NEWS
Bowie City Council facing tight budget year
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Bowie City Council members got their first look at the 2025-26 budget draft at their July 1 workshop and was scheduled for public preview on the July 8 council agenda. A public hearing also will be scheduled for the budget.
City Manager Bert Cunningham and Finance Director Pamela Woods went through the department proposals for expenditures and revenues.
The overall operational budget is proposed at $23,988,734 with $13,078,520 in the utility fund and $10,910,214 in the general fund. Projected total revenues are $23,993,088 with $13,078,520 in utility and $10,912,388.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Montague County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on July 13.
Items on the agenda include the following: Approve bond for deputy clerk tax assessor-collector; reappoint Jan Ward to the Helen Farabee Center Board; approve line-item budget adjustment of $6,650 from election judges to election supplies for the purchase of a NeuraScanner; approve election judges, alternates and clerks for 2026-27 election year; consider enrollment with the Texas Association of Counties certified AI course; consider naming a private road Berkley Lane off of Farm-to-Market 1655; replat in precinct four and final plat for Twin Acres subdivision; review sealed bid for base rock and budget workshop for fiscal 2026-27.
Members of the Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on July 14 in regular session.
The city manager’s report from Bert Cunningham opens the meeting.
He will report on the Coffield to Roberts Streets waterline; budget preparation; status of the Texas Water Development Board grant application and a new water line on Session Street from Coffield to Roberts.
In new business, the council will consider a medical access and service advantage program, an ordinance calling the Nov. 3 election and an amendment to the finance department’s cash handling policy.
The city manager will make the presentation of the proposed 2026-27 budget, followed by setting a public hearing and budget workshop.
In old business, there will be the second reading of an ordinance updating the office of emergency management along with an update on an agreement for automatic aid assistance between the City of Bowie Fire Department, Sunset Volunteer Fire Department and Bowie Rural Volunteer Fire Department.
The first six months of 2026 have provided Bowie and Nocona with more than half of their average rainfall for the year, which is welcome as the steamy summer season gets underway.
Lake levels also are strong, but as always rainfall is welcome in this often dry season.
Bowie rainfall
January – 0
February – 3.0
March – 1.79
April – 5.93
May 3.63
June – 7.36
Total – 21.71 inches
Nocona rainfall
January – 0
February – 1.86
March – 2.13
April – 8.94
May – 1.64
June – 7.78
Total – 22.35 inches
Lake levels(7/7/26)
Amon G. Carter –
918.40msl, 88.3% full
Full at 920msl
Lake Nocona – 824.66msl, 82.9% full
Full at 827.50msl
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