Page 14 - WestworthVillageFY25ApprovedBudget
P. 14

14




                                              GENERAL FUND



             The city uses a conservative approach to budgeting its revenue and expenses, as we are unable
             to predict emergencies, direct and indirect state mandates that negatively impact revenues, and
             commercial businesses and local growth. The  two  major  sources of revenue for the General

             Fund  are  ad  valorem and  general  sales  taxes,  making  up  83%  of  city’s  total  revenue.  The
             remaining revenue is generated from franchise fees, permit fees, and court fines and fees.

                •  Sales tax revenue is dependent on the goods and services sold at Westworth Village
                    businesses and are affected by our local retailers’ successes and failures, area workforce
                    stability, and the overall stability in the U.S. market. The sales tax rate in Tarrant County
                    is 8.25%, of which two cents of every sales dollar goes to Westworth Village. One cent is
                    used as revenue in the general fund, ½ cent is used to fund CCPD, ¼ cent for the street
                    fund, and ¼ cent for economic development. We encourage everyone to support our local
                    Westworth  Village  businesses  –  this  increases  sales  tax  revenue  which  helps  keep
                    property taxes low, and it increases local job opportunities.

                •  Ad Valorem    tax revenue, also known as property taxes, are affected by state-imposed
                    limitations on increases. The city only collects a small portion of your total property tax.
                    The majority of the total amount collected goes to Tarrant County services and Fort Worth
                    ISD. This budget is based on no change to the current ad valorem      tax rate of $0.475 per
                    $100 of appraised value. To view how Westworth Village ad valorem        tax rates compare
                    to other areas in Tarrant and surrounding counties, visit the tarranttaxinfo.com website.

             General Fund revenue is used to fund the following public services:
                •  Administration
                •  Facilities
                •  Police
                •  Municipal Court
                •  Fire Protection/Prevention and Emergency Medical Services
                •  Library Services

             Some key points of change affecting revenue this year include:
                •  Overall,  general fund revenue is projected to be  slightly  higher  than  last year due to
                    increased property valuations. We are projecting a decrease in revenue from franchise
                    fee and permit fees, mainly due to no new  commercial construction plans, new state
                    mandates, and a continued decrease in residential construction.
                •  Sales tax revenue was project using a rolling 12 months of prior actual sales tax, plus
                    one percent.  Looking historically at sales tax revenue, FY23 was seven percent over
                    FY22, and this FY is only two percent over FY23.  Economic forecasts remain unstable.
                •  Maintaining the current ad valorem    tax rate based on the TAD estimated net property tax
                    value  of  $524,838,685.  Changes  in  TAD  valuation  practices  and  aggressive  protest
                    valuation decreases, coupled with the state legislation on property tax cuts, will inevitably
                    impact the city.






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