The Laredo City Council has approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget, solidifying more than $12 million in funding for technology-related initiatives aimed at modernizing infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity and supporting digital service delivery across multiple departments.
The budget was approved early during an Aug. 14 City Council workshop that was originally planned to be the first of two, bypassing multiple departments’ budget presentations. Overall, the final budget did not make significant changes to proposed technology funding.
The largest portion of the city’s technology spending falls under the Information Services and Telecommunications (IST) Department, which received $9.4 million in operating funds. The allocation covers personnel, contractual services, supplies and cybersecurity operations.
Included in the IST budget is $300,000 in new funding for specific projects and staffing. That includes $183,000 to hire two Wi-Fi Network Specialist I positions and $115,000 for capital improvements such as upgrades to the city’s 800 MHz radio system, a surveillance video storage server and additional memory and disk hardware.
Beyond the IT department, several city agencies will also receive technology funding. The Planning Department is moving forward with an online permitting and application portal, expansion of its Atlas Insight system and digitization of development records. Its contractual services and supplies budget totals $1.2 million, including $914,000 under Section 112 for tools such as data systems and modeling software used in transportation planning.
The budget also supports new personnel roles reflecting the city’s increased cybersecurity posture, including a cybersecurity manager and an IT security analyst. GIS analyst and technician positions will remain in place in the Planning Department.
While the Police Department's funding for technology was not broken out in detail, officials indicated that public safety technology will play a role in meeting department goals in the year ahead.
Laredo City Council Approves $12M+ for Tech
What to Know:
- The budget was approved early during an Aug. 14 City Council workshop.
- The largest portion of the city’s technology spending falls under the Information Services and Telecommunications Department.
- Beyond the IT department, several city agencies will also receive technology funding.
