AMDD Approves 2025 Budget

ANAHUAC – The city’s municipal development district continues to be busy, working to make improvements across a number of areas, and last week, they met to consider the upcoming budget year. 

The Anahuac Municipal Development District directors approved its 2025 budget Nov. 26 as revenues slowly but steadily climb. The budget is based on an average monthly revenue of $11,500. 

AMDD is funded solely by a half-cent sales tax collected within the Anahuac city limits. A few years ago, the average monthly tax revenue was about $10,000. 

Directors discussed whether the closing of Dairy Queen would have an impact on the budget, and board members expressed the hope that DQ or another business would utilize the building. The structure was built as a Dairy Queen in 1977 and has operated continually until a couple of months ago. 

The $138,000 budget includes $21,996 for its Summer Job Program, where local businesses hire high school students during the summer. The budget also includes about $80,000 in 2025 for future projects. 

AMDD has funded or partially funded a number of projects within the city in recent years. It funded the boat ramp into Lake Anahuac in memory of Bill Stults, a former AMDD director, as well as the pier into the Anahuac channel on Levee Road. 

AMDD has funded playground equipment at Anahuac Elementary, Fort Anahuac Park and George W. Carver Park. It partnered with Chambers County to provide the splash pad, covered picnic tables and new pickleball court under construction, all at Fort Anahuac Park. 

The board discussed the prospect of installing outdoor exercise equipment within the city. Directors, along with Office Manager Annette Abernathy, will look into more details to bring back for discussion. 

The board also discussed presenting the two-year terms of directors Janice Jircik, Kenneth Miller and Michael Morehead to Anahuac City Council for approval.