Budgeting is an essential element of the financial planning, control, and evaluation process of municipal government. The operating budget is the city's annual financial operating plan. The budget includes:

Budget Summary: This section provides a general overview of the proposed budget and identifies key changes from the prior year. To view past Annual Budget Reports, visit our Financial Transparency page.

Vision Statements: The vision statements section of the budget provides a view of the various services provided by the city and is organized around the four city council vision statements and the Strategic Plan

Financial Section: This section provides a more traditional "fund accounting" view of the city's budget. Fund summaries and department summaries are provided.

Appendices: The fourth major section of the budget is the appendices, which contains supplemental information to meet specific City Charter requirements and to help the reader better understand the community.

The proposed budget is prepared and presented to the city council 30-90 days before the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30. The city council then reviews and revises the budget and receives citizen input through a public hearing on the proposed budget.

The budget process shall span sufficient time to address policy and fiscal issues by the council.

The council will adopt by ordinance such budget as it may have been amended as the city's annual budget, effective for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Videos

• FY 26 Proposed Budget [YouTube]
• July 7 Special Budget Meeting [YouTube]
• July 10 Outside Agency Funding [CivicClerk]
• July 16 Budget Workshop [CivicClerk]
• July 24 Budget Public Hearing [CivicClerk]
• Aug. 12 Special Meeting [CivicClerk]

---

Blogs/Releases

• City Council examines details of FY 26 proposed budget at in-depth Wednesday workshop [WordPress, July 14]

• City's proposed FY 26 budget prioritizes public safety, infrastructure, and long-term growth [WordPress, July 7]

• Offer valuable feedback on the City’s FY 26 budget priorities with our interactive online tool [WordPress, June 18]
• City Council reconsiders proposed FY 26 tax rate after revised property valuations [cstx.gov]

---

Presentations

• FY 26 Budget Presentation [PDF]
• FY 26 Outside Agency Funding [PDF]
• Budget Workshop- Policy and Revenue [PDF]
• Budget Workshop- Capital, Debt and Fund Balance [PDF]
• Budget Workshop- Departments [PDF]
• Budget Workshop- Outside Agencies [PDF]
• Budget Workshop- Staffing [PDF]
• Budget Public Hearing [PDF]
• Capital and Tax Rate Special Meeting [PDF]
• Call Tax Rate Public Hearing [PDF]

---

Meetings

• July 7 Special Budget Meeting [YouTube]
• July 10 Outside Agency Discussion [CivicClerk]
• July 16 Budget Workshop [CivicClerk]
• July 24 Budget Public Hearing [CivicClerk]
• Aug. 12 Special Meeting [cstx.gov]
• Aug. 14 Regular Meeting [Wordpress]
• Aug. 28 Tax Rate Public Hearing/Budget Adoption [Calendar]

---

Media

• College Station City Council Receives Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget [WTAW, July 8]
• What's in College Station's proposed $474 million FY26 budget and tax rate? [KBTX, July 7]
• College Station's preliminary budget for FY 2026 nearly $475M [Eagle, July 7]
• College Station Budget Review: $474.2 Million Proposal [Here CS, July 11]
• College Station Council hears from outside agencies (Eagle, July 14)
• CS City Council Receives Outside Funding Requests From 10 Agencies (WTAW, July 16)
• College Station City Council Special Meeting Includes Discussing The Future Of 14 Capital Projects (WTAW, Aug.13)
• Property valuation changes reshape College Station budget, tax rate talks (KBTX, Aug. 13)
• College Station City Council discusses capital projects, tax rate at special meeting (Eagle, Aug. 13)

The City of College Station received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. To receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan and as a communications device.