Page 10 - Microsoft Word - FY 2020 Adopted Budget Document

Manager’s Message

plans. Two new employees and one part-time intern have been added to meet the timing requirements of the bill and to maintain
Arlington’s proactive and customer-friendly development process.

Put Technology to Work

Managing and maintaining the organization’s key software and applications is an unending effort. In FY 2020, funding for the
completion of eight Enterprise IT Projects was approved. The Information Technology Department was also funded $280,960
for temporary contract staffing to supplement internal staff resources in the completion of those projects. FY 2020 Information
Technology investments include:

 Software Maintenance and License Renewals ($172,000)
 Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Cost Increase ($187,500)
 IT Security Program ($190,000)
 Virtual Private Network Upgrade ($100,000)
 Department technology projects ($1.62 million):
 Courtroom Audio/Video Equipment Refresh
 Convention Center Software Upgrade
 Fire Staffing Solution
 Implement Esri Parcel Fabric and Roads Software
 Police Dashboard Solution
 Police Request and Issue Management Solution
 Police Citizen-Facing Digital Media Evidence Portal
 Police Asset Management Solution

Support Youth and Families

The Library continues to expand and grow to support the needs of the community. $76,600 was included to purchase non-
fiction materials for K-12 grade. Another $28,000 was included in the Library’s budget to move the East Arlington Branch
th
Collection to its new home in FY 2020, the Alpha Center.

In support of youth and families, the School Resource Officer program was increased by $29,148 and funding was included for
a Crossing Guard salary increase ($55,775).

Other Investments

In addition to addressing the priorities, the FY 2020 Budget also includes additional funding for the day-to-day operations and
maintenance of the City.

Funding for other non-public safety related issues includes $22,776 for Property/Casualty Insurance Premiums, $64,288 for
Tarrant County Tax Collection and TAD Assessment Services increases, and $39,888 for North Central Texas Regional
Certification Agency Membership. Funding is also included for the Fleet Maintenance Contract Increase ($62,116).

Revenues

The housing market in the city appears to be picking up, with total home sales through the first 6 months of 2019 up 6% from
the same period in 2018, according to the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The average sales price for homes has
also increased 6%, from $235,178 in June of 2018 to $249,127 in June of 2019, and the average home in Arlington sells in just
over two months. While there was a seasonal spike in unemployment in January (4.9%), the unemployment rates in Arlington

2020 Adopted Budget and Business Plan vii City of Arlington, Texas