Budget

Budgeting is an essential element of the financial planning, control, and evaluation process of municipal government. The operating budget is the city's annual financial operating plan. The budget includes:

Budget Summary: This section provides a general overview of the proposed budget and identifies key changes from the prior year. To view past Annual Budget Reports, visit our Financial Transparency page.

Vision Statements: The vision statements section of the budget provides a view of the various services provided by the city and is organized around the four city council vision statements and the Strategic Plan

Financial Section: This section provides a more traditional "fund accounting" view of the city's budget. Fund summaries and department summaries are provided.

Appendices: The fourth major section of the budget is the appendices, which contains supplemental information to meet specific City Charter requirements and to help the reader better understand the community.

The proposed budget is prepared and presented to the city council 30-90 days before the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30. The city council then reviews and revises the budget and receives citizen input through a public hearing on the proposed budget.

The budget process shall span sufficient time to address policy and fiscal issues by the council.

The council will adopt by ordinance such budget as it may have been amended as the city's annual budget, effective for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Videos

• FY 26 Proposed Budget
• Aug. 28 Council Meeting 
• Aug. 14 Council Meeting 
• July 14 Council Meeting 
• July 16 Council Budget Workshop
• July 10 Council Meeting 
• July 7 Special Budget Meeting 

Blogs

• Live from City Hall: Thursday’s City Council meeting (Aug. 28)
• Podcast: Dissecting the City’s budget processes, property tax rate, and trailblazing transparency (Aug. 15)
• Live from City Hall: Thursday’s City Council meeting (Aug. 14)
• Live from City Hall: Thursday’s City Council meeting (July 24)
• City Council examines details of FY 26 proposed budget at in-depth Wednesday workshop (July 16)
• Live from City Hall: Thursday’s City Council meeting (July 10)
• City's proposed FY 26 budget prioritizes public safety, infrastructure, and long-term growth (July 7)
• Offer valuable feedback on the City’s FY 26 budget priorities with our interactive online tool (June 18)

Presentations

• FY 26 Budget Adoption (Aug. 28)
• Council Budget Revisions [Aug. 28]
• Tax Rate Public Hearing (Aug. 28)
• Budget Public Hearing (July 24)
• Policy and Revenue (July 16)
• Departments (July 16)
• Staffing (July 16)
• Outside Agencies (July 16)
• Capital, Debt and Fund Balance (July 16)
• Outside Agency Funding (July 10)
• FY 26 Budget Presentation (July 7)

Meetings

• July 7 Special Budget Meeting [YouTube]
• July 10 Outside Agency Discussion [Webpage]
• July 16 Budget Workshop [Webpage]
• July 24 Budget Public Hearing [Webpage]
• Aug. 28 Tax Rate Public Hearing/Budget Adoption [Webpage]

Media

• More Property Value Lawsuits Are Being Resolved In Brazos County (WTAW, Sept. 2)
• College Station city leaders adopt FY 26 budget & tax rate, set utility fees (KBTX, Aug. 29)
• College Station City Council adopts $474 million budget, sets tax rate (Eagle, Aug. 29)
• College Station City Council Proposes The Maximum Tax Rate For The Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (WTAW, Aug. 18)
• College Station City Council sets hearing on budget, tax rate (Eagle, Aug. 15)
• College Station City Council Special Meeting Includes Discussing The Future Of 14 Capital Projects (WTAW, Aug. 13)
• Property valuation changes reshape College Station budget, tax rate talks (KBTX, Aug. 12)
• College Station City Council discusses capital projects, tax rate at special meeting (Eagle, Aug. 12)
• College Station holding public hearing on $474M budget (Eagle, July 22)
• College Station City Councilwoman advocates for elimination of ‘punitive’ reconnect fees (KBTX, July 17)
• College Station City Council Receives Outside Funding Requests From 10 Outside Agencies (WTAW, July 16)
• College Station City Council Receives Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget (WTAW, July 8)
• What's in College Station's proposed $474 million FY26 budget and tax rate? (KBTX, July 7)
• College Station's preliminary budget for FY 2026 nearly $475M (Eagle, July 7)

The City of College Station received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. To receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan and as a communications device.