Page 13 - Manfield FY21 Budget

September 15, 2020

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 2020-2021. 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
2020-2021 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.

In spite of the impact of Covid-19, we have grown revenue, improved debt ratios, increased financial
reserves, expanded the tax base and built a sustainable local economy. We have adopted a 10%
Residential Homestead Exemption and reduced the city’s tax rate by 2 cents. Our outlook for long term
growth is positive, yet 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. 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

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