Page 16 - N. Richland Hills General Budget

Office of the City Manager
CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS

Tarrant Appraisal District also indicates that $71.1 million in new construction was added to the City’s tax rolls
this year. This new construction will add $409,333 in property tax revenue and does not affect the tax cap.

The net result we are forecasting is to have $258,334 less revenue than projected in the 2019/20 Approved
Budget. The FY 2020/21 Adopted Budget is balanced with projected revenues, and does not rely on use of
reserves in order to pay for current year expenditures. The reduction in revenue required various
reductions in existing programs, as well as not funding new programs or needs. Some examples of cuts
in existing programs includes:

• Cutting the tuition reimbursement amount from 100% of the average tuition rate of UTA and UNT to
50% of the average tuition. $30,000
• A vacant Management Analyst position in Public Works will remain unfilled for 2020/21. This position
provided management support to the Public Works, Planning, Engineering and Building Inspection
Divisions. Studies, reports, grant applications along with representing the City at regional meetings will
have to be performed by the various department heads. $49,902
• The Library is eliminating the “Brainfusion” student tutoring program, the Teen Bookfest, the volunteer
appreciation event and reducing speaker fees, special programs and special events. $17,366
• The Night of Holiday Magic will be reduced to a much smaller tree lighting event without fireworks,
vendors or a live music concert. Hoot-n-Howl will be eliminated and funding for the Northeast Tarrant
Chamber’s July 4 event will also be eliminated. $40,000
th
• A vacant part-time Municipal Court Clerk position was eliminated. At certain times the wait time for
Court customers may be delayed. $12,257
• The employee In Service Training Day will be eliminated. Much of our required all-staff training was
provided at this training event in addition to training programs on team building, customer service,
mental health and workplace safety. Required training will be worked in as departmental schedules
allow. $17,000
• The Police and Fire banquets will not be held. Awards and recognitions will be provided in other
formats. $20,400
• Training and travel funding for the City Council, including the bi-annual Goals Retreat, will be reduced.
The Goals Retreat will be held in town. $10,000

In addition to these reductions there were a number of expenses which were not included in the budget to
cover inflation or rising costs in supplies, equipment and services. These items can be viewed as “silent cuts”
because their impact is less visible, at least initially.

The largest of these silent cuts is that the budget does not include any adjustments to salaries for fiscal year
2020/21. On October 1, 2020, employee salaries will be restored to where they would have been without the
2.5% reduction made in April 2020, but will remain frozen at that level for the remainder of the fiscal year.
This includes freezing movement on the step plan for sworn Fire and Police employees. Salary surveys
indicate that we are still around 2-3% below comparable cities in the region. Providing a salary adjustment of
2% for general government positions and public safety pay ranges, plus the step movement for eligible
Fire and Police employees would add $725,000 to the Adopted 2020/21 Budget. Maintaining a qualified

P.O. Box 82069  North Richland Hills, Texas 76182-0609
4301 City Point Drive  (817) 427-6003  Fax (817) 427-6016

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