City’s General Fund shows $37,000 year-end surplus

By Rosanne Fohn

Anvil Herald Reporter

The city of Hondo ended the 2024-25 fiscal year with a surplus of $37,000, according to information provided by Finance Director Chris Hill at Monday’s city council meeting. 

“The General Fund is the primary fund of the city,” Hill explained. “It contains general administration, public safety, parks, recreation and public works functions. The General Fund has a surplus of $37,000 due to expenditures coming in less than budget. Overall, the city has a large surplus due to the sale of land at the (South Texas Regional) Airport.”

While overall figures for the entire budget won’t be available until the audit is presented in the future, Hill said, he provided some information regarding the city’s departments:

Airport Fund — $1,525,731 surplus;

Court Technology/Security Fund — $219 surplus;

Economic Development Corporation — $168,095 surplus;

Electric Fund — $632,735 surplus;

General Capital Projects — $534,490 deficit;

Hotel/Motel Tax Fund — $15,705 deficit;

Sanitation Fund — $32,956 deficit;

Perpetual Care Fund — $6,789 surplus;

South Texas Regional Training Center — $27,982 deficit;

Water Resource Fund — $59,043 deficit.

Budget amendments

Twice a year, city council approves amendments to the budget regarding items they have previously approved during the year. Council unanimously approved the following:

• $345,798 was added to the General Fund for expenditures primarily for street improvements that were completed during fiscal year 2025. This was paid for by increased sales tax, investment interest revenue and overall reduced expenditures.

• $115,880 was added to the Utility Water Fund expense column as a final payment for the water meter project that was done in fiscal year 2024 and 2025.

• $1,513,579 was added to the income column for the Airport Fund. The income was from the sale of land and more jet fuel sold than anticipated. This contributed to a more than $1 million surplus in the Airport Fund, explained Hill.

Investment Report

Hill’s fourth-quarter investment report showed that the city received $227,665 in income from investments, with a total of $953,394 in income for the entire fiscal year.

Council accepted both items unanimously.

Golf cart ordinance

Council also spent the majority of the 48-minute meeting discussing the possibility of an ordinance regulating golf carts and off-highway vehicles. Police Chief Justin Soza provided information on state law and another city’s ordinance to the council at the request of Council members Rachel Ramirez and Porky Ytuarte, who spoke in favor of regulations to improve public safety, as they have both have seen minors operating the vehicles in a reckless manner. 

Council ended up providing their guidance and concerns to City Attorney Michael McCann, City Manager John Naron and Soza to assist them in writing a proposed ordinance for Hondo.