Page 14 - Hurst Adopted FY22 Budget
P. 14

APPROVED FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET


                Debt Service Fund
                This fund accounts for a dedicated portion of property taxes that are reserved to pay
                principal and interest on the city’s tax supported debt.  As mentioned above, a portion of
                property tax revenue was shifted from debt service to maintenance and operations for the
                FY 2021-2022 budget.  The debt service fund has an 8.25 percent reduction in budget
                associated with savings generated through strategic debt refundings and retirement of
                existing debt.



                Community Services Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund
                This fund supports operations and projects eligible that support community development
                such as parks and recreation operations and pay-as-you-go capital and infrastructure
                maintenance programs.  Unlike the General Fund, this fund has a single revenue source and
                cannot rely upon another revenue to mitigate volatility in sales tax revenues.  This fund’s
                operating budget was reduced by 14.5 percent in FY 2021 to balance the budget during the
                economic uncertainty of the pandemic and resulted in reduced service levels.  The adopted
                budget for FY 2022 restores service levels and  focuses on resuming normal operations,
                including our regular capital  investments that support this fund. This includes funding for
                the July 4th event and Phase 5 of improvements to an important business corridor. If the
                Community Services special revenue sales tax were not available, the city’s property tax rate
                would need to be raised by approximately 13 cents to provide the same service levels funded
                in this budget.


                Anti-Crime Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund
                This fund is dedicated to supporting the Hurst Police Department through voter approval of
                the Hurst Crime Control and Prevention  District (CCPD).    In 2010, voters  authorized  a
                20-year continuance of a ½ percent sales tax  portion dedicated to fund the CCPD.  Voters
                will again decide on the continuation of the sales tax in 2030.  If this sales tax were not

                renewed, the property tax rate would need to increase approximately 12 cents to ensure
                continued programs and service levels from the Police Department.


                The Hurst Police Department has long been at the front of modern police services, such as
                being  a CALEA certified agency since 1990 and providing mental health licensing,
                training, and  coordination for their officers.  Our commitment to Community Policing has long
                been supported by our citizens and represents a model that many communities are currently
                considering.  The City of Hurst appropriately balances enforcement of the law with community
                connection.


                In spite of budgetary constraints related to declining sales tax revenue associated with
                economic uncertainty related to the pandemic, Police services and programs were not reduced
                in FY 2021.  The Texas Legislature took measures to ensure the police departments across the
                state were not “defunded” resulting in a budget allocation of approximately $1 million in
                reserves to ensure
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