Proposed City Budget, part 2

Christina Rowland, Staff Writer

Editor’s Note: This is the second part in a two part series on the 2009 Fiscal Year budget for the city of Southlake. Part one in the series appeared last week.

The city council held a budget workshop at the Aug. 19 meeting concerning the proposed 2009 Fiscal Year budget for the city of Southlake.

All capital improvement projects that were under design and in construction in 2008 will continue in 2009 and, in addition, $31 million is proposed from the general fund for this year’s capital improvement projects. Topping the list of proposed priorities is the FM 1938 ride-of-way, followed by the White Chapel right-of-way acquisition, and then pavement management program funding. Sidewalk improvements were fifth on the list. The biggest part of the capital improvement projects budget is allocated for facilities. These projects are laid out through 2013.

The utility fund would replace three high pressure water pumps, according to the Transmittal Letter, put out by the city manager Shana Yelverton, the three that are currently in place were not designed to handle the water demands caused by growth in the service area. The motors on two of the low-pressure plane pumps will also be rebuilt this year to increase efficiency. The utility fund also included some new equipment, including a back hoe, wastewater sampler, vehicles, track excavator, lift station replacement and a haul trailer.

According to the Transmittal letter, the most significant increase for 2009 is the proposed wholesale water rate charge to Southlake by the city of Fort Worth. Those rates are expected to go up as much as 10 percent.

The Hilton Hotel in Town Square also will supply the city an estimated $661,313 from the hotel occupancy tax. This money comes from a tax levied on each room that is checked out from the hotel. A market/tourism coordinator position is proposed and would be funded from the hotel occupancy tax, along with an event stage (to be shared with Keller), community event partnership program, public arts programs, and wayfinding signage.

The city will also be holding special meetings and work sessions to discuss certain parts of the proposed budget. A tentative list of these meetings, work sessions and the topics to be discussed can be found on the city’s webpage. The city has to read and approve the budget twice at two different meetings before it is finalized. If the tentative schedule stays in place it will be approved on Sept. 16.

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