DEPARTMENT: Office of Management and Budget
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Justina Tate
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Budget Policy Issues Discussion FY 2020 Budget
SUMMARY:
On June 12 and June 13, 2019, City Council was briefed on budget policy topics to include Financial Policies, Property Tax Relief, Street, Sidewalks, & Infrastructure, Public Safety, Affordable Housing, and Strong Children & Families.
These sessions were added opportunity for City Council to be briefed on upcoming budget policy issues in advance of the Budget Goal Setting Session. This provided time between these sessions and June 21, to provide any additional information requested by City Council. By adding these sessions to the budget calendar, the City Council will have time to deliberate and to provide direction to the City Manager regarding service delivery priorities and financial policies that will guide the preparation of a balanced Fiscal Year 2020 Proposed Budget.
On June 20, 2019, the City Council will be briefed on Civilian Employee Compensation and an update on budget community priorities (SASpeakUP) in preparation for the June 21, 2019 City Council Budget Goal Setting Session.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio’s fiscal year begins on October 1, and ends September 30. Each year the City Manager transmits a budget development calendar to the City Council in February with key dates for each phase of the budget process. The phases include (1) Five-Year Financial Forecast and public input before the budget is prepared, (2) City Council Budget Goal Setting Session, (3) Proposed Budget for the upcoming fiscal year, (4) City Council budget worksessions, and public input meetings/public hearings on the proposed budget, and (5) adoption of the Budget for the next fiscal year. The Annual Operating and Capital Budget must be approved by the City Council not later than September 27 of every year in accordance with the City Charter.
Five Year Financial Forecast: On May 8, 2019, City Council was provided a briefing on the FY 2019 Six Plus Six Budget and Financial Status Report as well as the City's Five Year Financial Forecast covering Fiscal Year 2020 through Fiscal Year 2024. During this presentation, several policy issues were presented to City Council as discussion topics in preparation for the FY 2020 Budget Development.
City Council Budget Goal Setting Session: On June 21, 2019, the City Council FY 2020 Budget Goal Setting Session will be held at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center, Cantilever Room from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The purpose of the Budget Goal Setting Session is to obtain City Council policy direction that will guide the City Manager and staff in developing the FY 2020 Proposed Budget and the FY 2021 Budget-Plan. The anticipated outcome of this session is to establish City Council service delivery priorities and direction on potential general fund revenue increases and/or expenditure reductions that will be utilized by staff to prepare a balanced Fiscal Year 2020 Proposed Annual Operating and Capital Budget.
Proposed Budget: On August 8, 2019 the City Manager will present the FY 2020 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget to City Council. This budget will be prepared from June to July and will incorporate the policy direction provided by the City Council on June 21 and the community input provided through the SASpeakUp Campaign.
Budget Adoption: After the Budget is proposed on August 8, 2019, the City Council will have an opportunity to review the budget in detail at several worksessions between August 12 to September 11, 2019. Community Input Sessions for the public to comment on the budget will be held during the same period. The Budget is scheduled to be approved on September 12, 2019.
ISSUE:
On June 12 and June 13, 2019, City Council was briefed on budget policy topics to include Financial Policies, Property Tax Relief, Street, Sidewalks, & Infrastructure, Public Safety, Affordable Housing, and Strong Children & Families.
The purpose of June 20, 2019 session is to brief the City Council with information on Civilian Employee Compensation and an update on budget community priorities (SASpeakUp), in preparation for the June 21, 2019 City Council Budget Goal Setting Session.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.