Page 60 - HurstFY23AnnualBudget
P. 60

APPROVED BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023







                                                       BUDGETARY
                                            FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES

               Numerous financial policy guidelines are followed for the fiscal management of the City and
               enable the City to maintain financial stability. They are reviewed annually. The policies are long
               standing and provide guidelines for current decision-making processes and future plans. Some of
               the most significant guidelines pertaining to the budget are as follows:

               OPERATING BUDGET POLICIES

               Balanced Budget

               The  Budget  should  be  balanced  with  revenues  being  equal  to  or  greater  than  current
               expenditures/expenses using the following strategies in order of priority: improve productivity,
               shift the service or payment burden away from the city, improve revenues, create new service
               fees or raise existing fees based on the cost of services, reduce or eliminate programs, use fund
               balances, if available, increase property taxes, and lastly, reduce or eliminate services.

               The  2022-2023  budget  was  balanced  primarily  due  to  conservative  expenditure  budgeting
               combined with growth in both property and sales tax revenues. There are two significant sales
               tax funds that provide property tax relief to the General Fund. The Community Services Half-Cent
               Sales Tax fund supports divisions within the Community Services Department. Sales tax revenue
               in this fund is budgeted at $5,500,000, which would need to be absorbed by the General Fund to
               maintain the same service levels. Similarly, the Anti-Crime Half-Cent Sales Tax fund supports our
               community policing initiatives and includes sales tax revenue funds budgeted at $5,500,000, In
               total, these two funds represent approximately .28 cents in property tax rate relief to our citizens.

               These sources are examples of a "service or payment burden being shifted away from the City"
               since an estimated 75% of the half percent sales tax revenues are collected from consumers who
               shop in Hurst but live outside the City. Expenditures continue to be conservatively estimated with
               every dollar backed by written justification.

               General and Administrative Charges

               The General Fund is compensated by the Enterprise Fund, Fleet Service Fund, Anti-Crime Fund,
               Half Cent Sales Tax Fund, Storm Water Management Fund, Hurst Conference Center Fund and
               Commercial Vehicle Inspection Fund for the general and administrative services provided such as
               management, finance and personnel, as well as the use of City streets by Enterprise Operations.
               The following intragovernmental revenue transfers for 2022-2023 are budgeted:







                                                             60
   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65