League City Council Adopts FY2023 Budget

​League City Council Adopts FY2023 Budget
Budget includes $170.38M in operations and $148.25M for capital investment.
At the September 13 City Council meeting, League City council members voted 6 to 2 to adopt the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Ordinance.
The Operating Budget includes $170.38M and the adopted Capital Budget is $148.25M, which funds 79 projects, including 63 tax supported and 16 utility projects.
“What I like about this budget is that it increases resources for public safety and continues to keep our CIP and bond projects moving forward while still reducing the tax rate,” said Mayor Pat Hallisey.
“It’s going to fund the services our residents need and want—including additional staff and programming at our new Community Center—and allow us to account for the growth League City continues to experience.”
The adopted budget provides funding for eleven new positions.
This includes two EMTs and two Paramedics to staff a new fifth ambulance during peak hours, and a Community Outreach Coordinator to support League City Animal Care.
Funding is also included for reclassifications of six existing positions.
“I’m happy to see this budget addressing public safety, with the inclusion of Flock cameras for Police, a fifth ambulance, and funding for an additional daytime stipend crew for the Fire Department. Resources that help reduce emergency response times are lifesaving,” said City Manager John Baumgartner.
“There is also funding for compensation increases, based on a compensation study done this year, which will help keep us competitive with other city governments.”
Other highlights of the Operating Budget include
(but are not limited to):
Additional daytime stipend crew for the Fire Department
· Funding for merit increases, cost-of-living increases, and implementation of a compensation study for employees
The following items will come out of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, which provide economic relief to state and local governments due to the COVID crisis
· New EMS equipment, including two Lifepak EKG monitors, multi-procedural airway torso mannequin, CPR devices, and Video Intubation systems
· New Fire Marshal equipment, including replacement soft and hard body armor, annual lease maintenance for body cameras, and Autovel EVO 2 Drone
· 42 Flock cameras with Vehicle Fingerprint™ technology to assist Police with evidence collection
· A 2023 Ford F750 with Truck Mounted Attenuator for Streets & Traffic
Staff provided the FY2023 Proposed Budget to City Council on July 12, 2022.
Council members then refined the budget during a series of workshops in July and August.
City Council held a first reading of the Budget Ordinance on August 23, 2022.
The now-adopted Ordinance estimates property tax revenue at the proposed tax rate of $0.415526 per $100 valuation, which is less than the no-new-revenue rate of $0.420887.
​The proposed rate is a full 5 cents lower than the current property tax rate of $0.465526.
The vote to adopt the tax rate will be held on September 27.