As Manvel officials develop the budget for fiscal year 2026-27, Public Works Director Robbie Hall presented equipment and personnel priorities tied to continued population growth and drainage concerns during City Council’s workshop June 1.
What you need to know
The utilities division, which oversees water and wastewater services, is on pace to add nearly 400 new connections by the end of FY 2025-26—an increase of roughly 20% from the previous year, Hall said at the workshop,
The division is requesting around $2.17 million for FY 2026-27, including:
- Nearly $500,000 for eight employees
- $421,000 for equipment
- $170,000 for additional trucks
The division’s staffing requests include chief water and wastewater operators, plant operators, and utility technicians. Equipment requests include a crane truck, lab and safety equipment, and a noise-sensitive bypass pump, according to the budget presentation.
The total request also includes an estimated $1.08 million for annual operations and maintenance of the city’s new membrane bioreactor, or MBR, a wastewater treatment facility anticipated to come online in April 2027, Hall said.
During discussion, council member Jason Albert asked whether user fees could offset the budget request in a way that shows the potential tax impact for residents.
City Manager Dan Johnson said the MBR cost estimates are preliminary and the city has not determined whether tax rates would change for FY 2026-27 or after the plant becomes operational during FY 2027-28, but a proposal will be presented before budget adoption.
Also of note
The streets and drainage division completed over 9 miles of roadway repairs, mowed nearly 600 miles and collected nearly 160 tons of debris in FY 2025-27, according to the presentation.
Hall said drainage remains the division’s central challenge, largely due to staffing and equipment needs.
The division is requesting nearly $995,000, including:
- Nearly $185,000 for four employees
- $650,000 for equipment
- $160,000 for additional trucks
The division currently operates two excavators that are more than 30 years old and are in need of replacement, Hall said.
The parks division is requesting about $314,000, including improvements at Almost Heaven Park located near Sedona Lakes, such as walking trail lighting and a parking lot expansion of 20-25 spaces, Hall said.
The division’s total request includes:
- Around $89,000 for two parks maintenance technicians
- $225,000 for parks upgrades
What’s next
Manvel City Council will continue reviewing departmental budget requests as it develops the FY 2026-27 budget ahead of adoption.
