City Council Receives Record-Setting $1.5 Billion Proposed FY 2024 Budget

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – At yesterday’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, City Manager Peter Zanoni presented the City of Corpus Christi's $1.5 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Proposed Annual Operating and Capital Budget. The City’s fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30.

The budget prioritizes public safety, streets, parks, libraries, and animal care services. The budget also recommends water and wastewater utility rates based on a more equitable cost-of-service rate model. This budget reflects the City's continued commitment to providing public services, programs, and infrastructure that enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Corpus Christi. Concurrently, the budget maintains the City's strong financial reserves in the General Fund and other funds consistent with City Council approved financial policies. 

"I believe this new proposed budget provides the continuity of quality services for our growing city," City Manager Peter Zanoni said. "With this budget, we will continue to develop smart financial goals as we deliver services the community desires as a forward-moving city."

"We have seen measurable gains in our economy, but we must maintain good financial stewardship as we move forward," Mayor Paulette Guajardo said. " I want to invite the community to participate in the upcoming budget input sessions."

Highlights of the FY 2024 Proposed Budget:

Property Tax Relief

• City homestead exemption increasing from 10% to 20% by FY 2026

• City over 65/disabled homestead exemption increasing from $50,000 to $62,500 in FY 2025
• State property tax relief for school districts

• Increasing homestead from $40,000 to $100,000
• Increasing over-65/disabled homestead exemption from $50,000 to $110,000
• Decreasing school district property tax rate by approximately10.7¢ per $100 valuation for FY 2024

Benefit Increases for all City Retirees

• Non-retroactive cost of living adjustment for all retirees (30% of CPI) beginning January 2024 participating in Texas Municipal Retirement System to include general employees and sworn Police Officers
• Fire retirees – Benefit increase of approximately $110 per month effective October 2023 (pending required election by the active Firefighters)

More Police Officers and Firefighters

• Police – Addition of nine (9) officer positions for a total complement of 500

• Five-year staffing plan began in FY 2020
• Goal was to add five (5) positions each year for five (5) years for a total of 25
• A total of 54 positions will be added within the five years – more than double what was planned.
• Two (2) police academies are planned (September 2023 and June 2024)

• Fire – Addition of nine (9) positions for a total complement of 455

• Additional nine (9) will be used to continue improving the four-person staffing goal
• Fire academy is scheduled for January 2024

Continued Focus on Streets with New "Streets Only" Approach and Strong Funding Levels

• “Pavement only” approach
• Five (5) times faster, resulting in five (5) times more residential streets repaired per year
• Over $380 million was allocated toward streets over the past three budgets

Improved Animal Care Services (ACS)

• Six (6) additional kennel technicians
• Four (4) additional animal care officers
• Total ACS positions from 47 in FY 2023 to 57 in FY 2024 Proposed Budget
• Actively recruiting for Director with a national recruiting firm
• Request for proposals for operations review of animal care currently underway

More Programming for Health and Wellness Services for Better Community Health Outcomes

• Community Needs Assessment
• Neighborhood Fitness Program
• Replacement of exercise equipment at the senior centers
• Swimming lessons

Funding for Revitalization in Northside Community Parks

• Washington Coles Park
• TC Ayers Park
• Dr. HJ Williams Park
• Ben Garza Park

Operations and Maintenance Funding for Public Safety and Quality of Life Amenities at Nine (9) New Facilities

• Police Training Academy
• Fire Station #3 at Morgan Street
• Bill Witt Aquatic Center
• Water Garden
• Cole Park Splash Pad
• North Beach Restroom and Park
• Greenwood Athletic Fields
• Salinas Athletic Fields
• Bill Witt Athletic Fields

Better Equity in Water Rates

• Proposed treated volume rates are the same for inside city limits and outside city limits within the customer categories of residential, commercial, and large volume.

Over $4 million for Sustainability and Coastal Resiliency Initiatives with no New Department

• Strategic Planning & Innovation Office to complete assessment of all sustainability positions and programs
• Tourism Sustainability Plan
• Gulf Beach survey
• Tree Canopy Study by the Texas Trees Foundation
• Light-Up CC Lighting Study
• Addition of Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
• Addition of Safety Coordinator Position
• More Street Sweeping
• Storm Water Channel Maintenance
• Solid Waste Composting Program / additional Shredder/Grinder
• Cooling / Heating Center enhancements
• Air Quality Monitoring
• Generator for Flour Bluff Police Substation
• Continuation of the Tree Planting Program
• Increase funding to Botanical Gardens

Strengthened Focus on our Tourism Industry

• Fully fund Visit Corpus Christi ($7.2 million)
• Capital Improvements for the American Bank Center
• Destination Master Plan

City Rates

• Property tax – No proposed rate adjustment. 
• Water - Proposed monthly rate increase of $1.82 for residential customers based on usage of 6,000 gallons of water
• Wastewater – Proposed monthly rate increase of $2.39 for residential customers based on 5,000 gallons winter quarter average
• Storm Water – A proposed monthly increase of $1.15 for residential customers
• Gas – No proposed rate adjustment
• Street Maintenance Fee – No proposed rate adjustment
• Solid Waste – Proposed monthly rate increase of $1.15 for residential customers

The City will hold community input sessions in each City Council District to receive input from residents on the proposed budget. The meetings will include brief opening remarks, a budget overview video, and community input.

All meetings begin at 6 p.m. on the following dates:

• District 1 – Monday, August 7, at Owen R. Hopkins Public Library, 3202 McKinzie Road
• District 2 – Wednesday, August 9, at Del Mar College Center for Economic Development, Room 106, 3209 South Staples Street
• District 3 – Thursday, August 10, at Water Utilities – Choke Canyon Room, 2726 Holly Road
• District 4 – Monday, August 14, at Ethel Eyerly Senior Center, 654 Graham Road
• District 5 – Wednesday, August 16, at Del Mar College Oso Creek Campus, 7002 Yorktown Boulevard

For media inquiries, contact Public Information Manager Robert Gonzales at 361-826-3233 or robertg8@cctexas.com.