The proposed city budget as presented by City Manager George Campbell for 2017-18 reduces economic development, pares new programs and somewhat reduces water rate fees. {{more: Read more …}}
The Kennedale City Council will meet in a called work session this Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Kennedale City Hall to discuss the 2017-18 budget priorities.
the budget process ?
- Per the city’s Charter, the City of Kennedale’s fiscal year begins on the first day of October and ends on the last day of the following September.
- On or before the first day of August each year, the City Manager shall submit to the City Council a balanced budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
- The City Council shall adopt the proposed budget, with or without amendment, after public hearings and before the first day of the ensuing fiscal year.
- During the fiscal year, the City Council shall have the power to make budget adjustments to include expenditures that could not, by reasonable thought and attention, have been included in the original budget. Such authorization shall be filed as amendments to the original budget with the County Clerk.
quick glance at the proposed budget …
- The 2017-18 Budget will raise more total property taxes than last year?s budget by $487,954 or 10%, and of that amount, $131,159 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added the tax roll this year.
- The proposed tax rate to fund the proposed budget would be $0.787500 per $100 of valuation. Last year the property rate was $0.767500.
- The rollback rate or the rate that would automatic trigger a rollback tax election is $0.802719.
water sewer fund ?
- The proposed budget projects an overall revenue decline of $512,000 in the Water Sewer Fund that will be covered by an expenditure reduction of $570,000.
- The overall working capital of the fund should increase from $514,027 to a projected $686,498.
- This includes the following a drop of the base sewer charge from $45 to $36, a reduction of the 1 inch meter line charge for $65 to $43.34.
- It does include a storm water fee increase from $3.50 to $4.00.
- It also removes most of the capital spending from the operating budget in favor of debt financing for approximately 4 million in capital projects that are needed.
street improvement fund ?
- The Street Improvement Fund will see a deficit in the operating budget that will be covered by the fund balance, lowering it to 19% by the end of the year.
economic development ?
- Spending for economic development through the EDC and the TIF will be limited in the new budget.
capital expenditures …
- A new replacement ambulance for the Fire Department will be covered by the proceeds from a 2016 note for the Capital Replacement Fund.
new programs ?
- New programs which had been proposed by each of the city departments were paired down to approximately 6 for a total cost of $192,243.
- This was from a list of possible of new programs that total $4,335,062. The city council will have a list of the all proposed new programs to consider in budget negotiations.
See a copy of the 2017-18Proposed Budget
The work session is open to the public but is not a public forum. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be scheduled at a later date.
