The City of Boerne is paving the way for its fiscal future with detailed discussions on its Utilities Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as it gears up for the 2025 budget. In a recent City Council meeting, deliberations continued on the strategy for funding and execution of major infrastructure projects, according to a comprehensive report by My Boerne News. City Manager Ben Thatcher and Boerne Utilities Director Mike Mann presented various projects covering essential services like electricity, water, and sewer.
In line with Boerne’s objective of providing excellent financial stewardship, Thatcher highlighted steps toward investing in resilient infrastructure systems. The CIP budget is supported by a mix of funding sources, including cash, utility funds, and grants. Despite careful planning, the council still has to consider staffing capacity, external resources, and shifting economic conditions, like inflation, that could influence the budget each year.
Electricity in Boerne, currently sourced from BP Energy and the Lower Colorado River Authority, will see initiatives such as the I-10 Electric Line Relocation aligned with a forthcoming Buc-ee development. This project, which is fully funded at $150,000, will commence once the new roadway’s groundwork is in place. Water services also have significant items on the docket, with a $20 million expansion of the Water Treatment Plant and multiple projects under design aimed at enhancing the delivery of water from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority.
One of these projects, involving carbon filters at the Buckskin Drive pump station, is expected to begin installation in 2026 and cost around $500,000. The need for these filters has increased in recent years, Mann explained, as the city moves towards surface water as its primary source. Also on the CIP list are sewage system improvements and expansions with the significant Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Center project costing an estimated $11.5 million, with around $4 million funded through a developer agreement.
Boerne Utilities is addressing the natural gas sector with multiple projects including the $150,000 I-10 Gas Line Relocation and a $2.5 million East Gas Loop, improving pressure during peak demand. In anticipation of cold weather extremes, a contingency plan involving compressed natural gas trailers is also in the works. Upcoming budget meetings are set for August and September, where additional discussions and a pair of public hearings will guide the adoption of the fiscal strategies.
