The Sugar Land City Council discussed on Tuesday a proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. The council increased the number of seats on the city’s animal advisory board, while also increasing its responsibilities. Council members also approved a hazard mitigation grant application.

FY 2018 budget discussed


City council members discussed a $230,983,850 proposed budget for FY 2018 that is a $28 million decrease from last year’s budget.

The reduced budget reflects a number of capital improvement projects that do not need further funding, said Jennifer Brown, director of finance.

“They’re already funded, so they have everything they need,” she said. “It’s a five-year plan, but it’s funded annually on a year-by-year basis.”

Brown recommended the city reduce its reliance on sales tax as a source of revenue because projections show little to no sales tax growth in the coming year. To do this, the city may look at increasing the portion of property tax revenue that goes into the general fund, while reducing the portion going to the debt service fund, she said.

The city will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget Aug. 15.

Animal advisory board expands


Council members voted unanimously to increase the number of seats on the city’s animal advisory board from five to 11, as the board begins work on plans to build a new animal shelter.

The expanded board will provide support with all facets of developing the new shelter, including recommending best policies and practices, assisting with a fundraising campaign, and determining particular needs, according to meeting documents.

City to apply for disaster relief grant


Council members unanimously voted to apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant. If approved, the funding from this competitive grant will support and improve Sugar Land’s flood early warning system by upgrading technology and installing new gauges.

If it wins the grant, the city would use the funds to upgrade its current flood warning system, and to install new detection equipment, according to meeting documents.

The cost of improving the system would total $200,000, with the government providing $150,000 as part of the grant, senior engineer Jorge Alba said during a presentation to the council.

Updating the city’s flood early warning system centers would decrease response time in such emergencies and would increase efficiency, while reducing property loss, Alba said.