City Manager Bryan Bradford presented the proposed 2021-2022 budget to Mayor Scott LeMay and the City Council at the Aug. 3 regular council meeting.
According to Bradford, the certified tax base has continued to increase and property taxes are expected to increase by $3.5 million. In addition, sales tax is projected to increase by $4.8 million. The general fund resources from all sources are projected to increase by $14 million in the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The city manager listed the following budget priorities:
- address deferred staffing
- restore compensation increases
- enhance programs to capitalize on improvements of the bond program
The budget includes the addition of:
- Three firefighters
- one police mental health clinician
- one pet adoption specialist
- three full-time deputy marshals for parking enforcement
- one security person at the Main Street Municipal Building
- one health inspector
- one landfill equipment operator
- one traffic signal technician
- one parks and recreation person
- four employees in trash/recycling
- three employees in the Water Department
- one employee in the Wastewater Department
- there is also a grant for public health funds for COVID response efforts
- enhancements to parks and restoration of previous years’ cuts
- restoration of annual merit increases to help retain employees and hire new ones.
A $1 increase in the sewer service rate is projected. Additionally, a $1 rate increase in trash collection is included.
No changes are proposed in electric, water or stormwater utility rates.
The combined budget includes general fund, general obligation debt service fund, utility funds and other enterprises and grant funds. It totals $816 million. This is an increase of $42 million over last year.
The proposed general fund budget totals $190 million, an increase of $14 million.
“I believe the proposed budget is a financially sound plan that provides for a high level of value in services to the Garland community,” Bradford said.
The proposed budget will be on upcoming council agendas and special sessions that include department reviews are scheduled. The first public hearing is held Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 200 North Fifth Street in Garland.