Page 16 - HurstFY23AnnualBudget

APPROVED BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023

protection for employees without having a long-term impact on the city’s budget. The Federal
Reserve’s recent actions are aimed at slowing inflation and may result in a recessionary
environment. The combination of the 3.5% wage adjustment and one-time payments fits
strategically with the Federal Reserve’s stated intentions and recent actions.

During our strategic retreat, City Council highlighted Hurst’s history of continued investment in
our public spaces and expressed the need to continue to focus on our maintenance of parks,
streets, and other public spaces. To meet this goal, we have restored maintenance funding that
was cut during the pandemic, operationalized $125,000 in maintenance spending in the 4B

Community Development Fund, and restored the street sweeper position that was also cut
during the pandemic. In addition, $2 million in Certificates of Obligation (COs) were issued to
repair and reconstruct several streets throughout the city. The recently issued COs will be
financed using the payoff of previously issued debt. These costs are all aimed at maintaining the
community spaces and infrastructure our citizens enjoy every day.

Public Safety remains a top priority for City Council. And, results of our annual citizens survey
revealed that public safety is the number one priority for our community. The FY 2022-2023
budget maintains baseline funding for all public safety while also providing for wage adjustments

and the one-time payments outlined above. Continued funding for public safety is also consistent
with legislative mandates to maintain police funding at the municipal level. Included in the
proposed budget is a new body camera system that will replace our current system that has
reached end of life. The new system provides greater deployment of technology across PD
functions including integration of body and vehicle mounted cameras, use of cloud technology
to assist in data management, and improved functionality in responding to public information
requests. The budget also includes the replacement of the city’s computer aided
dispatch/records management system (CAD/RMS) and an ambulance that has reached end of
life. The city remains committed to providing state-of-the-art equipment to our police, fire, and
EMS departments.

Additional budget considerations include a 3% rate increase for water and waste water rates to
offset increase in wholesale costs. Wholesale costs continue to be the primary driver of utility
rates and continue their trend of year-over-year increases. The budget also includes various
capital investments made on a “pay-go” basis to continue to support our infrastructure. These
projects are often funded through the operating budget of each major fund; however, reserves
are used from time to time to support capital projects. The City has established reserves for
life/safety improvements to our existing facilities, future emergency preparedness, and other
critical projects identified by Council or resulting from unfunded state and federal mandates.

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