Title
Consider and take action on an ordinance adopting the Annual Budget for Governmental and Proprietary Funds for Fiscal Year 2025 (Assistant City Manager - CFO)
Background:
Pursuant to City Charter and state law, adoption of this ordinance will establish the budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The budget ordinance is based on the proposed budget, as adjusted, and as described in Exhibit A, B and C.
The FY2025 Proposed Budget provided to City Council on July 15, 2024, included $184,969,878 for operations. The proposed budget included the following:
• Property tax revenue estimated at the no-new-revenue tax rate, which is estimated at $330,000 less than the FY2024 year-end projection for property tax,
• A personnel budget for 745.50 positions which is a net addition of 14.00 full time equivalent (FTE) positions (13 FTE in General Fund, and 1 FTE in Utility Fund) for the following:
• (2) PRN Paramedics for Mental Health Unit (2.0 FTE),
• (1) Community Outreach and Development Coordinator for Animal Control to be hired January 2024 (1.0 FTE),
• (1) Fire Plans Examiner for Fire Marshal to be hired January 2024 (1.0 FTE),
• (1) Plans Reviewer for Building to be hired January 2024 (1.0 FTE),
• (1) Application Software Specialist for IT to be hired January 2024 (1.0 FTE),
• (6) Police Officers partially grant funded through a COPS hiring grant (6.0 FTE),
• (1) Traffic Operations Specialist for Streets & Traffic (1.0 FTE),
• (1) Water Operator I for Water Production (1.0 FTE),
• Reclass four (4) Paramedics to Shift Lieutenant,
• Reclass Fire Marshal Public Education Specialist to Training Captain,
• Reclass Library Volunteer Coordinator to Librarian
• continuation of the reinvestment program,
• increases in windstorm and workers comp insurances,
• compensation increases, including 2.5% merit and 2% cost of living for civilian employees as well as 3.5% cost of living and STEP raises for civil service employees, both cost of living increases for civilian and civil services employees will raise the pay grade charts accordingly,
• funding for $5 per hour premium pay for employees that work any of the 10 recognized City holidays,
• anticipated increase of $462,884 in Solid Waste over FY2024 year-end estimate due to increased cost of the service and growth in number of households serviced which is offset with refuse collection revenues,
• funding for 2 new vehicles in FY2025:
o Ford F150 Extended Cab (Facilities Department),
o Ford F150 Extended Cab (Water Department),
• funding for November 2024 election expenses ($200,000),
• funding for Energov training for the requested IT Application Software Specialist ($30,000),
• funding for replacement ballistic vests with rifle plates for Police K9 Officers ($12,860),
• funding for year two of the Neighborhood Flock Grant Program ($94,000),
• funding for Animal Control euthanasia and compassion fatigue training ($2,500),
• funding for Animal Control Appreciation Week ($800),
• funding to increase staffing for the second stipend engine for Fire ($109,160),
• funding for six portable ultrasound machines for EMS ($26,393), two mechanical CPR devices for EMS ($33,773), and two defibrillators for EMS ($101,994),
• funding for a Fire Department Open House event ($5,000),
• funding for body cameras for Animal Control Officers and EMS personnel ($62,085),
• funding for budget software for the Budget Office ($130,000),
• funding for an employee opinion survey for Human Resources ($25,740),
• funding for a conflict monitor tester for Streets & Traffic ($14,593),
• funding for new Library second floor furnishings ($15,697),
• funding for supplemental mosquito control for Streets & Traffic ($70,850),
• funding for Bay Ridge stormwater maintenance ($3,000),
• funding for a PWOC 2,000-gallon unleaded fueling center ($42,500 in General Fund and $42,500 in Utility Fund),
• funding for a trailer for Parks Operations ($14,000),
• public outreach program funding for Line Repair ($2,000),
• funding for increases to water contract purchases ($448,400),
• funding for a spare booster pump motor for Water Production ($70,000),
• funding for a portable gate valve operator for Line Repair ($5,435),
• funding for transmission line repair fittings for Line Repair ($15,222),
• funding for a temporary modular building at the Dallas Salmon Wastewater Treatment Plant ($123,000),
• funding for a pressure washer trailer for Wastewater ($13,582),
• funding to replace restaurant flooring at The Ballpark ($20,000),
• funding for partial replacement field lighting for The Ballpark ($300,000),
• funding for shade structures for stands at The Ballpark ($250,000),
• funding for replacement plywood lining the outfield for The Ballpark ($25,000),
• funding for a Scag STS ride on spreader/sprayer combo for The Ballpark ($16,500),
• funding in the Fire/EMS Donated Fund:
o Volunteer management liability insurance ($4,000),
o Year 2 of funding to pay for state deployments of Fire and EMS personnel to assist other departments in times of disaster until reimbursed by the State ($40,000),
• budgeted in Asset Forfeiture fund based on anticipated revenue for the following:
o Lenco Bearcat Rescue Vehicle ($484,893),
o expansion of evidence shelving ($300,000),
o DJI Mavic 3E and 3T Drones ($28,467),
• funding in the Chapter 59 seizure fund for an incinerator for evidence disposal ($60,000),
• funding in the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax fund for an additional 0.25 FTE Event Coordinator reclassed from The Ballpark at League City ($22,358),
• funding in the Public Access Channel fund to complete the repurposing of the building, and run our fiber network from the Public Safety Building west to Public Works operations center (PWOC) and connect additional buildings,
• funding in the Tree Preservation fund for City beautification projects ($25,000),
• continued funding in HMGP Disaster Recovery, and Hurricane Harvey funds to invest grant funds as authorized,
• funding in the Fire Mitigation Fees Fund:
o Gear bags for stipend crews ($4,750),
o Replacement thermal imagers ($20,000),
o RIT bottles ($1,000),
o Replacement mattresses and covers ($8,000),
o Replacement station furniture ($20,000),
o Knox Keys ($18,876),
o Gear maintenance contract ($3,000),
o Breathing air compressors for stations 1 and 5 ($107,842)
• funding from the Opioid fund to cover the expense of 2 EMTP positions assigned to the Mental Health Unit. These positions will assist in mental health emergencies, substance abuse disorders, de-escalation techniques, and crisis intervention.
Changes to the Proposed Operating Budget
City Council held a series of work sessions on July 23rd, 30th, and August 6th. A Public Hearing was held on August 6th. As a result of these discussions, the proposed operating budget has been adjusted. The revised appropriation of $184,184,985 is $784,893 less than the July 15th proposed budget of $184,969,878.
Exhibit A to the ordinance outlines the operation budget which includes:
Special Revenue Fund - Asset Forfeiture Fund - decrease of $784,893
Removal of Evidence Shelving ($300,000)
Removal of Lenco Bearcat Rescue Vehicle ($484,893)
($784,893)
CITYWIDE
FY2024 FY2025 Workshop FY2025
Amended Proposed Changes 1ST Reading
Budget Budget Budget
Operating Budget $187,812,605 $184,969,878 $(784,893) $184,184,985
Capital Budget $156,110,458 $235,104,427 $ - $235,104,427
Grand Total $343,923,063 $420,074,305 $(784,893) $419,289,412
Second Reading and approval of the Budget
The 2nd reading is scheduled for September 10th. The Charter requires the budget to be approved by at least ten (10) days before the beginning of the fiscal year, which is September 20th.
Attachments:
1. Data Sheet (Clean Version)
2. Proposed Ordinance with Exhibits A, B, and C
FUNDING
{X} NOT APPLICABLE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{X} NOT APPLICABLE