures reflect authorized and anticipated project commitments rather than a single new expenditure.
Projects Shift Into Fiscal 2027
The accompanying treasurer’s report says several large commitments have shifted across fiscal years. A $2.5 million Union Pacific Railroad Company expenditure was deferred from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2027. The Alamo Colleges District–Northeast Lakeview College project is split between $2.5 million in fiscal 2026 and another $2.5 million in fiscal 2027.
Other projected commitments span pedestrian improvements, drainage, trails, park work, workforce support, business incentives and debt payments. The budget may be revised during the year as the corporation and City Council consider individual projects.
Sales Tax Growth Comes With a Qualification
The corporation receives one-quarter of the sales tax collected by the city. Its fiscal 2027 budget projects $10.44 million in sales-tax revenue, $300,000 in interest and $1.64 million from other revenue.
The August treasurer’s report says fiscal 2026 sales-tax collections are running 18.9% above fiscal 2025. For the latest monthly comparison in the packet, collections rose 18.7%, but the report attributes much of that jump to HD Supply; excluding that revenue, the increase was 1.6%.
Thursday’s vote will show whether the corporation accepts the proposed spending and reserve path as presented or seeks changes before the plan reaches City Council. Later project votes will determine when and whether the individual commitments are actually spent.