Page 46 - Watauga FY21 Budget

BUDGET OVERVIEW

GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES

The City of Watauga operates as a Texas Home Rule municipal government under a
Mayor-Council-Manager form, with the City Government comprised of the Mayor and
seven other Council members. All seven Council members are elected by place number
and all are elected at large. The Mayor and Council members serve two-year terms,
which are staggered. City Council members receive no compensation for services
performed.

The City Manager is appointed by the Council and is responsible for appointing and
supervising employees of the City (except those appointed by the Council), and for
preparing and administering the annual budget and capital improvements program
(CIP).

The City Council also appoints the City Attorney, the Municipal Court Judge, and the
members of the various boards and commissions. A Court of Record was created by
the City Council when it adopted Ordinance 655 on October 25, 1993, and with a
Special Election held on January 14, 1994. The City Attorney and Judge of the
Municipal Court are compensated with funds provided in the Non-Departmental and
Finance Department budgets respectively. Under the City Manager’s general direction,
there are nine functional areas, each of which is supervised by a department-head level
employee. These areas include Finance (including general financing functions,
purchasing, water and sewer billing and collection, and Municipal Court); Library;
Administration (including City Secretary, Public Information, and Records); Human
Resources; Information Technology Services; Parks & Recreation Services; Public
Works (including development services, storm drain, water and sewer field operations,
fleet and building operations); Police (including code enforcement); and Fire and
Emergency Medical Services. In Fiscal Year 2018 code enforcement division was
moved from Public Works to the direction of Police. Economic Development services
are provided by staff through a reimbursement resolution between the Watauga
Economic Development Corporation and the City. Services provided by the City
include police and fire protection, emergency medical services, street maintenance,
building inspection services, library services, recreation, parks operation and
maintenance, maintenance and operation of City-owned buildings, and storm drain
maintenance and construction. In Fiscal Year 1999, the City of Watauga began the
water and sewer operations, but does not own treatment facilities. A franchise has been
granted to a privately owned firm for solid waste collection and disposal services.

The City operates on a fiscal year basis, with October 1 as the beginning of a new year.

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