Page 13 - Hurst FY20 Approved Budget

How To Use This Budget continued

GENERAL FUND: This major section of the budget will show the reader how the General
Fund receives a greater variety of revenues and finances a wider range of
governmental activity than any other fund. For fiscal year 2020, the General Fund
budgetary process resulted in positive benefits for Hurst citizens. The City will enhance
its level of services while maintaining a stable operations and maintenance tax rate.
The Crime Control District (Anti-Crime), Community Services Half-Cent Sales Tax
Funds and the Storm Water Management Fund will continue to provide General Fund
expenditure relief.

ENTERPRISE FUND: This fund encompasses the operations of the City’s water and
wastewater system. The name of the Enterprise Fund is derived from its
establishment, as a stand-alone enterprise, where revenues are generated to cover
all operating and capital expenses of the operation, much like a private business. The
task of budgeting for this fund is a challenge, since the weather has an enormous impact
on the consumption of water, which in turn affects the purchase of treated water and
sanitary sewer treatment, the fund’s largest expenditures. The City is dependent upon
an outside source for both water supply and wastewater treatment, and their annually
adjusted service charges are difficult to predict. Sound financial management by City
Officials has provided stability for this proprietary fund over the years.

OTHER FUNDS: This section provides the reader with a detailed look at the City's
internal service, debt service and special revenue funds. Especially significant is
information concerning the Community Services Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund. The
revenues generated by one-half percent additional sales tax approved by voters in
January of 1993 are largely responsible for the extremely positive position of the budgets
since that time. The impact is felt across all funds from this revenue source and provides
significant tax relief to Hurst citizens for future as well as current budgets. On September
9, 1995, voters overwhelmingly approved another one-half percent sales tax for
crime control and prevention purposes. In May 2010, voters approved the Anti-Crime
sales tax for an additional twenty years. The Storm Water Management Fund
will provide significant improvements to the City’s drainage system during fiscal year
2019-2020 and for future years.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: The reader can obtain an overview of all City capital
improvement projects that have been approved as funded and maintained in the City's
comprehensive "Capital Improvement Program” (CIP). Information is provided to the
reader primarily about current Public Works and Community Services projects.
These projects are funded from a variety of sources, including fund balance reserves,
grants and the sale of long-term bonds. The operating impact of projects is also
summarized in this section. The City publishes a separate CIP document providing
detailed information for all funded and unfunded projects.

APPENDIX: The Appendix contains ordinances adopting tax revenue, property tax
rate, crime control budget and water and sewer rates. The Appendix also contains the
budget glossary.

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