The Flower Mound Town Council unanimously passed the proposed 2018-19 budget at its Monday night meeting, without any surprises, changes or drama; just lots of numbers read aloud from projected slides.
Of course, this is the third public meeting where the same financial and statistical numbers have been presented by the town staff.
As it has the last four years, the council followed the town staff recommendation to keep the tax rate at $0.439 per $100 of assessed valuation, rather than the effective tax rate– $0.4271 per $100 valuation– which would provide $1.3 million less in revenue.
The adoption of the $0.439 tax rate equates to a 2.79-percent increase in projected revenues based on higher assessed property valuation. The Denton Central Appraisal District and the Tarrant Appraisal District provide the final appraisal rolls during the budget process that are utilized by the Town in the calculation of the Town’s property tax revenues.
The Chief Appraisers certify the appraisal rolls that allow the Town to calculate and submit the effective and rollback tax rates and estimate revenues. On Aug. 6, 2018, the Town Council approved the certified appraisal roll.
The budget for the General Fund includes $66,103,479 in revenues and $68,250,344 in expenditures, which includes the baseline budget, non-discretionary requests and proposed decision packages.
The first year of the five-year General Government Capital Improvement Program (CIP) addresses needs pertaining to streets, signals, facilities and parks and totals $24,292,000.
The largest portion of the CIP for FY 2018-2019 is dedicated to street and signal projects for $15,810,000. The largest street reconstruction project is the Morriss Road panel replacement from FM 3040 to Firewheel Drive at $4 million.
In addition, is extending Windsor Drive approximately 200-feet north to the West Windsor Drive roundabout. Currently, the two roads run parallel, west of FM 2499, until Windsor curves north and dead ends before reaching West Windsor. The project is expected to cost $200,000.
The construction of the Denton Creek bridge connecting Denton Creek Boulevard to I-35W in west Flower Mound is another road project set for the 2019 fiscal year. It’s expected to cost approximately $6.2 million.
There will be several parks projects in the 2018-19 budget of $2,275,000, including playground replacements at Gerault, Lakewood, Stone Creek and Thrush West parks.
Under facilities, the $6,207,000 budget covers apparatus and Fire Station No. 7, which will be located near the intersection of Wichita Trail and Skillern Boulevard.
These CIP projects will be supported by $13,057,000 in additional debt.
Unlike the drama during the past two years’ budget discussions, the 2018-19 budget includes $251,845 for community support funding.
Agencies that provide community support for the Town of Flower Mound– and meet specific criteria– were eligible to request community support funding.
Seven organizations that provide a quantifiable benefit to the Town were incorporated into Town department budgets for $148,845. Cultural Arts organizations are funded at $41,000 and $62,000 of community-support funding is for Social Services/Volunteerism organizations.
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