Page 13 - CityofKennedaleFY25AdoptedBudget

As in any organization, competent and experienced city employees are essential to meet the vision and goals
of the council and the needs and expectations of our citizens. It is generally known that municipal government

and private sector organizations are competing for a smaller, qualified pool of available employees in the
current job market. Needed market salary adjustments have become the new norm, as municipal governments

continue to face a shortage of personnel throughout the state and the country. However, I am pleased to
announce that for the for the first time since the pandemic, city staffing levels have been steady for the past

two years. In an effort to continue to retain our employees, this budget proposes a compensation increase

between three and eight percent for all employees, contingent upon job related skills, knowledge, and abilities
associated with their current position. However, although this is a positive increase for all employees, the

compensation in some positions will remain below the current market average. Future compensation plans will
still need to address the market pay gap as soon as it is practical to do so.

The adopted budget also includes the addition of three new employees. These positions will be vital to meet
the needs of our growing community. If approved, these employees will provide improved services in the

Fire Department, the Municipal Court, and Community Development.

In our FY 2024-2025 budget, we outlined professional expectation goals for city staff members. I am proud to

announce that we accomplished achievable goals within our control. Previous unachieved goals were a result
of financial constraints or the inability to meet the fiscal year timeframe. Goals that were unable to be met last

year will be incorporated into the new budget year objectives.

Community Development

One of our FY 2024-2025 budget goals included an update to the Comprehension Plan and the Unified
Development Code (UDC). With input from our elected officials, this project will continue into FY

2024-2025 under this adopted budget to address the anticipated growth in business and urban development.
A thorough review and subsequent update of the policies and procedures in the UDC is crucial to our success

in the present and for future development. The UDC update was just one of many accomplishments in the
past year.

Additional Community Development accomplishments in FY 2023-2024 included the adoption of the 2018
International Maintenance Code, the adoption of the Park Zoning Map, allowing funds collected from

parks fees to be utilized to support operations, and updates to the parking, nuisance, and short-term rental

ordinances. Community Development also reduced the costs for third-party services through improved
training and development of department staff. Lastly, we implemented new software that will improve the

efficiency and quality of work of our employees while providing better customer service.

The updated UDC is expected to improve development related communication, provide clear and

measurable
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