Page 139 - Haltom City FY20 Approved Budget
P. 139

City of Haltom City Annual Budget, FY 2020
                                                                            Supplemental Information



                     Realistic projections of revenues and expenditures.  Conservative projections help
                       ensure  that  adequate  resources  will  always  be  available  to  meet  budgeted
                       obligations.    Projections  are  based  upon  the  last  five  years  of actual history
                       adjusted for known current events and statutory changes.
                     Annual Review of all significant fees.  Fees are reviewed annually and adjusted as
                       needed.  Frequent but moderate increases are preferable to infrequent but large
                       rate increases.
                     Maintain or enhance target fund balances.    This  strategy  is  essential  to  the
                       preservation  of  financial  integrity.    Funds  targeted  with  20%  reserves  are  the
                       General Fund, Water and Sewer Fund and Drainage Fund.
                     Salary Adjustments.  Annual salary adjustments will be made for all employees
                       when resources are available to retain and motivate employees.  Market study will
                       be conducted periodically, and salary schedule will be revised accordingly.

               Fund Balance/Operating Position Concepts

               Required  Reserves.  The  City  will  maintain  an  unallocated  fund  balance  (cash  and
               investments)  to  be  used  for  unanticipated  emergencies  of  at  least  20  percent  of  the
               expenditure budgets of the major operating funds (General, Water & Sewer, Drainage
               Funds).  These monies will be used to avoid cash-flow interruptions, generate interest
               income,  reduce  the  need  for  short-term  borrowing  and  assist  in  maintaining  an
               investment-grade bond rating.  All other funds are expected to maintain positive fund
               balances.  Each fund may borrow internally from other City funds to provide cash flow
               requirements.  These loans will be on a short-term basis.

               Use of Surplus.  It is the intent of the City to use surpluses to accomplish three goals:
               meeting reserve requirements, avoidance of tax or rate increases in ensuing years, and
               avoidance of future debt.

               Capital Planning Criteria

               Multi-year Planning. The City will develop a multi-year plan for capital improvements and
               update the plan annually. The City will enact an annual capital budget based on the multi-
               year Capital Improvement Plan.

               Capital  Improvement  Budget.  The  City  will  coordinate  development  of  the  capital
               improvement budget with development of the operating budget.  Future operating costs
               associated with new capital improvements will be projected and included in operating
               budget forecasts.  The estimated costs and potential funding sources for each capital
               project will be identified before the project is submitted to the City Council for approval.

               Alternative Capital Financing. The City shall explore funding alternatives in addition to
               long-term debt including leasing, grants and other aid, developer contributions, capital
               recovery fees, and current funds.

               Intergovernmental assistance will be used to finance only those capital improvements that






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