Page 53 - Southlake FY20 Budget

Budget 101

A former world leader once said, “It’s clearly a budget. It has a lot of numbers in it.” And while that’s a true statement
about this budget document, it should be noted that each of these numbers has purpose and meaning behind it. This
section titled, Budget 101, explains the meaning behind the numbers which are presented in subsequent chapters. It
gives perspective to the City’s budgeting process, basis of budgeting and accounting, how the budget is amended, and
the fund accounting system. All of these components, combined with the City’s Strategic Management System (SMS)
make up the primary foundation for every City of Southlake budget document.

The Budget 101 chapter was added several years ago in an effort to make the annual budget document easier to
understand. Suggestions for improvement are always welcome. Please contact the City Manager’s Office at 817-748-
8400 or by email: talktous@cityofsouthlake.com.

Basic Budget Information
Budget Process:
How does the City of Southlake spend taxpayer money? It’s a simple question with a complex answer. What follows is
a high-level explanation of the City of Southlake’s budget process.

The formal budget process in Southlake begins each January / February with a City Council work session designed to
review the City’s strategy as it relates to the Strategic Management System (SMS) and make any changes necessary
to ensure that the strategy still aligns with City Council and citizen priorities. To read more about the SMS, see the
Strategic Direction section.

Using Council’s direction at this work session, staff begins working on their departmental business plans for the
upcoming fiscal year. The initiatives in these plans determine what budgetary requests are necessary to meet service
level needs. Once each department has finalized its own plan, and it has been approved by the City Manager, staff
prepares their departmental budget requests which are also submitted to and reviewed by the City Manager. For
more information about the City’s structure, see the
organizational chart (opposite).
FY 2020 Budget Calendar

The Charter of the City of Southlake mandates that
a proposed budget be filed by the City Manager
with the City Secretary’s Office no later than August January 2019 City Council -
15th for the new fiscal year beginning October 1. Strategy Work Session
Following filing, the City Council begins their review March 2019 Staff Budget Kick-off
leading up to budget adoption in September.
May 2019 Departmental Budgets Due
When filed with the City Secretary’s Office on August
15th, the budget presents in summary form the August 2019 City Council Budget Preview
revenues and expenditures from each of the City’s City Council Work Session
funds. From there it is discussed during City Council
work sessions and then formally presented by staff City Manager Files Budget
during public hearings at regularly scheduled City
Council meetings. September 2019 City Council Work Session
1st Reading and Public Hearing
The process leading to the budget adoption is City Council 2nd Reading
participatory and includes a communications plan and Public Hearing
that encourages input from citizens, boards and
commissions, City departments, and the City Council.

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