CM 1993-08-13 FISCAL YEAR 1993-94 BUDGET WORKSHOP
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1993
MINUTES
The City Council of the City of Coppell met for a Budget Workshop on Friday, August 13,
1993, at 2:00 p.m. in the Rotary Room of Town Center, 255 Parkway Boulevard, Coppell,
Texas. The following members were present:
Tom Morton, Mayor
Ron Robertson, Mayor Pro Tem
Peyton Weaver, Councilmember
Flo McFadden Stahly, Councilmember
Mitch Reitman, Councilmember
Lanny Mayo, Councilmember
Jim Garrison, Councilmember
Also present were Interim City Manager, Frank Trando, Acting Finance Director Alan Johnson,
City Secretary Dorothy Timmons and City Attorney's representative Robert Hagar.
Mayor Morton called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. He expressed his thanks to the Finance
Committee and the Finance Department for all their work in bringing forward a budget for 1993-
94.
Interim City Manager, Frank Trando, made his opening remarks. He explained that the budget
is based on 0.6895 tax ram, which is a .01 decrease from last year. The Directors ranked the
supplements and the Finance Committee then narrowed them down. All of the supplements can
be funded in the proposed budget and still reduce the fund balance by $100,000.00. Mr. Trando
then stated that water and sewer rates may have to be increased in February.
Tax Assessor/Collector, Chad Beach, discussed Homestead Exemption and explained the
deadline is April 30th. Mayor Morton asked staff to look at this at mid-year. Mr. Beach
explained that the ordinance can be done at any time, however, the effective date has to be April
30th for that tax year, and the percentage can range from one percent to twenty percent, the
minimum has to be at least $5,000 off of the appraised value.
Finance Committee opening remarks were presented by Mayor Pro Tern Robertson who stated
that the Finance Committee agreed to recommend the base budget with the tax rate being
lowered by a penny to 0.6895. The Committee used a 97.5% collection rate. Last year the
Council granted 3 % compensation with 2 % brought back at mid-year. This year the Committee
chose to defer recommendation and look at it at this workshop. The Finance Committee is
recommending 5 % now and a market survey in April. If the survey shows that staff is still
below step, the Finance Committee would support an additional two percent or whatever is
needed to bring them up to level with our surrounding cities.
The Finance Committee made two recommendations regarding the supplementals on page 4.1.
Seventeen additional employees were requested this year. The Finance Committee proposes to
hire one dispatcher, three patrol officers and building maintenance workers. In addition, the
Committee recommends the allocation of funds to purchase the balance, consisting of boom
trucks and pickup trucks, which Council will decide at another time. The Finance Committee
and staff have a difference of opinion on whether to go with internal building maintenance or
not.
Mayor Pro Tem Robertson stated that the Finance Committee's recommendation is to fund the
base budget with a five percent increase and to fund the supplementals on 4.1, but, the
maintenance workers are contingent on the rest of the Council's wishes.
Acting Finance Director Alan Johnson began his presentation by stating that the City is looking
at just under 6% growth between 1993 and 1994, and tax value increased about 13.48% this
year. He continued his presentation by stating that the collections for this year are 98.09%, the
assessed valuation is $1,133,906.263, and, with a tax rate of 0.6895, revenues should be
$7,818,284. The expected collection rate is 97.5% so tax collection should be $7,622,827,
which will be split between the General Fund and the Debt Service Fund. We allocated
$4,782,978 to the General Fund and $2,839,848 to the Debt Service Fund. Mayor Pro Tem
Robertson stated that we have a lot of expenditures coming up in the next few years, referring
to curb improvements and street improvements associated with ADA requirements for Coppell
in the amount of $400,000. He feels that we should start budgeting for the improvements now.
Discussion by Council of the Mayor and Council budget followed with Councilmember Weaver
stating that he doesn't want to continue membership in NTC. Discussion followed.
* It was the consensus of the Council to exclude Office on Aging and North Texas
Commi~ion from Council's Budget for the 1993-94 fiscal year.
Mayor Morton made the recommendation to get "legal opinion" on designated items in the
budget, such as Woman of the Year, CHS Yearbook ad, etc. to see if we can do these things.
* It was the consensus of the Council to Combine Boards & Commissions line items
for a total of $1,000.00.
* It was the consensus of the Council to pass the Council Budget, pending legal review
of designated items.
Economic & Business Development Board Budget was discussed, and there was concern about
the increase in the Public Relations item.
The issue of ADA compliance throughout the city was discussed by Assistant City
Manager/Personnel Director, Vivyon Bowman, who pointed out that the City must be in full
compliance by 7/26/95.
93-94 Workshop Mins. Page III
Councilmember Stahly had several questions, primarily to Department Directors, and was also
concerned because the increase in budgets was not matching an increase in performance
indicators. She recommended that the budget presentation include percentages of increase or
decrease, and landscape format on the pages.
In response to a question regarding the 30 % increase in hospitalization next year, Assistant City
Manager/Personnel Director, Vivyon Bowman, explained that it would be going out for bid.
Councilmember Mayo suggested that the City look at overall health benefits. Assistant City
Manager/Personnel Director, Vivyon Bowman, addressed the "competitiveness" of the benefits.
Discussion followed regarding the Maintenance line item of the budget.
Councilmember Stahly addressed the lack of increase in funding for parks and library.
The $10,000 line item for management retreat in City Manager's budget was questioned.
Interim City Manager, Frank Trando, identified the dollar amount as the funds to conduct a
Council/Staff retreat after the "new" City Manager comes on board, as well as staff retreats
during fiscal year 1994.
Councilmember Mayo suggested talking with the CISD about possible joint storage rental.
A questioned was raised on the $7,200 per year copier maintenance cost, and it was suggested
that rental of equipment be looked into. City Secretary, Dorothy Timmons, will look into this.
Councilman Weaver asked about line item for courier service.
* It was the consensus of the Council to approve 93-94 budget for general revenue and
expenditures with the understanding that the 5% increase in salaries be used as the
City Manager or Personnel Department deems necessary, with an additional increase
to be considered at mid-year to bring employees up to market level after an
exteusive outside audit of our personnel compensation package. The $146,000. It
was the consensus of the Council to approve.
Acting Finance Director, Alan Johnson, presented the supplements.
Discussion followed concerning building maintenance workers. This item was deferred to
Director of Public Works to bring back a proposal on this in six months. There was some
discussion of using fire and police personnel. Steve Goram asked to come back at mid-year with
his recommendation. Mayor Morton asked Frank to direct staff to bring a recommendation back
to the Council in November and leave the dollar amount in the budget - $25,000 will be left in
to budget for maintenance workers.
Mayor Pro Tern Robertson pointed out that items 4-30 were what Staff brought to the Finance
Committee.
ANNUAL BUDGET
TOTAL SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS
GENERAL FUND
FY 1994 BUDGET
ASSESSED VALUATION $1,133,906,263
PROPOSED TAX RATE 0.6895
REVENUE FROM TAXES 7,818,284
ESTIMATED COLLECTIONS 97.50%
TOTAL ESTIMATED FUNDS AVAILABLE $7,622,827
GENERAL FUND TAX RATE $0.43263
BONDED ENDEBTEDNESS TAX RATE 0.25687
PROPOSED TAX RATE $0.68950
GENERAL FUND TAX REVENUE $4,782,978
BONDED ENDEBTEDNESS TAX REVENUE 2,839,848
TOTAL ESTIMATED FUNDS AVAILABLE $7,622,827
$0.01 OF GENERAL FLrND TAX RATE $110,556
AMOUNT GENERAL FUND
PAGE (Net of Water/Sewer TOTAL FUND BALANCE
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION # Reimbursment) AMOUNT DECREASE
ESTIMATED FUNDS AVAILABLE $184.151
Police Dispatcher ( 1 ) 4-2 18.787 18,787
Police Patrol Officers (3) 4-3 79,653 98,440
Bld Maint Building Maintenance Workers (2) 44 25.826 124,266
Police Building Security 4-5 11.000 135,266
Court Panic Button Security 4-6 1,400 136 666
Streets Pickup - Mounted Striper 4-7 15,675 152 341
Parks Grapevine Springs Park Maintenance 4-8 25,000 177 341
City Sec New Postage Machine & Scale 4-9 8,000 185 341 1,190
Fire Annual Physicals 4-10 14,820 200 161 16,010
Streets 32' Arm Lil~ Attachment 4-11 11,400 211 561 27,410
Fire Washers/Extractors 4-12 2,660 214 221 30,070
Parks 50 HP Diesel Turf Tractor 4-13 41,800 256 ::)21 71,870
Engineering Copier w/Stand 4-14 5,600 261 521 77,470
Court Replacement Vehicle 4-15 15.500 277 121 92,970
Inspections Replacement Vehicles (2) 4-16 17.500 294 fi21 110,470
Fire Replacement Vehicle 4-17 16,150 310 771 126,620
Inspections Plat Files/Lateral Files 4-18 1,764 312 535 128,384
Inspections Uniform Code Books 4-19 655 313,190 129,039
Library Computer Workstation w/Printer 4-20 3,150 316,340 132,189
Fire Dress Uniforms 4-21 6,745 323,085 138,934
Finance Computer Presentation Packa8e 4-22 2,400 325,485 141,334
Police Refurbish Records Office 4-23 6,000 331,485 147,334
CITY OF COPPELL
6(;;;1 22
GENERAL RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
Statutory Adoption Deadline The governing body must adopt an ordinance granting the
homestead exemption no later than April 30th. (per Section
11.13 (n), Property Tax Code)
Percentage Authorized The governing body may grant a percentage homestead
exemption from 1% to 20%.
Minimum Exemption Amount If the percentage set produces an exemption of less than
$5,000 in appraised value, then the individual is entitled to a
$5,000 reduction in appraised value.
Repealable Once authorized, the homestead exemption may be repealed,
increased or decreased, however, may not be decreased less
than $5,000.
Estimated Value Lost in 1994 $30,593,000
Estimated Levy Lost in 1994 $214,000 ~-~
(Minimum 1% or $5,000)
Estimated Levy Lost @ 5% $250,000
Estimated Levy Lost @ 10% $500,000
Estimated Levy Lost @ 20% $1,000,000
Page 1
93-94 Workshop Mins. Page IV
* It was the consensus of the Council to adopt the Supplements to Budget, schedule
2, as shown on page 4.1 with one change, the word "works" on item 3 is being
stricken.
There was no discussion on the Debt Service Fund, it was accepted as is.
Water and Sewer budget was discussed and several questions were asked.
Councilmember Mayo mentioned the City Page idea.
Steve Goram, Director of Public Works, addressed the water system line item.
Discussion of Sandy Lake Road construction project followed. Councilmember Weaver raised
questions regaridng time line, construction and the additional tax rate, and offered the suggestion
that perhaps it needs to be spread out over 3 years. City Engineer, Ken Griffin, responded to
these questions.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Tom Morton, Mayor
ATTEST:
Dorothy Timmons,City Secretary