Annual Report

A Letter from Mayor Jim Holmes

Waco City Hall and photo of Mayor Jim Holmes speaking at podium

It is an honor to serve as your mayor and work alongside a City Council that is deeply committed to the future of our home. As we look back on the past year through this annual report, it is clear that our story is not about standing still. We are moving forward with a clear vision.

Over the last decade, our city’s value has more than doubled, reaching $23 billion. This isn’t just a number on a page. It represents 33 new companies and thousands of new jobs that provide security for our families. People are choosing Waco because of the energy and investment we see every day. From a flourishing downtown to new capital projects, we are becoming a premier place to visit, live, and do business. We are managing this growth carefully to ensure that as our economy expands, we maintain the character that makes us special.

Our commitment to a high quality of life starts with the safety of our neighborhoods. By aligning our resources with the needs of our community, we are building an environment where families can thrive and every resident feels secure in the places they call home. The heart of our city is found in our people. Whether we are improving our downtown experience or enhancing our local parks, our goal is to create a vibrant space for everyone. We are working to build a city that offers real opportunity to every resident across the region.
Even when we face a tighter fiscal environment or rising costs, we stay the course. We have navigated challenges by remaining disciplined and focused on our long-term goals. Our ability to adapt while keeping our financial footing strong proves that we can handle whatever the future holds.

This year, our city teams identified over $32 million in savings through better technology and smarter processes. We did this while maintaining the lowest tax rate in 16 years and preserving exemptions for our homeowners. We are delivering best-in-class services by making every dollar work harder for you. Waco is more than just a series of projects. We are a community of hardworking, creative, and hopeful people. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant city that belongs to all of us.

Waco City Council

Waco is Growing: Integrating Infrastructure & Innovation Across Waco

Economic Development

Aerial of Downtown Waco and Brazos River

The City of Waco successfully supported the delivery, opening, and activation of several high-impact industrial, manufacturing, hospitality, and commercial projects, reinforcing Waco’s position as a regional employment and investment hub and advancing long-term tax base growth.

The City also made significant progress on transformational, place-based redevelopment efforts aligned with the City’s long-term vision for downtown, the riverfront, and other catalytic sites. Notable accomplishments include:

  • Continued advancement of downtown and riverfront redevelopment planning, positioning Waco for multi-billion-dollar private investment over the next decade.
  • Meaningful progress on the Floyd Casey redevelopment, a transformative project representing $100+ million in private investment and more than 240 residential units, which will re-activate a long-underutilized site and anchor future mixed-use growth in South Waco.
  • Support for mixed-use, housing, and hospitality development, including Cypress Village, expanding residential capacity and responding to growth pressures.
  • Advancement of the Central Texas Food Bank Waco Hub, a major community-serving facility that strengthens regional food access, workforce support, and nonprofit infrastructure while contributing to reinvestment in an emerging growth area.

The City of Waco advanced our long-term fiscal sustainability by growing commercial and industrial taxable value within Waco’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) zones, generating new tax increment to support reinvestment without impacting the General Fund.

Key Outcomes

  • IDV / Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages
  • Electrolit Manufacturing Facility
  • GPI (Graphic Packaging International)
  • Webster Market
  • 1001 Columbus
  • Tru Jamaica
  • $1 billion+ in active or advancing private investment
  • 700+ new and retained jobs

Waco Downtown Redevelopment Project

Renderings of future Barron's Branch Park and La Pila Plaza

In 2025, the City of Waco and our partner Hunt Development Group built real momentum for a more walkable, welcoming, and connected Downtown Waco with the community leading the way.

  • Completed the draft of the form-based code, which sets the design of the Barron’s Branch District.
  • Launched an activation at the Waco Convention Center where the community can see the vision of the Barron’s Branch District with a 3D model of the project.
  • Purchased the Indian Spring Middle School property enabling the future Ballpark District.
  • Established the funding model, assuring residents that the project’s first phase will impact residents less than $1 per month.

Outreach Stats

  • 29 community outreach events
  • More than 20,000 website visitors
  • More than 3,000 of you joined us in person to share your voice

Infrastructure Services

Two engineers looking at plans. Aerial view of water sewage plant.

Road Improvements

The City of Waco measures pavement health with the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which is verified every three to five years by third-party professional services and tracked continuously through software. The grading system is based on three ranges: Poor PCI (0-39), Fair PCI (40-64), and Good PCI (65+).

Without intervention, PCI scores typically drop about two to three points annually. From 2019 to 2022, Waco’s PCI rose from 43 to 56. However, at the end of fiscal year 2025, the score was 52. Without the City’s investment in the Better Streets Waco program, the score could have fallen to 47, but thanks to continued funding, the condition has held steady. By completing planned projects, the PCI is expected to rise to 55 by the end of fiscal year 2026, moving us toward our goal of having 67% of the street network rated “Good.”

Key Stats
  • 50.8 lane miles of road preservation, rehabilitation, and reconstruction to improve the overall street network and to prevent more costly repairs in the future.
  • $90M in Capital Improvement Projects
  • $25M in Road Repairs
  • $26.7M in Utility Projects
  • $36.5M in Drainage, Bridge & Downtown Projects
  • $1.6M in Alternative Transportation Projects

Water Utility Services

1.2% Water Loss Rate: In compliance with Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) requirements, the City of Waco conducted its annual evaluation of water loss within the municipal water system. For Fiscal Year 2025, Waco reported an exceptionally low annual water loss rate based on the total system input volume and authorized consumption. This figure places Waco among the top-performing municipalities in Texas, where the statewide average water loss rate is approximately 15%.

Key Stats
  • Zero major interruptions or regulatory violations to Waco customers and wholesale suppliers.
  • 9.9 billion gallons of water treated
  • 6.6 billion gallons of wastewater treated (including 1 billion gallons sold as reuse supply)

Public Works

Solid Waste

Aerial view of landfill

Successfully completed a multi-year effort to plan, construct, and bring online a new transfer station and landfill. Both facilities began accepting waste on October 1, 2025 as part of a staged transition from the current landfill.

Improved operational efficiency through continued collections route optimization efforts, including the development and staffing of a dedicated Route Coordinator position to strengthen route planning and long-term service reliability.

Key Stats
  • 235,687 Tons of Refuse Landfilled
  • 2,979 Tons of Recyclables Collected Curbside
  • 31,768 Customers at Cobbs Recycling Center
  • 1,292 Tons of Recyclables Collected at Cobbs Recycling Center
  • 103,619 Customers at the Landfill
  • 13,017 Tons of Landfill Recyclables
  • 168 Tons of Zoo Poo
  • 183 Tons of Glass Recycled

Maintenance

Three Public Works employees working on repairing a road
  • 2 bridges renovated on Cameron Park Riverwalk
  • 1,780 acres of land maintenance
  • 68 parks
  • 65 miles of public right of way
  • 165 graffiti remediations
  • 146,208 square feet of road surface replacements
  • 3,968 potholes patched (71,591 sq. ft)
  • 503,048 lane feet of road crack sealing (12’ lanes)
  • 8,295 feet of alleys maintained
  • 287,380 square feet of road islands and medians cleaned
  • 79,497 feet of curbs & gutters cleaned
  • 5,674 miles of streets swept
  • 1,228 new signs installed/replaced
  • 280 signs maintained
  • 254,881 linear feet of long lines striped

Repairs

  • 418 Water leaks
  • 80 Emergency water leaks
  • 255 Hydrant replacement/repair
  • 83 Valve replacements
  • 158 Lateral replacements
  • 127 Sewer main repairs
  • 35 New sewer taps
  • 33 New water taps
Emergency Repairs
  • M. L. K. transmission line: Saving the City of Waco $700,000 on one of the City’s major water supply lines
  • 30-inch sewer interceptor: Critical failure on East Clay Street with no sanitary sewer overflow
  • 42-inch sewer interceptor: Collapse on M. L. K., successfully maintaining the bypass system

Waco is Safe: Strengthening Public Safety & Community Resilience

Waco Police Department

Group of Waco police officers with Chief Sheryl Victorian

The Waco Police Department was selected as the 10th agency nationwide to participate in the National Case Closed Project, a U.S. Department of Justice-funded initiative designed to improve violent crime clearance rates. As a result, WPD realigned investigative resources, establishing the Major Crimes Unit and Special Victims Unit.

Through the Support Abatement, Forfeiture, and Enforcement (S.A.F.E.) Unit and the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, WPD partnered with 68 apartment properties citywide. Participating properties experienced a 38% reduction in calls for service, a 57% reduction in reports, and a 13% reduction in arrests over the past year.

Lowest Crime in Waco Since 1993

By the end of 2025, overall crime decreased by 7%, continuing the downward trend since 2022, marking the lowest crime levels since accurate records began in 1993.

Largest Recruitment Class in 20+ Years

Waco Police Department hired 30 new officers and one K-9. Five of those officers were recruited through the Waco Police Explorers and the Police Internship Program.

Youth Engagement

The Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) launched its first-ever summer camp. The five-day camp served 38 youth ages 5–16 and focused on building trust, a sense of belonging, and positive relationships through shared experiences with officers from Waco PD and Waco ISD PD.


Waco Fire Department

Aerial view of Waco Fire Station with water tower in the background. And Chief Robby Bergerson getting sworn in.

Expanding Fire Service in Waco

The Waco Fire Department opened Fire Station #15. The project involved staffing and deploying Engine 15, as well as onboarding additional firefighters to meet operational demands. Station #15 received national recognition, earning the Firehouse Magazine Gold Award in the Satellite Station Design category for superior design, functionality, and service delivery. This facility expands geographic coverage, strengthens response reliability, and enhances firefighter safety.

Waco Fire also broke ground for the relocation and full reconstruction of Fire Station #4 on La Salle Avenue. The relocation will improve service delivery along a critical corridor.

Rebuilding Waco Fire’s Executive & Organizational Structure

In June 2025, Waco City Council appointed Robby Bergerson as the 15th fire chief for the City of Waco. He realigned the department’s executive structure to establish three branches: Emergency Services, Support Services, and Administration & Planning, each led by an executive-level chief officer to improve communication, priorities, employee culture, and morale.

Advancements in Firefighter Wellness

  • Replaced $1.75 million in Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
  • Transitioned from a four-decade relationship with MSA Safety to 3M/Scott as the SCBA supplier for superior safety communication enhancements.
  • Integrated EsoGuard esophageal screening and the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test into annual physicals.
  • Executed a $254,443.63 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant to install no-smoke diesel exhaust filtration units on all large apparatus to reduce diesel particulate exposure.

Waco-McLennan Public Health

Health District employees at a booth. Three older women in a chair yoga class.

Community Health Improvement Plan

  • The plan analyzed data from the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (in addition to plans from community partners)
  • Identified four priority areas: Mental/Behavioral Health, Healthcare Services, Women’s Health, and Non-Medical Drivers of Health.
  • Developed collective strategies for improving community health with United Way of Waco-McLennan County and nearly 40 local organizations.

Measles

The Health District confirmed and contained nine cases of measles in McLennan County in 2025, through rapid communication and local vaccination efforts. The cases were connected to the larger statewide outbreak.

Key Stats

  • +50% in clinical services revenue through implementation of new electronic health record system with improved insurance reimbursement collections
  • 10,277 Immunizations (5,238 clients)
  • 1,543 patients accessed HIV/STI Services (359 in case management)
  • 3,546 environmental health inspections
    • 3,083 food inspections
    • 106 childcare inspections
    • 354 pool/spa inspections
    • 1,683 notices of violation in on-site sewage facility program and 462 permits issued
  • 6,000+ residents engaged through 245 community events and 93 classes
  • 17,802 birth and death records purchased with Vital Statistics
  • 6,558 clients accessed WIC services per month on average representing 4,595 households

Office of Emergency Management

Woman talking to another woman at a table booth

Regional Leader

  • 1,500+ contact hours of emergency management training (more than any other agency in the region)
  • Supported over 20 emergency operation activations, including major planned events public safety operations, and severe weather responses

Strengthened Communications

Increased the operational capacity of the radio shop, upgraded the Mobile Command Unit, and developed the region’s first ERRCS (in-building radio coverage) guidelines.

Countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan

Managed a comprehensive re-write of the McLennan County Hazard Mitigation Plan with participation from 23 jurisdictions. FEMA approved the plan, ensuring continued eligibility for federal mitigation grants. OEM has already secured over $1M for jurisdictions in McLennan County.


Animal Services

Chanse the dog mascot with animal shelter staff and dog

Successful Operational Transition

The City of Waco assumed full ownership of core life-saving functions, maintaining a 94% save rate without service interruptions for the public. The shelter was successfully rebranded as Pet Circle Regional Animal Center. In the first year, Pet Circle Waco implemented process improvements to reduce the average animal length of stay, cutting the average for dogs by three days and overall outcomes by one day.

Program Stats
  • 270 volunteers contributed 5,269 hours of service, covering critical animal care needs and adoption event support
  • 581 out-of-shelter experiences
    Bark Break and Sleepovers, offering decompression from the kennel environment and generating valuable behavioral notes and photos
  • 4,300 pounds of food served at the Community Food Pantry to over 1,682 animals to help keep pets in their original homes
Animal Protection Stats
  • 354 animals reunited with their owners before they even entered the shelter
  • 24,182 calls for service including education, neglect and cruelty investigations, and citations for animal-related crimes

Waco Municipal Court

Judge Garcia with teenage kids and Municipal Court staff wearing sports jerseys.
  • Over 2,000 youth and adults participated in the Waco Municipal Court’s Youth Offender Prevention and Crime & Consequences Education Programs to learn about the criminal justice system and the consequences of criminal activity. This is the only program of its kind in Texas run by a municipal court.
  • The Waco Municipal Court Amnesty Program was expanded to year round and has helped over 3,000 people get back on track to obtain their drivers license while breaking collection records for the court. Our Amnesty Program is the largest in the State of Texas and has helped the City of Waco collect over half a million dollars in delinquent and “uncollectable” fines since its inception.
  • Waco Municipal Court launched the Juveniles Under Mentorship Program (JUMP) to provide youth with valuable mentorship opportunities through sports and extracurricular activities. The Court hosted four events in the last fiscal year with over 400 youth participants and support from Baylor University’s social service organizations and the Baylor football team.

Waco is A Community: Empowering Neighbors & Enhancing Everyday Life

Customer Engagement

Call center staff on the phone.

The City of Waco successfully transitioned its utility billing to the SpryPoint platform (branded as MyWaco Account) in October 2025. This launch replaced the legacy system with a modern, cloud-native portal that now serves over 48,000 accounts.

The new system has significantly improved the customer experience by providing 24/7 self-service access, proactive leak alerts, and detailed water-usage reports. Internally, the transition has streamlined workflows for staff, integrating customer data and billing into a unified dashboard that enhances both operational efficiency and responsiveness to resident needs.

Key Stats

  • 110,000+ Customer Calls Answered
  • 460,000+ Accounts Billed
  • 73,000+ Utility Work Orders Completed

Neighborhood Engagement

Group of people at a table at Faith Leaders Summit

Supported 19 Active Neighborhood Associations 

  • Attended 115 (out of 118) neighborhood association meetings and events.
  • Awarded 10 Neighborhood Grants to nine neighborhood associations totaling $49,918.
  • $76,130 total value with matching funds, donations, and volunteer work provided by residents
    • Austin Avenue
    • Brook Oaks
    • Brookview
    • Carver
    • Cedar Ridge (2)
    • Cesar Chavez
    • Dean Highland
    • North Waco
    • Sanger Heights

Faith Leaders

Hosted about 350 Waco-area faith leaders at the annual Faith Summit and spring and fall Lunch & Learn sessions.


Housing & Community Development

A young woman and a young girl cleaning a house's siding

The City of Waco is proud to announce that all Home Rehabilitation funds allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) have been fully expended, providing vital repairs and ensuring safer living conditions for our community members. Simultaneously, we are looking toward the future of large-scale housing with the execution of a $3 million grant agreement for Community Project Funding with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development for the Renaissance at Sanger Heights Housing Development, a cornerstone project for residential growth in North Waco.

Financial Empowerment Center

Beyond physical structures, the City is also investing in the financial health of our residents. The City of Waco was awarded a $20,000 Planning Grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment to begin the groundwork for a new Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). This initial investment has served as a catalyst, allowing us to garner strong community support and secure additional outside funding to bring this vision to life.

Key Stats

  • 14 Cleanup Projects in partnership with Grassroots Community Development, including six Code Compliance cases with help from over 120 volunteers
  • 2 Property Seminars & Deed Workshops
    40 in attendance representing 21 households and 16 deeds executed on the day of the workshop for free
  • 20 home rehab projects completed for low-income families
  • 25 roof replacements completed for low-income families
  • 26 households provided rental assistance

Parks & Recreation

Grand opening of Doris Miller Pool with many people and balloons

Doris Miller Community Center Pool Opening

The opening of the Doris Miller Community Center Pool was one of the year’s most significant achievements for Waco Parks & Recreation. With community input, the renovation project expanded access to quality aquatic recreation in East Waco and the entire community in addition to supporting youth employment and water-safety education. The pool features swim lanes that support both leisure use and structured programming such as learn-to-swim classes and water fitness.

Park Development Projects

  • Alice Martinez Rodriguez Park: Celebrated the groundbreaking for an inclusive playground in South Waco.
  • MKT Trail: Transformed a former rail corridor into a walking, running, and biking trail in East Waco.
  • China Spring Park: Began construction on the new park that will serve one of Waco’s fastest-growing areas.
  • Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center Playground: Construction began on the space-themed playground.

Beautification, Arts & Culture Projects

  • South Waco Community Center Mural
  • Advancement of the Corridor Beautification Incentive Program
  • Utility Box Art Program
  • Progress on the 7th Street Plaza
  • Decorative lighting under I-35
  • Arbor Day Foundation Grant
  • Adopt-A-Park Program

Key Stats

  • Engaged 500+ youth in summer camps and after-school programs
  • Served 5,000+ participants across athletic leagues, including softball, soccer, basketball, and summer track
  • Facilitated 2,830 athletic field rentals and 262 park pavilion rentals
  • Hosted 25 baseball and softball tournaments at Riverbend Park
  • Recorded 48,411 rounds of golf at Cottonwood Creek
  • Supported 110 community events across the city
  • Enrolled 429 participants in swim lessons and drowning prevention classes
  • Served 266 participants in water fitness classes
  • Led 721 participants on Park Ranger–guided hikes in Cameron Park, totaling 1,442+ miles
  • Oversaw completion of three murals and 11 utility box art wraps
  • Distributed $48,000 in beautification incentives and provided 50+ trees through an Arbor Day Foundation donation

Waco-McLennan County Library

Library mascot Booker the elephant with three kids

Expansion of Digital Services

Waco Library expanded its digital services with the new Waco Library App and Kanopy streaming service to improve access and convenience for residents with flexible, on-demand learning and entertainment.

  • 2,620 users downloaded the Waco Library App
  • 6,100 titles were streamed on Kanopy

Community Engagement & Outreach

  • The Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge had a total of 4,166 participants, an 85% increase!
  • Texas Municipal Library Directors Association Achievement in Excellence Award
  • New limited-edition library card campaign during National Library Card Sign-Up Month
  • 840 new borrower registrations (29% increase) and 676 replacement card issuance (100% increase) during Fine Forgiveness Month
  • Updated the StoryWalk at Dewey Park

Technology Enhancements Across All Locations

  • The Library modernized its public technology to provide contemporary, accessible tools for patrons of all ages and meet growing community expectations for high-quality technology and streamlined services.
  • Installed AWE Early Literacy Stations at all branch locations.
  • Installed new self-checkout stations at East and South Waco Libraries.

Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center Groundbreaking

In January 2025, the City of Waco broke ground on the state-of-the-art Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center. The project will transform the former Bledsoe-Miller Community Center into a vibrant hub for science, technology, engineering, art, and math for people of all ages to learn and grow.

Waco is a Destination: Unveiling Waco's Era of Adventure & Culture

Waco Regional Airport

City staff and officials celebrating ribbon cutting of new Welcome Center
  • New Paid Parking Program: The department identified the need for a modernized parking revenue system as part of an effort to reduce the airport’s reliance on city subsidies. After research, planning, and preparing operational procedures, the airport launched its first paid parking program on October 1, laying the groundwork for improved non-aeronautical revenue generation and greater financial sustainability.
  • Annual Regulatory Inspections: The department maintained compliance with all FAA and TSA regulatory requirements by successfully passing all annual inspections. These included the FAA Part 139 Airport Certification Inspection and the TSA Part 1542 Security Compliance Inspection, which ensure operational safety, security, and readiness. The team’s preparation and attention to detail contributed to a smooth inspection process.

Key Stats

  • 56,537 Total Commercial and Charter Enplanements (+4%)
  • 87,402 Total Aircraft Operations (-6%)
  • $107,957 Landing Fee Revenue (+17%)
  • 100% T-Hangar Occupancy

Destination Marketing

City staff and officials celebrating ribbon cutting of new Welcome Center

New Waco Welcome Center

The City of Waco celebrated the grand opening of the new Waco Welcome Center in December 2025. Staff relocated the center from its long-term location next to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum to a more central downtown location on Sixth Street in between the AC Hotel Waco and Magnolia Market at the Silos. The Welcome Center will continue to offer retail sales, excellent customer service, and visitor information, but in a beautiful, modern space with a new hospitality suite, curated local art and furnishings, and a digital media screen.

Establishing the Destination Marketing Organization

In December 2024, the department initiated a major reorganization and structural shift, transitioning from a Convention and Visitors Bureau that managed citywide destination sales, as well as the Convention Center facility, to a standalone Destination Marketing Organization. This more modern operational model allows the DMO to focus on business and leisure travelers, sell the entire venue portfolio within the destination, and fully collaborate with our hospitality partners like hotels and attractions. The DMO manages the contract and works closely with Legends Global, the new Waco Convention Center operator, a premier venue management company. September 2025 marked the end of the first year under the new operational model.

As part of establishing the new operational model, DMO partnered with a local agency to develop a new destination brand and primary logo. This refreshed brand provides a strong foundation for marketing Waco consistently and effectively.

Key Stats

  • Actualized Room Nights: 58,776
    Verified hotel room nights generated by DMO-booked business.
  • Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenues: $7,431,765.65
    Visitor-paid tax revenues generated by overnight stays
  • Hotel Occupancy: 61.4%
    Share of Waco hotel rooms filled during a certain period.
  • Visitors to Waco: 2 million+
  • Welcome Center Revenues: $41,701.44

Cameron Park Zoo

Ribbon cutting of new Cameron Park Zoo Education Center and Vet Hospital

New Facilities Boost Animal Wellbeing & Community Outreach

In October 2024, the zoo celebrated the opening of the Carol Schmidhauser Veterinary Hospital. This state-of-the-art veterinary hospital features complete suites for treatment, radiology, surgery, necropsy, recovery, and space for animals to be treated and recover from illness. The hospital is equipped with technology to allow guests or consultants to observe procedures. The hospital also provides support space for staff.

Also in October 2024, the zoo celebrated the opening of the Corwin, Estes & Jaynes Education Center. The new education center provides support space for both onsite and offsite programming. The Center is also home to the first formal classrooms at the zoo. Each classroom is equipped with technology to support remote learning and instruction. Also included in the project is space for the zoo’s ambassador animals. The new space allowed for zoo staff to accommodate 864 participants in the 2025 summer Zoo Camp program.

Record Attendance

Hot off the opening of the Gloria & FM Young Penguin Shores exhibit, FY25 set an all time high attendance record with 370,382 attendees. This represents a 12% increase over the prior year. Included in the attendance were 19,438 students attending on field trips from school districts within a 90 mile radius of the zoo.

Volunteer Program

FY25 launched a reboot of the zoo’s volunteer program. Volunteers provided 7,186 hours of service with a value of more than $241,000.


Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum

Exterior of Texas Ranger Museum with Texas Ranger statue

New Exhibit Plan for Museum Exhibit Redesign

The TRHFM Exhibits Committee developed a plan for a complete museum exhibit redesign. The plan includes one major exhibit case renovation and multiple updated and reconfigured exhibits. The redesigned exhibits will follow a fully chronological layout and capitalize on available space to expand the range of Texas Ranger stories we can tell. The new physical design will feature a cleaner, brighter aesthetic that better emphasizes artifacts. All updates adhere to ADA standards and improve the visitor experience by presenting information through labels organized in a clear, accessible hierarchy.

Premiered “Texas Rangers: More than 200 Years”

Through a partnership with the Texas Ranger Association Foundation, TRHFM produced a new educational video for the Hall of Fame, shown five times daily. The video is 23 minutes long, replacing the previous 48-minute documentary, and its shorter format significantly improves visitor engagement. Unlike the earlier film, which concluded in the 1990s, the new video highlights the Texas Rangers’ modern-day role and ongoing service. Texas Rangers: More than 200 Years was produced in 2023, replacing a documentary filmed in the early 2000s. This updated presentation provides a more relevant and engaging experience for today’s visitors.

Complete Redesign of Collections Offices & Procedures

The Collections Office is one of the museum’s most critical behind-the-scenes areas, housing the majority of artifact storage and all collection records. It is also where conservation work takes place and where staff design and build exhibits. During this fiscal year, the museum replaced the 50-year-old carpet and redesigned the layout to improve efficiency and workflow. Improvements to artifact storage included the purchase of new saddle stands and a secure cabinet for loaned artifacts. The collections team also designed and built new support and organizational systems to strengthen the preservation environment. In addition, a new deaccession policy was developed and implemented, resulting in the responsible rehoming of artifacts that no longer align with TRHFM’s mission to other Waco museums.

Key Stats

  • 16 updated exhibits to encourage both visitors and residents to return to the museum.
  • Top 25% of peer museums on Facebook
    Reached 21,000 followers without paid advertising (more than four times the peer average) — supporting exhibit promotion, program attendance, and repeat visitation.

Waco is Resilient: Securing the Resources Behind Every City Service

Fleet Services

Fleet employee working on an electric vehicle

Improved Resiliency & Efficiency

  • Purchased additional generators using ARPA funds to enhance the resiliency of community center warming functions and operational continuity.
    Implemented the Fleet Services Customer Portal, an interactive platform that allows customer departments to submit service requests, track maintenance costs, and view upcoming scheduled preventive maintenance.
  • Over 100 new fleet additions and replacement vehicles were put in service. (70 police patrol units and 13 police support units).

Key Stats

  • 1,680 City Vehicles & Equipment
  • 6,437 Work Orders & Maintenance
  • $368,649.89 from Asset Recovery Auctions
  • 584,681 Gallons of Diesel Fuel
  • 496,315 Gallons of Unleaded Fuel

Facilities

Facilities staff working on a construction site

The department executed some of the largest lifecycle renewal efforts to date, replacing or upgrading HVAC systems across multiple facilities, modernizing building equipment, completing multiple major interior upgrades and refresh projects, structural improvements, and expanding automation systems. These improvements reduce energy consumption, lower long-term maintenance costs, and dramatically improve reliability and occupant comfort.

Key Stats

  • 3.97% reduction in Corrective Custodial Service Calls
  • 3,400+ service requests managed across all City facilities
  • 42 active projects completed

Human Resources

Three City of Waco employees smiling
  • Strengthened the City’s ADA Title II program to improve accessibility, consistency, and compliance through the implementation of a nondiscrimination webpage, internal system to track complaints and resolutions, a new ADA Team, public notices online and at public entrances, and a new web accessibility team.
  • Launched a Total Wellbeing Initiative called “It’s OK to Not Be OK” to clearly communicate that employee support is available and accessible.
  • Enhanced the City’s background review policy through an individualized assessment process that is job-related and consistent with business necessity.

Key Stats

  • 1,786.57 Employees (FTE)
  • 297 Certified Police Officers
  • 224 Certified Firefighters
  • 62.2 Average Days to Fill Vacant Position (Outperforming 90-day goal)
  • 9.4 Average Years of Full-Time Employee Tenure (Exceeding the 5-year target)
  • 75% of Employees Completed Wellness Visit

Information Technology

Information Technology employee working on a server

By unifying security data and implementing Zero Trust standards, we have significantly hardened the City’s defenses against cyber threats. Simultaneously, we have replaced legacy utility and asset platforms with modern, cloud-based solutions. New systems include: SpryPoint (utility billing), KloudGin (field service requests and asset management), FasterWeb (fleet services), Employee Access (employee self-service), Donorbox (donations), BetterImpact (volunteering), Sterling Volunteers (volunteer background checks), and MaintStar (Development Services).

MyWaco Stats

  • 13,152 downloads
  • 10,000 requests submitted
  • 9,757 requests closed

Waco is Resourceful

Expenses for Fiscal Year 2024-2025

Pie chart showing breakdown of City of Waco expenses
  • Public Safety 26%
  • Water 13%
  • Wastewater 11%
  • Other Enterprise Expenses 7%
  • Solid Waste 9%
  • General Government 14%
  • Culture and Recreation 6%
  • Public Works 3%
  • Housing & Community Development 3%
  • Public Health 3%
  • Cameron Park Zoo 2%
  • Other Governmental Expenses 2%

Three-Year Expenses Trends

Bar chart comparing City expenses over the past three fiscal years

Fiscal Year 2025

  • Public Safety $121.8M
  • Water $59.3M
  • Wastewater $50.5M
  • Other Enterprise Expenses $45.9M
  • Solid Waste $39.5M
  • General Government $59.5M
  • Culture and Recreation $28.6M
  • Public Works $13.7M
  • Housing & Community Development $14.4M
  • Public Health $11.8M
  • Cameron Park Zoo $10.4M
  • Other Governmental Expenses $17.3M

Fiscal Year 2024

  • Public Safety $126.1M
  • Water $59.5M
  • Wastewater $45.9M
  • Other Enterprise Expenses $34.4M
  • Solid Waste $32.8M
  • General Government $61.9M
  • Culture and Recreation $31.7M
  • Public Works $11.7M
  • Housing & Community Development $12.8M
  • Public Health $13M
  • Cameron Park Zoo $9.3M
  • Other Governmental Expenses $13.4M

Fiscal Year 2023

  • Public Safety $100.6M
  • Water $50.5M
  • Wastewater $44.3M
  • Other Enterprise Expenses $32.2M
  • Solid Waste $30.7M
  • General Government $26.9M
  • Culture and Recreation $23.8M
  • Public Works $17.4M
  • Housing & Community Development $11.5M
  • Public Health $11.1M
  • Cameron Park Zoo $8.7M
  • Other Governmental Expenses $6.7M

Revenues for Fiscal Year 2024-2025

Pie chart showing breakdown of City of Waco revenues
  • Ad valorem taxes 24%
  • Water service charges 14%
  • Sales tax 11%
  • Wastewater service charges 10%
  • Capital grants & contributions 6%
  • Operating grants & contributions 8%
  • Solid waste service charges 6%
  • Cameron Park Zoo service charges 1%
  • Other fees and service charges 5%
  • Franchise taxes 3%
  • Other revenues 12%

Three-Year Revenues Trends

Bar Chart comparing City of Waco revenues over the past three fiscal years

Fiscal Year 2025

  • Ad valorem taxes $127.9M
  • Water service charges $68.2M
  • Sales tax $61M
  • Wastewater service charges $54.9M
  • Capital grants & contributions $30.9M
  • Operating grants & contributions $44M
  • Solid waste service charges $33.7M
  • Cameron Park Zoo service charges $3.7M
  • Other fees and service charges $28.6M
  • Franchise taxes $16.2M
  • Other revenues $62.8M

Fiscal Year 2024

  • Ad valorem taxes $118.7M
  • Water service charges $64.8M
  • Sales tax $56.9M
  • Wastewater service charges $53.4M
  • Capital grants & contributions $35.8M
  • Operating grants & contributions $30.1M
  • Solid waste service charges $33.2M
  • Cameron Park Zoo service charges $3.6M
  • Other fees and service charges $24.6M
  • Franchise taxes $15.7M
  • Other revenues $71.5M

Fiscal Year 2023

  • Ad valorem taxes $105M
  • Water service charges $65.3M
  • Sales tax $55.7M
  • Wastewater service charges $47.5M
  • Capital grants & contributions $29.1M
  • Operating grants & contributions $35M
  • Solid waste service charges $32.4M
  • Cameron Park Zoo service charges $3.7M
  • Other fees and service charges $25.4M
  • Franchise taxes $16.4M
  • Other revenues $42.2M