Page 86 - Fort Worth City Budget 2019

General Fund

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The FY2018 City Manager’s Office priority initiatives and accomplishments include the following:

Government Relations led efforts to develop and execute a plan to have Mayor Price introduced to the Executive
Staff of President Donald Trump, which led to continued White House invitations with the Trump Administration;
allow the city to address pension issues locally rather than require legislature actions; have areas of Fort Worth
considered for an Opportunity Zone designation; have City Council members and staff visit with Vice President
Pence’s Office, key staff in the Executive Office of the President, Office of the United States Trade Representative,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Directions Home created the Veterans Housing Fund and a Veteran Navigation position. The Veterans Housing
Fund has enabled 30 individuals experiencing homelessness obtain housing that otherwise could not receive
assistance from other veteran programs.

Directions Home allocated the first diversion funds in our homeless system. An important tool in reducing
homelessness is helping individuals identify alternatives by: living with family, connection to eviction prevention
funds, one-time funds that allow them to quickly move into an apartment for example. Since April 1, 2018, the
Diversion Funds have assisted 81 individuals.

Directions Home was instrumental in developing a new system of Continuum of Care (CoC) governance which
gives elected leadership a larger role through creation of CoC Leadership Council (Mayor Price, Mayor Williams,
Judge Whitley, Parker County Judge, Chair of Mayor’s Council of Tarrant County).

FY2019 DISCUSSION
The FY2019 Adopted Budget includes an adjustment to the FY2018 AP and FTE counts. The counts increase by 2
APs and 2.00 FTEs due to the transfer of one senior HR analyst from Human Resources Office to City Manager’s
Office and an adjustment to transfers to the Communications and Public Engagement department last year. There
is no financial impact to the General Fund.

The FY2019 Adopted Budget increases by $354k due to the 2019 State Legislative Session and $226k due to
funding for the educational strategy director. The Mayor’s transportation costs are transferred to the Police
Department.

HORIZON ISSUES

Building on the success of Read Fort Worth, Mayor Price is leading the city toward a comprehensive city-wide plan
for quality early childhood education. The effort is focused on enhancing access to quality early childhood
education ages 0 to 5 in every neighborhood in Fort Worth. Partnerships for this effort include: area foundations,
early education providers, local ISDs, charter schools, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Workforce Solutions of
Tarrant County Tarrant County College and others.

City Leadership also continues promoting strong partnerships to execute on the Fort Worth Economic
Development Strategic Plan completed in 2017. This plan involves every sector of the community and remains a
top priority to attract and retain top talent, bring high-paying jobs to Fort Worth, promote the City of Fort Worth
on a larger stage both domestically and internationally. Mayor Price promoted the city on several international
trips to London, Paris, Brussels and Mexico City.

86