Stafford's proposed FY2026-27 budget carries a $1.9 million General Fund shortfall that Mayor Ken Mathew will lay out at a special council workshop Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 2610 South Main St. The agenda includes a dedicated public comment period on the budget, and the council could take action on items discussed.

A preliminary proposed budget presented at a July 8 workshop projected $31 million in General Fund revenue against $32.9 million in expenses, leaving a shortfall of roughly $1.93 million. Ten vacant city positions were excluded from the salary line, meaning the gap could widen if those jobs are filled. The current fiscal year's budget already showed a larger shortfall of about $2.33 million, according to the July 8 preliminary budget.

The shortfall is significant for a city that levies no property tax.

At a July 30 workshop, Council Member Virginia Rosas moved to add roughly $2.25 million in spending to the mayor's budget. The items included $1 million for police, fire and public works overtime, $500,000 in contingency funds and $209,000 for Fire Department reclassifications. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Wood seconded the motion. It failed 3-4. Mayor Mathew and Council Members Alice Chen, William K. Bostic Jr. and Wen Guerra voted no.

At that same meeting, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Vanberschot addressed the council during public comment. He spoke about the deficit, the no-property-tax model and the prospect of reducing services. He asked that "an honest conversation with the residents be held to discuss the current revenue model," according to the meeting minutes.

At a July 8 workshop, the council voted 6-0 to approve $436,626 in one-time capital requests for the police department. Members also voted 5-1 to carry forward discussion of a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all departments and other employee pay items. Council Member Xavier Herrera cast the lone dissenting vote.

A three-year review presented at a June 10 workshop showed the General Fund ran surpluses in FY2022-23, FY2023-24 and FY2024-25 before the current year's projected deficit.

The Sept. 15 workshop follows the same format as the prior fiscal year's process. On Sept. 10, 2025, Mathew presented and read his full budget message at a similar special meeting.

Residents who need accommodations or interpretive services for the Sept. 15 meeting must contact the City Secretary's Office at (281) 261-3900 at least 48 hours in advance. A budget adoption date has not yet been publicly scheduled.