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Waco city leaders have unveiled their proposed budget for the next fiscal year. City Manager Bradley Ford says this budget season has been difficult.
“This is not a one-year dilemma. It’s probably got a couple more years to it," Ford said.
City departments found more than $30 million in savings. Most of that is recurring, which should help in future years.
The proposed budget totals just under $650 million, nearly flat from last year. The general fund is balanced at $210 million.
The tax rate would stay at 75.5 cents per $100 of value. That’s the same as the past two years. But, CFO Blu Kostelich explained, higher appraisals and fees mean the average Waco homeowner will still pay about $134 more.
“Even at the no new revenue rate… the average taxpayer out there would still see a $105 increase in their annual payments," Kostelich said.
41 percent of every property tax dollar goes to police and fire. Another 23 percent pays down debt. The rest of the tax revenue pays for culture and recreation, street work, and other miscellaneous costs.
As part of the $32 million in savings, departments were asked to find cost-saving opportunities. For some, that meant almost 70 already vacant positions would be elliminated.
Parks will reduce community center hours and libraries will shorten hours across branches.
“They took a very data-driven approach… instead of staying open until 9 p.m., there is nobody checking in at 9 p.m., so we’re going to back off an hour," Kostelich explained.
The city is also changing how it funds outside agencies.
“Waco on a per capita basis is benevolent to these agencies — about two times what our peer cities are. We need to pivot from operational support to project support," said City Manager Ford.
That includes a new $1 million project reserve fund for nonprofits to apply for time-limited initiatives.
Public hearings on the budget and tax rate are set for September 2.
Final adoption is expected a week later.
Got a tip? Email Molly-Jo Tilton at Molly-jo_tilton@baylor.edu.
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