Resources, News, and Announcements
7/30/25
$13MM Grant for Sewer System Overhaul:
Good afternoon! I wanted to clear up an error made in reporting by a recent The Facts article titled “Surfside Beach secures $13 Million grant for long awaited sewer system overhaul”.
Although this is great news and we should be celebrating the grant along with the position we are now in to begin executing this sewer project, the article makes it sound a bit better than it actually is. In reality, this is the existing grant through HGAC and GLO that I have been referring to for some time in the weekly Mayor’s letters. We have about $8MM in funding that has been held up by GLO and was recently released. We now are working with HGAC to sign contracts and begin engineering work with Lynn Engineering and utilizing GrantWorks to assist in grant management. This project is to replace the Seashell and Beach Drive section of our AIRVAC system with a gravity sewer system. The project would replace one of our three existing sections of the AIRVAC sewer system with a gravity sewer system. After the $8MM project is completed, we would still be operating with two sections of AIRVAC sewer system in the Village.
Below is a table that highlights the total $30.9MM in GLO grants, where Surfside is listed under HGAC in combination with a Crosby-Eastgate project for a total of $13MM. I believe that is the error in The Facts reporting that Surfside received $13MM in sewer project grant money. Again, this is great news and I appreciate The Facts helping to get the good word out about the improvements coming, but also needed to clarify the facts from The Facts!!
Thanks,
Zach
Click here to read
From the Mayor’s desk -8/1/25
Happy Friday!
Welcome to the month of August in beautiful Surfside Beach. Although it doesn’t feel like it, our summer is starting to wind down. Stay cool and hydrated as always and get out there to dip your toes in the Gulf waters this month.
EMS:
I’m very proud and grateful to be able to share a recent success story from EMS. A recent 911 call in response to a major heart attack resulted in life saving intervention by Surfside EMS. Thanks to the team’s advanced training, rapid cardiac monitoring, and swift administration of emergency medications the patient received immediate life saving care. After transport, surgery was successfully performed at the hospital and the patient is expected to make a full recovery. Great effort and results by Surfside EMS! I really appreciate what you do for this community.
New Website Alert! The EMS webpage has been redesigned on the VOSB main website. We encourage you to check it out and stay informed on services, community events, and educational opportunities.
Emergency Management:
We continue to build our EM program with process, procedures, and supplies that all will be used if and when we need to ‘green light’ those efforts as a result of any disaster or incident that warrants it. Building this from scratch takes time and money to complete. We plan to budget and fund EM for next year which will begin on October 1st, but it won’t be enough to really do what we want, nor will it be quick enough to make a difference this hurricane season. If you are interested in donating supplies, or monetarily to support the efforts of EM, please contact Frank at emc@surfsidetx.org or (979) 313-9047. Thanks in advance!!
PD:
WARNING – we have seen an increase in counterfeit $100 bills being passed in Surfside Beach. These are the motion pictures bills that look a lot like a standard $100 bill but are not of the same paper weight and have printing on front and back that says “for motion picture use”. If you deal in cash, beware of this and report to SSPD if you encounter any counterfeits.
Beach & Parks:
We are in the high season and things rolling along well on the beach. A shout out of Thanks to the early morning beach cleanup crew, the beach crew, and don’t forget the weekend volunteers who pass out trash bags on the beach. They are doing an awesome job in trying to keep it clean! A few of the seasonal beach booth workers will be rolling off and headed back to school soon, so take the time to thank them as you see them this month.
Removal of larger logs that were pushed dune side before the 4th of July will begin next week.
With the hot, dry weather there is an increase in soft sand that we have been dealing with at a few entrances. A number of traction boards have been ordered to have on hand at each booth and also in emergency vehicles to help anyone who needs to get unstuck. We won’t assist in the efforts, and there use will be “at your own risk”, but we will supply the means to help people keep on truckin’ down the beach.
Finance:
Rounding the corner and headed for home on budgets for next year. We are in great shape and will be ready to approve all 4 funds in early August. Some highlights of next year’s total VOSB budget will be addition of a City Administrator position, Recondition and paint the water tower, Replacement of a large hydro tank that is currently out of compliance with TCEQ, Cement walkover steps on Beach Drive, Professional advertising campaign for tourism, Major repairs at City Hall & Museum, a used skid steer for the beach, and Funding our Emergency Management program. The General Fund is projected to have a surplus next year to be moved to reserves and all three of the other funds will be balanced. All this without any assumptions of receiving FEMA disaster relief funds from Beryl which will only add to the positive GF reserves balance. We are still waiting for the BCAD final Ad Valorem tax roll for next year which is to be approved by Council and then used to populate our main source of General Fund income, so we are ahead of the game on next year’s budget cycle in advance of that notification from BCAD.
A special thankyou to Mindy for her continued dedication and support throughout this budget process as her attention to detail and work ethic has been invaluable. In addition, thanks to Janet for her efforts to map all employees wages and benefits to actual expenses by fund for next year. This will improve our budget forecasts for next year to match our staffing plans.
Public Works:
As I mentioned in the Finance section, we have plans to budget the reconditioning of the large water tower for next year. This will include repainting that includes advertising for tourists to visit and stay in Surfside Beach. Some initial ideas include a decorative paint job that would resemble a beach ball. Fun stuff and more to come!
Other Items of Interest:
The Facts reported “Surfside Beach secures $13 Million grant for long awaited sewer system overhaul”. Although this is great news and we should be celebrating the grant along with the position we are now in to begin executing this sewer project, the article makes it sound a bit better than it actually is. In reality, this is the existing grant through HGAC and GLO that I have been referring to for some time in these weekly Mayor’s letters. We have about $8MM in funding that has been held up by GLO and was recently released. We now are working with HGAC to sign contracts and begin engineering work with Lynn Engineering and utilizing GrantWorks to assist in grant management. This project is to replace the Seashell and Beach Drive section of our AIRVAC system with a gravity sewer system. The project would replace one of our three existing sections of the AIRVAC sewer system with a gravity sewer system. After the $8MM project is completed, we would still be operating with two sections of AIRVAC sewer system in the Village. Again, this is great news and I appreciate The Facts helping to get the good word out about the improvements coming, but also needed to clarify the facts from The Facts!!
Lest we forget, we are in the throws of hurricane season. Some reminders as we enter the peak. Have an evacuation plan and remember that if registered with VOSB that we could assist you. Know where you will go and how you will get there. Have emergency supplies ready…such as medication, water, food, and important documents. Take a look around and prepare to secure your belongings and have a plan to clean up and clear out quickly. Success loves preparation!!
As always, I hope that you have a great day and enjoy the weekend in wonderful Surfside Beach! Make a point to support our local businesses this weekend as you get out and enjoy this hot summer weather.
Thanks,
Zach
05/01/2025
SCAM ALERT: Beware of Fraudulent Emails Posing as City Communications
The Village of Surfside Beach has been made aware of scam emails being sent to residents, falsely claiming to be from official city departments. These emails may request personal information, demand payments, or contain suspicious links.
Please Note:
- The City will never ask for Social Security numbers or bank details via email.
- Official emails from the City will come from addresses ending in @surfsidetx.org
- If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a message, do not click any links or download attachments.
If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from the City, mark it as spam. When in doubt feel free to call the City first. 979-233-1531
Help us spread the word by sharing this post. Stay alert and stay safe!
— The Village of Surfside Beach
Notice
This year's levy to fund maintenance and operations expenditures exceeds last year's maintenance and operations tax levy. The following statements must be included in the ordinance, resolution, or order setting this year's tax rate. The statements must be in larger type than the type used in any other portion of the document.
VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 3.50 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $-1.99.
Notice
Public Works After Hours: 979-248-2085 (Please Text)
Notice
If you need help obtaining a WPI-1 for Windstorm Inspection, feel free to call the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Angleton Office at 800-248-6032, option 4, then option 3; or you may hire a Texas Certified Windstorm Engineer.