Page 342 - Bedford-FY25-26 Budget

FY 2024-2025 Highlights

Finance
Maintained a bond rating of AA+ on outstanding general obligation debt from Standard and Poors.
Achieved the Certi cate of Excellence in Financial Reporting Award annually from the Government Finance Of cers
Association of the U.S. and Canada for 2023-2024.
Achieved the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Of cers Association of the U.S.
and Canada for 2024-2025.
Began the transition to a new nancial software platform (OpenGov).
Updated cash handling policies and procedures and completed cash handling training city-wide with an emphasis on
new deposit procedures.
Updated investment practices and procedures to better protect the long term cash assets of the City.
Completed a sale of new certi cates of obligation to fund projects city-wide.
Completed city-wide training for purchasing and purchasing card best practices.
Municipal Court
Participated in the 2024 Municipal Courts Week whereby our efforts for advocating traf c safety and awareness were
recognized by the Texas Municipal Court Education Center in Austin, TX.
Participated in the 2025 State of Texas "Great Texas Warrant Round Up" clearing 639 warrants, while generating $98,539 in
revenue.
Collaborated with Linebarger, Goggan, Blair, & Sampson LLP for area-speci c increased collection efforts regarding
defendants with outstanding warrants.
Audited all closed cases to ensure proper disposition and judgment.
Implemented a warrant incentive program to facilitate the closing of older warrants.
Implemented the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Justice Information Systems Division CJIS Security
Awareness training for all staff that have unescorted access to the secure areas within Municipal Court.
Updated the Bedford Municipal Court Policies and Procedures Manual and the Bedford Municipal Court Emergency
Operating Procedures and Security Plan.
Increased the utilization of text noti cations to defendants in an effort to gain compliance and resolution with citations,
court appearance dates, payment due dates, and warrants.
Teen Court
Implemented the intake process of juvenile cases through the youth diversion program as required by the State of Texas.
The youth diversion program went into effect January 1, 2025, which provides alternative options for all juvenile offenders
under 17 years of age who are charged with non-traf c offenses.
In March 2025, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Teen Court assisted Teen Courts across the State of Texas with the Texas Teen Court
Competition which was held at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas.
In May 2025, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Teen Court awarded one Teen Court graduating teen volunteer with a scholarship for
$1,500.
Customer Service
Procedural Assessment: Conducted a thorough examination of divisional practices to ensure operational ef ciency and
alignment with service standards.
Process Enhancement: Identi ed opportunities for improvement to optimize service delivery and enhance the
experience of Bedford citizens.
Billing System Upgrade: Implemented changes to billing systems to enhance accuracy and ef ciency in nancial
transactions.
Community Education: Offered informative classes aimed at empowering residents with knowledge and skills to
navigate services effectively.
Customer-Centric Support: Delivered exceptional customer service experiences, prioritizing the needs and satisfaction of
residents.
Interdepartmental Collaboration: Streamlined communication and work ows between divisions to foster synergy and
improve service coordination.
Digital Records Transition: Modernized record-keeping processes by transitioning to fully digital systems, ensuring
accessibility, accuracy, and ef ciency in data management.

City of Bedford, TX | Proposed Budget FY 2025-2026 Page 342