Page 89 - Hurst FY19 Approved Budget

BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS

Amendments to the budget can be made after adoption. According to Section 5.11-1
of the City Charter, the City Council may amend the budget by ordinance during the
fiscal year, if such amendment will not increase the total of all budget expenditures.
The total budget may be increased if such expenditures are necessary to protect public
property or the health, safety, or general welfare of the citizens of Hurst. If the total
budget is increased during the fiscal year, the City must follow proper notice and public
hearing schedules as prescribed for adoption of the original budget. According to
Section 5.11-2 of the City Charter, the Council may by ordinance amend the budget so
as to appropriate excess revenue to purposes they deem appropriate if, at any time, the
total accruing revenue of the City shall be in excess of the total projected revenue in the
budget. Proper notice and public hearing schedules, as prescribed for adoption of the
original budget, must be followed. By budget ordinance, the City Manager is authorized
to make inter-department and inter-fund transfers during the fiscal year, if necessary.

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

On March 12, 2016, the City Council met with City Management to review the Council’s
goals and establish long-term Strategic Plans. These Plans focus on improving current
services, implementing new services, and planning new initiatives to enhance the
Quality of Life in the City of Hurst. City departments utilize those Strategic Plans to
define service levels, update short-term divisional objectives, and propose budget
enhancements during the budget process.

BUDGET PREPARATION

The functions of preparing and analyzing the 2018-2019 budget were performed by
the City Manager’s Office and Budget Department. The budget process was initiated
on March 24, 2018, during the Staff Planning Session. Department heads were updated
on the City Council’s Strategic Plans and budget preparation packets were distributed.
After careful re-estimation of fiscal year 2017-2018 expenditures and revenues, each
projected line item was justified with cost estimates to provide current service levels for
the new-year. Any increases or decreases from the prior year’s budget were explained.
In May, the departments submitted preliminary 2018-2019 budgets with Supplemental
Program Requests. Meetings were held with each department to review each line item
for both the current budget and the approved budget to determine if service levels
were to be maintained, improved, or reduced. Revenues were projected as accurately
as possible in order to set priorities for approved expenditures. After final review by the
City Manager, issues were addressed in workshops held with the City Council during the
month of August.

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