Page 12 - CityofGrandPrairieFY25Adopted Budget

The Budget Process

The City’s budget serves as a roadmap during the fiscal year, outlining how budget resources will be
allocated and spent in accordance with the goals and priorities of the City Council. The budget is formulated
with the aid and support of the City Council, Finance and Government Committee (F&G), City Manager’s
Office (CMO), Department Directors and staff, and the Budget Department. The budget must be adopted
before September 30th by State law and City Charter.
The City’s budget process begins with the Budget Kickoff in March, where the Budget Office provides the
budget information manual and budget forms to departments to assist them in developing budget estimates
and identifying future and current needs. In April, departments provide revenue and expense projections
for the current fiscal year-end and next year’s budgets, improvement requests, and all other required forms
to the Budget Office. In May and June, the Deputy City Manager (DCM) Reviews are held between the
City Manager’s Office, Budget Office, and Departments. During these meetings, all department submissions
and needs are reviewed, and decisions are made about what will be included in the proposed budget.

F&G Committee Meetings are held in July and early August, where committee members review the draft
proposed budget, provide staff with input, and request changes to the draft proposed budget if necessary.
The Budget Workshop is held in mid-August, where City staff present the Proposed Budget to the City
Council, and Council Members can provide feedback and request changes.

In September, the Proposed Budget is reviewed before the public in open session during a City Council
Meeting. In the second city council meeting, the budget is adopted along with the property tax rate. After
the budget is adopted, it becomes the Adopted Budget. The Adopted Budget grants authority to spend
public funds as outlined in the budget from October 1st to September 30th.
During the fiscal year, the Adopted Budget can be amended by several methods. The Budget Manager can
make adjustments between accounts within a single fund. Typically, these requests are generated at the
Department Head level and submitted to the Budget Manager for consideration. The City Council has
authorized the City Manager to approve the use of contingency funds for expenditures greater than $5,000
but not more than $49,999. The City Council may approve the use of contingency funds for expenditures
of $50,000 or greater or may amend the budget to authorize additional appropriations in each Operating or
Capital Improvement Program fund by ordinance if such expenditures are necessary to protect public
property or the health, safety, or general welfare of the residents of Grand Prairie.

Budget Calendar

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