Page 13 - NRH FY20 Approved Budget
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CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS

                                                                                                    October 1, 2019





               Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
               City of North Richland Hills
               North Richland Hills, Texas

               It is my privilege to submit the City of North Richland Hills Adopted  FY 2019/2020 Budget to
               the  City  Council.    The  budget  represents  the  financial  plan  for  delivering  the  municipal
               services that we believe are desired and expected by residents, businesses and visitors to
               the  City  of  NRH.    The  budget  is  developed  based  on  direction  from  the  City  Council,  as
               conveyed  from  the  community  through  surveys,  public  forums,  citizen  correspondence  and
               your discussions with residents throughout the city.

               The past year has seen the achievement of several significant accomplishments and
               improvements to our community.  In February 2019, the City Council met and reaffirmed the City
               Goals and Objectives.       One of these goals is Efficient, Effective Transportation        System.
               Improving our transportation systems has been a high point for the past year.

               In January 2019, TEXRail initiated service to the Iron Horse and Smithfield stations achieving a
               decades-long plan for providing rail service to our citizens.  This service significantly improves
               accessibility between DFW Airport and downtown Fort Worth.           TEXRail not only provides an
               economical and efficient means for NRH residents to access these other regional destinations,
               but it opens up access to NRH businesses from other          regional locations as well.    With the
               initiation of TEXRail service NRH truly became a multimodal community.


               Beyond initiating rail service, we were able to complete three major roadway projects during the
               current  fiscal  year.  While  it  was  delayed  significantly,  the  Rufe  Snow  improvements  project

               was  substantially completed  in  August  2019.      The  widening   and  realignment   of  Smithfield
               Road from Davis Boulevard to just north of Mid Cities Boulevard was completed in January
               2019.    The  adjoining  widening   of  the  Mid  Cites  and  Davis  intersection  was  completed  in
               June 2019.  We appreciate the patience of our residents in enduring frequent traffic backups
               and a seemingly endless supply of orange construction barrels in getting to this point.           We
               hope the ease of access provided by these expansions will soon replace the memories of the
               construction period.


               Another goal where we saw significant achievement is Targeted Economic             Development.    In
               November 2018, we celebrated the opening of Babe’s Chicken Dinner House and we are
               watching with great anticipation the construction of the adjoining Sweetie Pie’s Ribeye which will
               open early 2020.  In addition, in April 2019 we celebrated the opening of Alamo Drafthouse at
               North Tarrant Parkway and Davis Boulevard.


               The City of NRH continues to participate in the benefits of a thriving regional economy.  During
               2018 we saw 234 new housing starts, and we have seen 126 more through June of 2019.  This
                                          P.O. Box 82069    North Richland Hills, Texas 76182-0609
                                         4301 City Point Drive  (817) 427-6000  Fax (817) 427-6106


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