San Marcos residents have the opportunity to shape the city’s future by participating in a series of community meetings focused on the fiscal year 2026-27 budget. These meetings are designed to engage the public in discussions about budget priorities, including public safety, infrastructure, parks, and utilities.

Community Engagement

The city has scheduled three 90-minute sessions to ensure residents have ample opportunity to provide feedback. The meetings will cover the same content, offering a comprehensive overview of the proposed budget and key priorities. Mayor Jane Hughson emphasized the importance of hearing from the community, stating, “We want to hear from the people who call San Marcos home.”

The meetings are set for May 26 at 12 p.m. via Zoom, June 3 at 6 p.m. at the San Marcos Public Library, and June 8 at 6 p.m. at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. City Manager Stephanie Reyes highlighted the city’s commitment to transparency and accessibility, noting that the goal is to make complex budget topics understandable and to create a space for meaningful community input.

Budget Timeline

The feedback collected from these meetings will play a crucial role in shaping the proposed budget, which will be presented to the city council in a series of workshops and public hearings. The timeline includes budget workshops on May 19 and June 25, the delivery of the proposed budget on August 18, and public hearings on September 1 and September 15, when the budget is expected to be adopted.

By involving residents in the budget process, San Marcos aims to align its resources with the community’s needs, ensuring that the city’s investments reflect the priorities of its citizens.

Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.