The Brownfield City Council met in a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday morning, September 4, 2025. The main topic of discussion was two items of business pertaining to the Brownfield Police Department. After the call to order, invocation, pledges, public comments (none were given), and the approval of the minutes, the Council moved into the rest of the agenda.
The Council moved to discuss and call for a public hearing on the proposed City of Brownfield 2025-2026 fiscal year budget. The annual budget serves as a crucial policy document for the city, highlighting Brownfield’s priorities, challenges, and vision for the future. Each year, the city works diligently to strike a balance between fiscal responsibility and the needs of our community. This ensures our residents receive essential services while we also make meaningful investments in infrastructure and quality-of-life projects that will enhance our city’s future.
For the Fiscal Year 2025-2026, City Manager Jeff Davis of Brownfield presented a proposed balanced budget of $22.97 million. According to Davis, “This budget reflects the hard work of months of discussion, review, and collaboration with our dedicated staff and City Council. Together, we have crafted a financial plan that is not only sustainable and transparent but also thoughtfully responsive to the needs and aspirations of our citizens.”
The proposed budget represents an overall increase of 3.4% from the budget for 2024-2025. This includes an 8.8% increase in the general fund, a 3.7% increase in proprietary funds, and a significant 46.2% increase in capital expenditures. The proposed tax rate will decrease from $0.481306 to $0.469512 per $100 valuation, while higher property values are expected to generate approximately $128,000 in additional revenue. The Council will not adopt the proposed tax rate of $0.469512 per $100 valuation until a public hearing is held on September 18, 2025.
The proposed budget also includes a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all employees, as well as a permanent holiday stipend for shift workers, which applies to those in the police and fire departments. Healthcare premiums have been reduced by 5% from the previous year, ensuring that employees and their dependents remain fully covered. Furthermore, participation in the TMRS retirement plan will continue at 5%.
The 2025-2026 budget also allocates funding for community utilities and service subsidies, which include $16,178 for the senior citizens center, $12,000 for Our Promise Youth Academy, a $7,500 contribution to the library, a $5,650 utilities subsidy for the library, $1,000 for cemetery care, and $30,164 for the South Plains Public Health District. The Council approved to hold a hearing on the proposed budget on Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 7:30 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
The next item on the agenda was to approve a resolution officially retiring K9 Chip after seven years of dedicated service to the Brownfield Police Department. Chip, who is nearing nine years of age, has faithfully served the community and will now enjoy a well-deserved retirement while remaining with his handler, Officer Padron.
In the same resolution, the Brownfield Police Department and City Council were proud to introduce the newest member of our team—K9 Karla! We look forward to many years of service and protection from Karla as she begins her journey with the Brownfield Police Department.
Another resolution was approved in the following item of business. The Meritorious Conduct Board of the Brownfield Police Department had conducted a thorough review and was pleased to recommend recognition for Sergeant Randi Truelock.
Sergeant Truelock has demonstrated remarkable contributions to law enforcement through her effective management of complex projects, programs, and situations. Her exceptional ability to connect multiple jurisdictions by effectively communicating patterns of crimes under investigation directly facilitated the identification of a suspect. Due to her diligent efforts and coordination among various agencies, the suspect was apprehended in Tom Green County on multiple felony charges. Had this individual not been captured, it is likely that further criminal activities would have ensued, potentially endangering additional victims.
Sergeant Truelock has executed her responsibilities with a commendable level of professionalism, dedication, and success, reflecting positively on herself, the Brownfield Police Department, and the broader City of Brownfield. In light of these accomplishments, the City Council of Brownfield honored Sergeant Truelock through a resolution to recognize and commend her exemplary conduct formally. Her exceptional performance, interagency collaboration, and significant contributions to law enforcement are greatly appreciated. The City Council extends its sincere gratitude for her unwavering service and professionalism.
The last two items of business were to hear the quarterly reports from the electrical department and the water/wastewater department. The Electrical department had 67 work orders from April to June. The Water/Waste Water department had 62 work orders.
The meeting was adjourned, and the next meeting is slated for Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 7:30 am in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
