Page 264 - Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

THE BUDGET PROCESS

The City Council begins conducting work sessions to review all of the Department budget requests. During these work
sessions, Department Directors may meet with the City Council to discuss their proposed budget requests. At this
time, the Department Directors have the opportunity to request and justify items that have been eliminated from their
budget proposals. The City Council also meets with any group that requests funding from the City of Benbrook.

AUGUST

The City Council continues to hold work sessions on the Proposed Budget until agreement is reached by a majority of
City Councilmembers on the level of spending to include for City programs and the means to finance these
expenditures. When a Proposed Budget has been agreed upon, the Finance Director prepares a Summary of the
Proposed Budget for distribution to the City Council, City Department Directors, concerned citizens, and the local
media. The Finance Director calculates and publishes a notice of effective tax rate. Public meetings on the adoption
of the Proposed Budget and Tax Rate are scheduled and notices of these meetings are published in the official
newspaper. A one page summary of the Proposed Budget is also published in the newspaper. This information is
also posted on the City of Benbrook website. The City’s website also features a Summary Budget Document; paper
copies of this document are available to attendees of the public hearings on the Budget. The Council conducts the first
of two public hearings on the Proposed Budget and on the Proposed Tax Rate.

SEPTEMBER

The City Council holds the second of two public hearings on the Proposed Budget and on the Proposed Tax Rate. The
City Council adopts the annual budget and sets the tax rate upon the completion of these hearings and after interested
citizens have had an opportunity to address the City Council.

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER

During October, November, and December, the Finance Director prepares the Adopted Budget Document. Copies of
the Adopted Budget are presented to the City Council before the end of the calendar year. Copies of the Adopted
Budget Document are made available to the public. In December 2018, copies of the Adopted Budget Document are
available on-line at the City’s website at www.benbrook-tx.gov.

CITY OF BENBROOK 2018-19 ANNUAL BUDGET
263