Page 13 - Watauga FY21 Budget

BUDGET MESSAGE FOR FY 2020-2021

City Council Goals

Goal #1: Establish an environment conducive to strong and sustainable
economic development.

Goal #2: Enhance a secure and safe City.

Goal #3: Enhance quality of life through recreational, cultural, and educational
services.

Goal #4: Establish responsible fiscal management and excellent governance.

Goal#5: Sustain and enhance infrastructure network.

Goal #6: Commitment to maintain a highly skilled, well-trained, fairly
compensated, customer service oriented workforce.

Watauga continues to move at a healthy pace toward its strategic goals and objectives
with regard to meeting the needs of citizens, economic development and revitalization,
improving infrastructure and making Watauga, “A Great Place to Live.” The budget
reflects the City Council’s vision to be “A Community that meets the needs of
citizens by offering a high quality of life through transparent governance.”

The FY2020-2021 Budget will provide funding for Strategic Initiatives that will enable the
City to achieve the above stated priority goals:

¾ Maintain the Financial Strength of the City – this includes maintaining sound
fiscal management practices, ensuring the City’s bond rating is maintained oor
improved, developing an internal audit committee, evaluating the feasibility of
participating in the Opportunity Zones program, and seeking grant opportunities.

¾ Develop a sustainable economic development effort – In FY2018-2019, the City
shifted focus from Parks to Economic Development and the ¼ cent sales tax
(Type B) is now available for economic development efforts in the City. A
strategic plan and business recruitment plan for economic development was
developed in FY2019-2020. The City will continue efforts and develop policies
and plans to reinvest, revitalize, and improve aging shopping center sites and
foster economic development, redevelopment, business retention and attraction.

¾ Strengthen Future Planning – The FY2019-2020 budget provided funding for an
update to the Comprehensive Plan to include economic development. A review
of City ordinances is underway and will continue this budget year.

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