Page 22 - Keller FY20 Approved Budget

also looks forward to the opening of another private event center, Chandon Arbors, in Old Town on land
fronting Elm Street sold by the city three years ago.

The Fiscal Year 2019‐20 budget includes $1,090,436 for economic development incentives, with $865,436
related to committed incentives and $225,000 available for potential new incentives.

Investment in the Workforce

The City of Keller knows that the key to our services and success is our employees. Our community
receives an average of two awards or honors monthly for municipal excellence, which is the direct result
of the hard work and dedication of staff.

Accordingly, the FY 2019‐20 budget includes a 1.25 percent market adjustment for Public Safety
(sworn/certified) employees to bring us in line with other North Texas benchmark cities in addition to the
sustainable 2 percent annual step plan that was implemented in FY 2017‐18. For general/civilian
employees, the budget proposes a 3.25 percent raise split between a 1.75 percent market increase to the
pay plan aimed at remaining competitive and a 1.5 percent merit increase for eligible employees.

The adopted budget increases city staff by 2.0 FTEs (full‐time equivalents) related to a Police Officer and
a NETCOM Dispatcher. The officer will enhance coverage in the Town of Westlake and will have an impact
of zero on the budget as a result of the increased price of the police services agreement with the Town of
Westlake. The addition of the police officer to the budget is based upon anticipated funding from the
Town of Westlake as part of the regional police services agreement. However, the funding is still being
considered by Westlake and if not approved, the officer position will remain vacant for FY 2019‐20 and
reconsidered for FY 2020‐21. The addition of another Dispatcher will allow NETCOM to continue meeting
the needs of Keller residents and the partner cities. The dispatcher will cost $66,886, but is offset by
regional partnership agreements with Southlake and Colleyville for a net impact to the budget of $19,923.

During FY 2018‐19, the Administration Department reduced personnel by removing a part‐time
receptionist position. Using savings from this vacancy, Community Development has reclassified an intern
position to a full‐time planning technician. During FY 2018‐19, the Parks and Recreation Department also
contracted out landscaping services. This move led to a reduction in parks staff of three full‐time
employees and a reduction of personnel services expenditures. With the changes, the total number of
full‐time equivalents (FTEs) from the FY 2018‐19 budget to FY 2019‐20 will be a decrease of 3.3 FTEs. It
should be noted that the number of employees working for the city currently stands at 346 FTEs, far below
the 369 FTEs on staff back in 2009 when our population was smaller. I believe this shows the commitment
by staff to operate as efficiently as possible.

The city will continue to offer a high deductible medical insurance plan with the option of a buy‐up plan.
The Human Resources Department was able to negotiate a manageable 5 percent increase to health
insurance costs for FY 2019‐20. FY 2018‐19 and FY 2017‐18 saw no increase to health insurance costs,
meaning health insurance costs have only increased the equivalent of 1.67 percent annually over the past
three years. In FY 2019‐20, General Fund salary savings will be transferred to a self‐insurance fund as part
of a goal to become self‐insured in the near future.

As part of our benefits package, the City of Keller participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System,
which continues to be solidly funded at 87.1 percent. TMRS as a whole (as of Dec. 31, 2017) was 87.4

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