BOERNE — Boerne City Council continued its summer budget workshop series at the July 22 meeting, hearing an update from staff on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and an overview of proposed projects included in the Governmental Capital Improvement Plan.
Finance Director Sarah Buckelew led the presentation and provided an outlook for fiscal year 2026, which runs Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026.
Staff also presented an update to the Boerne Utilities CIP, which includes major utility infrastructure projects.
Capital Improvement Projects overview: For FY 2026, the city of Boerne is proposing $34.2 million in CIP projects, which will be funded by:
• Capital Reserves: $24 million.
• New Debt (Bond Funds): $6.5 million.
• Grants: $750,000.
• Public Facility Corporation: $3 million.
Some of the major projects included in the FY 2026 CIP funding are highlighted below.
Fire Station No. 2
The proposed budget includes $8 million toward the Fire Station No. 2 project, which will be located along Esperanza Boulevard. Full plans for the project are expected to be submitted by August 2025.
Located along Esperanza Boulevard on the east side of the department’s service territory, the nearly $21 million facility will go far beyond standard fire operations. It will feature a community meeting room that also functions as a firefighter training space and a backup emergency operations center.
The station will also include library services and a small museum room dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the department and the Boerne community.
The Lookout Group, developer of the Esperanza subdivision, dedicated the land for the firehouse and will help fund a new fire apparatus for the station.
The facility is also being designed with a strong emphasis on firefighter health and safety. It will feature clearly defined “clean” and “dirty” zones, allowing for proper decontamination procedures after emergency calls.
Sustainable design practices are also incorporated into the project, supporting Boerne’s One Water initiatives and long-term environmental stewardship goals.
Next steps include finalizing the roadwork design, submitting a full set of construction plans by late July and breaking ground in late fall 2025.
Adler Road wideningbond project
The proposed budget includes $5.4 million toward the upcoming widening of Adler Road, as approved by voters in the 2022 bond election.
The project includes the complete reconstruction and widening of the roadway from Esser Road to Main Street to include a continuous center turn lane, drainage improvements, multi-use sidewalks, and a shared use path. It is being done in coordination with a separate project to replace two culverts along Adler Road.
Northside Community Park-bond project
The proposed FY 2026 budget includes $16.8 million toward the new Northside Community Park with funding from capital reserves, at $9.5 million, new debt (bond funds) of $6.5 million and funds from a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant totaling $750,000.
The new park is scheduled to break ground in September 2025 with a target completion for the first phase of winter 2026/2027.
The first phase will include an all-abilities playground, splashpad, two full-size covered basketball courts, 12 outdoor pickleball courts, two multi-use athletic fields, a dog park and an ADA walking trail.
Needs assessments
The proposed budget includes $100,000 for two needs assessments, one at the Boerne Police Department and one for the Boerne Animal Care Services.
The Police Department assessment will study what could be included in the expansion of the existing facility. Animal Care Services has outgrown its current facility and will conduct an assessment to determine what would be needed in a new facility.
Upcoming budget calendar
Key dates in the City Council’s review and approval of its new budget include:
• Aug. 8, 2025: City manager files proposed budget with the city secretary; a draft budget provided to City Council.
• Aug. 12, 2025: At its regular meeting, the council will conduct a governmental budget workshop.
• Aug. 26, 2025: First public hearing on the budget and tax rate.
• Sept. 9, 2025: Second public hearing on, and adoption of, the budget and tax rate.
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