City of Waco Values and Goals
Values
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Equal Access to All Services and Benefits
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Customer/Regulation Friendly in all Actions
and Interactions by the City of Waco
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Think and Act Systemically to Build a
Healthy Community
Goals
Strategic Intent I
High Quality Economical City Services and Facilities
Strategic Intent II
Aggressively Competitive Economic and Community Development
Strategic Intent III
Safe, Environmentally Sound, Pedestrian Friendly Community
Strategic Intent IV
Improved housing options, opportunities, and conditions
Strategic Intent V
Enviable Culture and Quality of Life
Strategic Intent VI
Effective Policy and Administration
Strategic Intent VII
Market Waco internally and externally |
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2007-2008
Budget Highlights
Total Operating Budget
The adopted 2007-08 operating budget is $183,178,967
an increase of 3.1% compared to the 2006-07 approved operating budget
of $177,739,777. Major funding items include:
- A 2.5% salary increase for top management
- A 3.5% salary increase for all other regular full and part
time employees
- $1,250,000 for the Economic Incentive Fund
- $8.1 million for New Services and Equipment Replacement
- $16,113,983 for Fire Services
- $27,306,871 for Police Services
- $35,626,240 for Water Services
Total Employee Positions
This budget reflects a net increase of 6.31 full time equivalent
positions over last year’s budget for a total of 1557.16. New employees
were added in Municipal Information, Cameron Park Zoo, Ranger Hall
of Fame, Metropolitan Planning Organization and Water Utilities.
We will continue to do the things that get the citizens better customer
service and quality city services in a proactive manner.
General Fund
The General Fund revenue budget of $88,865,266 based
on growth in revenues of 4.7% over last year’s adopted budget, the
majority of that due to taxes, charges for services, and interest
on investments. A tax rate adjustment of $0.086532 is necessary
to provide for the debt service for the $63 million bond election
approved by the voters of Waco. The General Fund accounts for 49%
of the City’s operating budget. Primary sources of revenue for the
General Fund are property tax and sales tax.
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General Fund Revenues
The General Fund is balanced principally through
the following factors:
- Growth in property tax assessments –Several factors contributed
to the 5.4% growth in the property tax base including new construction,
annexations, and increased appraisal values. Although new construction
assessments are not projected to increase as much as last year,
we are estimating a healthy increase of $136 million for FY
2007-08.
- Sales Taxes – The volatility of retail sales makes it extremely
hard to project this revenue with confidence. Sales tax revenues
for the current year are expected to be over budget, so a conservative
1% increase over this year’s estimate and a 5.6% increase over
last year’s budget is projected.
- The budget maintains an undesignated reserve in the General
Fund of at least 15% of expenditures. The purpose of the reserve
is to protect the City’s creditworthiness and financial position
from unforeseeable emergencies.
General Fund Expenditures
The largest increase in General Fund expenditures
is about $2 million for the salary and benefit increases discussed
earlier. These increases will make us more competitive so we can
recruit and retain the quality and quantity of employees we require
to serve our citizens.
Additional items included in the General Fund are:
- Staff changes in other General Fund departments - $118,000
- Staff changes for Municipal Information beginning mid-year
- $30,000
- Increased Health Insurance expense for General Fund departments
- $1,100,000
- Increased Auto, Property and General Liability insurance expense
for General Fund departments - $105,000
Utility Rates
This year we adopted base rate increases to residential,
commercial and industrial water customers. The same percentage increase
to the base is proposed for all classes of customers. The minimum
residential user of 2,000 gallons or less will pay the base rate
of $16.00, which is a $2.50 increase per month. No volumetric increases
are proposed for any class of customers. The rate for residential
users from 2,001-15,000 gallons will remain at $2.54 per 1,000 gallons.
The next tier of 15,001-25,000 gallons will stay at $2.98 per 1,000
gallons and over 25,000 gallons will still be $3.82 per 1,000 gallons.
The FY 2007-08 adopted budget includes a base rate
increase for residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater
customers. The same percentage increase to the base is proposed
for all classes of customers. The bill for a minimum user of 2,000
gallons or less will increase from $12.00 to $14.50, which is a
$2.50 increase per month. No volumetric increases are proposed for
any class of customers. The rate for 2,001 gallons to 20,000 gallons
per month will remain at $2.89 per 1,000 gallons. The residential
maximum billing volume is determined by the four-month winter average
from November through February up to 20,000 gallons per month. The
non-residential wastewater billing volumes are based upon 100% of
metered water volume less 2,000 gallons times the use rate.
Solid Waste residential fees will remain the same
for FY 2007-08. Commercial and roll-off rates are budgeted to change
to simplify billing and to address shared containers. Some customers
will see an increase in their billing and some will see a decrease.
Overall this fee schedule change is not expected to increase total
commercial revenues. Operating revenues are expected to remain flat.
Capital Improvements Program
The adopted 2007-08 C I P (Capital Improvements Program)
is $25,459,736.
- $5,546,115 in General Government Improvements
- $9,896,310 in Street Improvements
- $3,200,000 in Solid Waste Improvements
- $6,817,311 in Water Improvements
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