The Brownfield City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday morning, January 22, with a brief agenda and no public comments. After the meeting was called to order, council members heard the invocation, recited the pledges, approved minutes from the previous meeting, and then moved into the day’s business.
City Election Ordered for May 2
One of the first action items was ordering the City of Brownfield election for Saturday, May 2, 2026. Four positions will be on the ballot: Mayor and City Council Districts 1, 2, and 3. The filing deadline to apply for a place on the ballot is Friday, February 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Applications can be obtained through the Terry County Elections Office at the Terry County Annex, 507-A W. Main in Brownfield. The council approved the election order.
Election Workers Approved
The council also approved the recommended slate of election workers provided by the Elections Office. Those appointments included:
- Election Day Judge: Maria Chacon
- Election Day Alternate Judge: Jeanette Rodriguez
- Early Voting Ballot Board Judge: Raquel Perry
- Early Voting Ballot Board Alternate Judge: Laura Jacquez
All four were approved by the council.
Finance Report Shows Strong Early-Year Position Across Major Funds
Council members then reviewed the monthly finance report, dated January 21, 2026, reflecting December 2025 activity and the first 21 days of January 2026. Overall, the report showed several major city funds bringing in solid revenue while remaining within planned budget levels, leaving substantial budget capacity available for the remainder of the year.
In the General Fund, the city reported $1,482,557.60 in year-to-date revenue against a yearly budget of $8,095,889.00, leaving 81.69% of the revenue budget remaining. Year-to-date expenditures totaled $2,187,149.65 out of $8,095,885.00, meaning 72.98% of the expense budget remains available. Larger spending categories included Police ($711,890.01), Non-Departmental ($439,018.07), City Secretary ($212,089.19), Street ($186,621.04), and Parks & Recreation ($175,499.55).
The city’s P&L Fund posted $3,112,000.46 in year-to-date revenue on a budget of $9,634,580.00, leaving 67.70% of the revenue budget remaining. Expenses totaled $1,466,518.57 out of $9,634,583.00, leaving 84.78% of the expense budget available. Spending was primarily divided between Plant ($1,084,236.97 YTD) and Line Distribution ($382,281.60 YTD). The fund showed a positive year-to-date revenue over expenditures of $1,645,481.89.
In the Water & Sewer Fund, the city reported $937,424.51 in year-to-date revenue on a budget of $3,056,061.00, leaving 69.33% of the budget remaining. Year-to-date expenses totaled $695,700.75 out of $3,056,064.00, leaving 77.24% of the expense budget remaining. The fund posted positive year-to-date revenues over expenditures of $241,723.76, with the largest expense categories being Water ($599,003.06 YTD) and Sewer ($96,697.69 YTD).
The Garbage Fund also showed a positive performance. The city recorded $609,730.84 in year-to-date revenue on a $1,613,161.00 budget, leaving 62.20% of the budget remaining. Expenses totaled $399,613.52 year-to-date, leaving 75.23% of the spending budget still available. The fund’s year-to-date revenues over expenditures were $210,117.32.
Taken together, the reports indicate that Brownfield’s major funds remain within budget and are well-positioned early in the year. While monthly totals can fluctuate due to timing and seasonal costs, the numbers suggest the city continues to fund essential services while maintaining strong budget capacity moving forward.
Final Action Taken on Ace Hardware Economic Development Agreement
The council then addressed Resolution No. 2026-01-08, which involved the second and final reading of an economic development agreement between the City of Brownfield, the Forward Brownfield Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), and Ace Hardware. The first reading was approved at the council’s January 8 meeting, when BEDC Executive Director Gina Kelly outlined state law requirements, including a 60-day notice period and two readings of the resolution within that timeframe, as well as a formal contract between the EDC and the business requesting incentive funds.
During earlier discussions, Kelly, City Manager Jeff Davis, and Mayor Eric Horton shared that Ace Hardware plans to locate in the former Walmart building. Investor John Lott said the property owner expects to invest about $1.5 million in renovations, including building upgrades and possible repairs to the parking lot. Ace Hardware is expected to sign a 10-year lease and plans to employ 6–7 full-time workers and 3 part-time workers. The proposed incentive package totals $262,578, contingent on job retention and tax compliance. The council approved the second reading, completing final action on the resolution.
Executive Session and Next Meeting
The council later entered executive session. No action was taken following the closed session, and the meeting was adjourned. The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Mayor Eric Horton, Council Members Vanessa Valdonado, JC Tejerina, Ray McFarland, and Tome Hess were present.