Equipment upgrades, a new records clerk position and a new juvenile case manager position are among the requests Manvel officials are making for the City Secretary's Office, Public Information Office and Municipal Court.
As Manvel officials develop the budget for fiscal year 2026-27, City Secretary Tammy Bell presented staffing and operational priorities during City Council’s July 6 workshop.
What you need to know
The City Secretary’s Office projects it will process around 250 public information requests by the end of the current fiscal year, nearly a 28% increase compared to FY 2024-25, and over 31,000 email transactions, representing a 13% increase, city documents show.
The city’s growth, along with changing state requirements such as posting deadlines and records retention schedules, has increased demands on the office. Many records and board processes remain manual or decentralized, increasing compliance risks, Bell said.
For FY 2026-27, the office is requesting:
- A new records clerk position
- CivicPlus board management software
- Public records request management software
The estimated salary range for the position is $50,000 to $65,000, with an additional cost of around $12,000 for the software, Bell said.
Also of note
The Public Information Office manages the city’s communication efforts, including social media, website updates, events and photography, Bell said.
For FY 2026-27, the office is requesting $7,500 for equipment upgrades, including:
- $3,000 for a podium with an embedded screen
- $2,000 for a desktop computer replacement
- $2,500 for a night photography lens
The details
Municipal Court filed nearly 6,300 warnings, issued about 2,250 citations and issued nearly 1,270 warrants from October 2025 through June, city documents show.
Bell highlighted several accomplishments from FY 2025-26, including the addition of two judges and the growth of the city’s teen court program, which remains the only program in Brazoria County.
While facility space was identified as a primary challenge, Bell said it is expected to be addressed through the buildout of City Hall’s west wing and the current annex building.
The west wing expansion is anticipated to be completed by summer 2027, with work on the annex beginning toward the end of that project, City Manager Dan Johnson said.
Additionally, the court operates without a dedicated juvenile case manager, and staffing limitations continue to impact courtroom security due to officer availability for bailiff assignments, Bell said.
For FY 2026-27, Municipal Court is requesting:
- A new juvenile case manager position
- A new part-time bailiff position
Since the construction timeline could place the expansions either in FY 2026-27 or FY 2027-28, Bell did not include specific costs for the positions to avoid setting aside funds before the additional space is available.
What’s next
Manvel City Council will continue reviewing departmental budget requests as it develops the FY 2026-27 budget ahead of adoption at a later meeting.
