Page 22 - Benbrook FY20 Approved Budget

CITY OF BENBROOK 2019-20 ANNUAL BUDGET

The certified tax roll received from the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) in July 2019 shows the total appraised value of property in Benbrook
at $2,527,560,856; TAD provided revised assessed valuation and property tax data in September 2019; however, the July 2019 totals are
used for all 2019-20 budget calculations. Total exemptions (over-65, homestead, disability, veterans, pro-rated absolute, and nominal value
- below $500) and total adjustments (absolute exemptions, cases before the Appraisal Review Board, and incomplete accounts) are
$277,010,328. TAD’s minimum projected value of property under protest and/or in incomplete accounts is $27,776,424. The total net
taxable value used to project revenues for 2019-20 is $2,293,677,799. Based on the tax rate of $0.62777, current property tax collections
are projected to be $14,111,041 at a 98% collection rate for both the General Fund and the Debt Service Fund property tax revenue.

EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND RETENTION

The City of Benbrook’s philosophy over the past thirty-plus years is to recruit highly-qualified and top-quality employees by providing above-
average salaries and competitive benefits and to retain employees through the offering of merit increases, promotional opportunities,
stability/longevity pay, and an excellent retirement system with five-year vesting and retirement eligibility after twenty years of service. One
of the City Council’s commitments during the review of the 2019-20 Budget was to ensure that this philosophy continued. The 2019-20 Budget
includes funds for: (1) a two and one-half percent across-the-board cost-of-living-adjustment for eligible full-time employees; (2) merit
increases for eligible employees; (3) a $5,000 signing bonus for eligible newly-hired and certified Police Officers; (4) an up-to seven and
one-half percent increase in premiums to continue current benefits and services for health, dental, and life insurance; and (5) continuation of
contributions to employee retirement as proposed by the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

CONTINUATION OF CURRENT SERVICES

The 2019-20 Budget reflects the continuation of current services and programs. The City of Benbrook provides basic municipal services to
citizens, businesses, and visitors. Benbrook takes pride in providing top-quality services at affordable costs. The 2019-20 Budget does not
include reductions in services or cut-backs. Effective October 1, 2018, the school crossing guard program was staffed through a contractual
agreement with a private company

REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT

The 2019-20 Budget includes funds to replace essential equipment. The 2019-20 Budget reflects the procurement of one new Animal Control
vehicle to replace an older vehicle being funded out of the Asset Replacement Fund. Funds are included in the Police Department’s budget
allocation to replace four light bars for patrol vehicles, seven new Taser Devices, eleven SWAT Ballistic Helmets, and the purchase of four new
Police Patrol vehicles.

The Fire Department’s will be replacing sixteen Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Bottles and purchasing an Opticom Traffic Light system
to allow safer and quicker travel through interactions for emergency vehicles; all funded from the General Fund. Also, the Fire Department

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