Page 19 - CityofMansfieldFY24Budget

September 11, 2023

To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council:

The Administration is pleased to present to you the City of Mansfield’s Operating and Capital
Improvement Programs for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. This document is a comprehensive, in-depth, and
easy to read text that provides the foundation and footing for the entire organization’s fiscal activities
during the next year. The budget document reflects current industry trends using performance
measurement data and expanded illustrations to enhance the overall document.

 It represents a statement of the City’s Fiscal Policies.

 It represents a statement of the City’s Service Policies.

 It aligns with the City’s revised Strategic Plan.

 It communicates the priorities of Mansfield’s citizens, City Council, and Management for Fiscal Year
2023-2024 and future years.

The accompanying statements and analysis tell a great story about the strength of our economy and the
services each citizen is receiving as a result of sound planning and effective management of fiscal
resources. It is a story that has been told many times to the rating agencies, to prospective industries, and
other entities. By nature, the Budget Message contains forward-looking projections. An examination of
past projections and estimates add credibility to what is presented.

The City of Mansfield is committed to conservative budgeting practices, including utilizing one-time
revenues for one-time expenditures, developing new revenue sources, adding staff as needed in various
departments and managing operational costs while maintaining or improving current service levels. I am
especially pleased to present this budget, which not only reduces the overall tax rate for our citizens, but
also provides additional relief in the form of a 2% increase to the homestead exemption.

We have built a world-class transparency and community engagement model to ensure that all citizens
and those outside the city are able to access city services, access information regarding city programs and
events, and provide full financial transparency to residents.

City Council, working with Staff, is committed to quality development. This has only been accomplished
through the concentrated efforts of many individuals making difficult business decisions to ensure that
our goals to create value are achieved. More specifically, the City Council has been aggressive in
establishing impact fees or development fees that require new development to pay for its share of new
improvements and services. Tough decisions requiring minimum standards in the zoning of properties
and types of construction have created value that has benefited not only the City, but also the Mansfield
Independent School District. Economic development efforts have resulted in several new commercial and
industrial developments, a variety of new restaurants, the HEB shopping center, and many other projects
currently in progress. Public/private partnerships including Hawaiian Falls and Fieldhouse USA continue
to add quality recreational venues for our parks and recreation system. First-class builders are attracted to
this community, its services, and its school system. Commercial and retail developers are keenly
interested in the City’s progressive development policies. Simply put, the efforts of the City Council, the
Planning and Zoning Commission, the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation, the Mansfield
Park Facilities Development Corporation and all other boards and commissions have assisted the entire
management team in building quality and value for our City.

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