Corpus Christi Budgets $30M for IT in 2026

Corpus Christi leaders have committed about $30 million to IT in the city’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, combining operating dollars with capital improvement projects.

According to the city’s operating budget, the IT Fund includes about $23 million in revenue for FY26. The department is tasked with maintaining enterprise systems, supporting cybersecurity, overseeing network infrastructure and advancing cloud-based services. This funding covers personnel, operations and planned equipment replacements.

In addition to the operating budget, Corpus Christi has dedicated about $7 million through its capital program for technology-focused initiatives. Major projects include:

• Gas Lines and Regulator Station Replacement Program: $4.3 million, including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and instrumentation at purchase points
• Wastewater SCADA Instrumentation and Electrical Improvements: $1 million
• Yorktown Traffic Signal Project: $1.1 million
• Traffic Management (Intelligent Transportation Systems): $630,000
• Zero-Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure at the Airport: $255,000

Separate from these system-focused initiatives, the budget also sets aside about $21 million for construction projects with embedded technology components (pages 56-67, 158-166). Those include $6.5 million for Fire Station No. 10, $5 million each for the Far South and Northwest police substations, $3.1 million for arena rehabilitation and $1.3 million for electrical work at the Selena Auditorium. Each incorporates communications, security or control systems as part of the overall build.

The city’s new budget took effect Oct. 1.