Page 15 - Mansfieldr FY20 Approved Budget

September 11, 2019

To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council:

The Administration is pleased to present to you the City of Mansfield’s Operating and Capital
Improvement Programs for Fiscal Year 2019-2020. This document is a comprehensive, in-depth and easy
to read text that provides the foundation and footing for the entire organization’s fiscal activities during
the next year. The budget document reflects current industry trends using performance measurement data
and expanded illustrations to enhance the overall document.

 It represents a statement of the City’s Fiscal Policies.

 It represents a statement of the City’s Service Policies.

 It aligns with the City’s revised Strategic Plan.

 It communicates the priorities of Mansfield’s citizens, City Council, and Management for Fiscal Year
2019-2020 and future years.

The accompanying statements and analysis tell a great story about the strength of our economy and the
dividends that each citizen is receiving as a result of sound planning and effective management of fiscal
resources. It is a story that has been told many times to the rating agencies, to prospective industries, and
other entities. By nature, the Budget Message contains forward-looking projections. An examination of
past projections and estimates add credibility to what is presented.

The City of Mansfield is committed to conservative budgeting practices, including utilizing one time
revenues for one time expenditures, developing new revenue sources, adding staff as needed in public
safety departments and managing operational costs while maintaining or improving current service levels.

We have grown revenue, improved debt ratios, increased financial reserves, expanded the tax base, built
the local economy, realized higher per capita incomes and maintained the current tax rate of 71 cents. Our
outlook for long term growth is positive, and we remain cautious based on the current economic
environment. We continue to budget both revenues and expenditures conservatively but with anticipated
projected increases in new retail, residential and commercial construction.

City Council, working with Staff, is committed to quality development. This has only been accomplished
through the concentrated efforts of many individuals making difficult business decisions to ensure that
our goals to create value are achieved. More specifically, the City Council has been aggressive in
establishing impact fees or development fees that require new development to pay for its share of new
improvements and services. Tough decisions requiring minimum standards in the zoning of properties
and types of construction have created value that has benefited not only the City, but also the Mansfield
Independent School District. Economic development efforts have resulted in several new commercial and
industrial developments including The Shops at Broad, a variety of new restaurants, the Market Street
shopping center, and many other projects currently in progress. New public/private partnerships including
Fieldhouse USA and the Dallas Stars Hockey Center continue to add quality recreational venues for our
parks and recreation system. Simply put, the efforts of the City Council, the Planning and Zoning
Commission, the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation, the Mansfield Park Facilities
Development Corporation and all other boards and commissions have assisted the entire management
team in building quality and value for our City. First-class builders are attracted to this community, its
services and its school system. Commercial and retail developers are keenly interested in the City’s
progressive development policies.

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