Page 11 - FY 2020-21 Budget Cover.pub

August 7, 2020

Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Council
Azle, Texas

Staff is pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget for your review. The budget is a
means of presenting overall plans for accomplishing municipal objectives during the upcoming
year. The expenditure and expense levels that are ultimately approved will act as a control on
overall spending for City programs, services, and projects. The budget indicates the probable
cost of the various programs, policies, and projects to be carried forth by the City during FY
2020-21.

The budget is presented after long hours of study and review by department heads and
management staff. Our basic approach in preparing this budget was to maintain levels of
service and make improvements where possible, giving particular attention to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. The City continues to be on a solid financial foundation as we prepare
for the coming years.

Overall, operating revenues are projected to rise moderately across all funds. As a result, this
budget attempts to maintain current service and employee levels and provide improvements
where possible. As this budget was prepared, a look toward FY 2021-22 was taken in order to
insure proposed programs and services are sustainable.

Goals and Strategies

The City Council and Staff have worked together to identify goals for the next five (5) years. But
due to COVID-19, this year’s strategic planning session was cancelled. Therefore, this year’s
goals are a carry-over from last year and are as follows:

1. Plan and prepare for the current and future needs of a growing city by managing growth
and development, encouraging economic development, identifying and addressing
infrastructure needs, and maintaining a financially sound and stable government.
Priorities in this area include:

• Expanding the tax base through economic development efforts
• Improving facilities including recreational amenities
• Reviewing ordinances and design criteria
• Working with TxDOT on transportation issues within the city
• Planning for capital replacements
• Developing public/private partnerships

2. Achieve excellence in city government services by broadening avenues of
communication and encouraging citizen involvement, attracting and retaining quality
employees and providing quality customer service. Priorities in this area include:

City of Azle FY 2020-2021 Budget 1