Page 288 - Benbrook FY20 Approved Budget

CITY OF BENBROOK 2019-20 ANNUAL BUDGET

PUBLIC SAFETY

Benbrook has one of the lowest crime rates in Tarrant County. Part I crimes per 1,000 population were 23.86; Benbrook's big city neighbor,
Fort Worth, had a rate of 49.27 per 1,000 population. The Benbrook Police Department is headed by the Chief of Police and is staffed by
the Commander, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Detectives, Corporals, Police Officers, Police Services Supervisor, Administrative Manager,
Communications Specialists, and Animal Control Officer.

The Benbrook Fire Department is comprised of twenty-four full-time employees (Chief, Assistant Chief, Captains, Lieutenants,
Firefighter/Paramedics, and Firefighter/EMTs), part-time employees in the Auxiliary City Fire Support Unit (ACFSU who are on call every third
day), and volunteer firefighters who donate their time to Benbrook. The City of Benbrook and the City of Fort Worth have a mutual aid
agreement. Benbrook has a tanker truck assigned from Tarrant County to assist in combating fires in unincorporated parts of the County. The
Benbrook Fire Department provides ambulance services to all of Benbrook. Effective October 1, 2006, the Fire Department also provides fire
service to all areas of Benbrook; prior to this date, the City of Fort Worth was contractually responsible for responding to fires in North
Benbrook. Benbrook’s fire insurance ISO rating is 2 and the CRS floodplain management rating is 6.

The Municipal Court convenes one day each month to render decisions on traffic fines and other misdemeanors; a separate juvenile court is
also offered once each month. The Judge and Magistrate are part-time employees. Prosecutor duties are performed by the firm that
provides City Attorney services. The Municipal Court Manager is a full-time position and is assisted by the Deputy Court Clerk. The Benbrook
Municipal Court became a court of record in 2005.

TAXATION

Citizens of Benbrook are assessed ad valorem taxes by the City of Benbrook, Tarrant County, the Fort Worth Independent School District,
Tarrant County College, and the Tarrant County Hospital District. The Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) assesses property throughout Tarrant
County. Every year, TAD re-appraises a quadrant of the County; Benbrook has a complete re-assessment every four years. Through TAD,
homestead, disability, veterans, and over-65 exemptions are available. The City has a policy to grant tax abatements for qualified industries.
The City contracts with TAD for these services. In October 1998, the City contracted with Tarrant County to bill and to collect all ad valorem
taxes. The City contracts with a local legal firm to collect delinquent taxes. The sales tax in Benbrook is 8.25 percent and is distributed among
the City (1.00%), the State of Texas (6.25%), the Benbrook Economic Development Corporation (0.50%), and Benbrook Library District
(0.50%). Like all Texas cities, Benbrook does not have State corporate or personal income tax. The State Franchise Tax is 0.50 to 1.00
percent of total revenue depending upon the entity. Unemployment insurance is 2.70 percent of the average industry rate, based on
experience.

288 | P a g e