Page 32 - CityofMansfieldFY24Budget

The City Council is responsible for the review of the City Manager’s proposed budget, approval of the tax
rate and approval of the final budget. The City charter requires adoption of the final budget no later than
September 15 of each fiscal year.

BUDGET PROCESS

The budget process is the key to the development of the City of Mansfield’s overall strategic plan and
affords individual departments the opportunity to reassess goals and objectives, evaluate programs using
performance measurement data and develop strategies to accomplish them. Even though the budget may be
reviewed by the City Council in July and August and adopted in September, its preparation begins at least
eight months prior, with projection of fund balances, revenue and expenditure forecasts, and departmental
needs assessments. It is with this groundwork that the departmental requests are made and subsequently
reviewed.

The following summary provides a brief description of the various phases of the budget process and
timeframes in which the budget preparation, review and adoption takes place.

BUDGET PHASES

Priority Needs Assessment Phase - This is the foundation of assessing what the current and projected
programmatic and operational needs of each department are as seen by the Citizens of Mansfield, City
Council, Boards, Commissions, and individual department/division directors. City Staff and City Council
reviews occur during this phase to identify and prioritize the needs and desires of each group. Community
feedback is an important component of the budget process in assessing citizen satisfaction with services
and establishing priorities for the upcoming budget year. City infrastructure needs are identified during this
process and play an important role in the forecasting related to short and long-term operating needs. City
Council has identified the need to maintain City streets, enforce architectural standards for new
development, create more neighborhood and linear parks, encourage more retail, commercial and industrial
development within the City, and implement and continue the Capital Improvement Program.

Financial Trend Analysis Phase - an integral part of Mansfield’s decision-making process that includes
both short and long-range economic and financial forecasts. During this phase, strategic forecasting
assumptions are made including changes in fund balance projections, revenue, expenditure, compensation
adjustments and other costs adjustments. Preliminary assumptions result in the City’s forecasted fiscal
capacity and provide a balanced financial framework upon which operating (departmental), and capital
(infrastructure projects) budget targets can be developed.

Policy/Strategy Development Phase - City Council’s goals and directives set the tone for the development
of the budget. The Council identifies key policy issues that will provide the direction of the budget. The
Strategic Planning Committee updates the City’s 10-Year Strategic Plan, identifying critical objectives and
the strategies to be employed in meeting those objectives. It is within this framework that the department’s
budget plans are formulated. The City Council identifies needs to establish priorities, identify existing
service levels, and review financial and economic trends and forecasts. City Council also discusses policy
direction with the Executive Staff.

Budget Development Phase - Based upon City Council’s priorities and strategic policy direction,
departments develop program objectives and work plans for the budget period. The Budget Office submits
to each department their prior year and year-to-date expenditures for review. Baseline budgets are then
developed which represent existing service levels and adjustments for price changes, inflation and/or
compensation adjustments. Departmental staff is asked to evaluate programs and positions. Departmental

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