Page 18 - City of Bedford FY20 Approved Budget
P. 18

$1,779,903. Expenditures are relatively stable in this fund, with the primary increases being
                       leases for vehicle replacements and operating transfers.

                     Debt Service Fund

                       The Debt Service Fund (sometimes referred to as the Interest and Sinking Fund) is used to
                       account for the accumulation of resources for the repayment of general long-term debt.
                       The tax rate for the repayment of long-term debt in FY 2019/2020 is $0.191591, which is
                       a decrease from the rate for FY 2018/2019 of $0.217727.  The City Council issued $60
                       million of the approved Phase Next bond proposition in FY 2017/2018.  The City Council
                       issued the remaining $10 million during FY 2018/2019.  Summary schedules and detailed
                       information on individual bond obligations can be found in the Debt Service Fund section
                       of this budget document.

                     Special Revenue Funds

                       Tourism Fund – This fund was established to record revenue and expenditures associated
                       with the collection of a 7% hotel/motel occupancy tax levied by the City of Bedford and
                       authorized by the State of Texas.  The tax is levied on the rental rate for hotel rooms in
                       Bedford when the room is occupied by the same tenant for a period of not more than 30
                       days.  Funds generated by the hotel occupancy tax are used to promote tourism, arts and
                       culture, and historic preservation.

                       Significant programs funded by the Tourism Fund include July 4thFest and the Labor Day
                       Blues & BBQ Festival, which has developed a national reputation for quality Blues music
                       and a nationally recognized BBQ contest sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
                       Also included in this fund are resources for the operation  and preservation of the  Old
                       Bedford School and support of arts and culture in Bedford.

                       Street Improvement Economic Development Corporation – In November of 1997, the
                       citizens of Bedford approved an additional one-half of one percent sales tax for the purpose
                       of economic development.  Specifically, these  funds are  allocated to street and road
                       improvements within the City of  Bedford,  along with paying  for the maintenance and
                       operating expenses related to the projects. The City of  Bedford Street  Improvement
                       Economic Development Corporation was subsequently formed to  administer the funds
                       provided by the additional sales tax revenue.

                       Budgeted  revenue for the Corporation in FY  2019/2020  is $2,945,000  and  budgeted
                       expenditures total $4,797,450.  The Directors of the Corporation have approved the use of
                       fund balance to address street maintenance in lieu of issuing bonds.  These expenditures
                       include preventive maintenance contracting, supplies and capital equipment,  and
                       supplemental requests for Traffic Signal Field Monitoring Equipment, a Tandem Dump


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