City Council has adopted a $86.84 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2016-17 that will make significant investments in public safety, parks and recreation, library services, emergency management, infrastructure and other areas.
The fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Residents will realize a property tax rate decrease for the first time in five years. This means residents could see a lower tax bill, although properties with appraisal increases may not realize a tax bill reduction.
The adopted tax rate of 73.5 cents per $100 of valuation will produce $474,620 in additional revenue from the prior year. The effective tax rate would have been 73.0 cents per $100 of tax valuation. The prior year's tax rate was 74.0 cents per $100 of valuation.
Investment will be made in seven new firefighter positions, six of which will be grant-funded. This addition will be a significant act in bringing the fire department’s staffing levels to four-person apparatus crews per shift.
The budget allows for a storm camera to be placed on the water tower near SW Alsbury Boulevard and NW Summercrest Boulevard. It will assist emergency management in keeping residents safe during storm seasons.
Additionally, funding has been set aside for the anticipated approval of a dog park, Burleson's first facility devoted to four-legged residents. Other parks investments include Village Creek Trail segments from Chisenhall Sports Complex to FM 731, shade canopies at Chisenhall Fields and Bailey Lake Park improvements.
City Council's action should also have a noticeable effect in the area of quality of life. Funding includes the design and implementation of five railroad crossing quiet zones, along with pedestrian crossing improvements in the Old Town area.
Other investments include funding of upgrades to the city’s infrastructure, including the continued five-year neighborhood street rehabilitation program, the annual sidewalk program that provides the city’s youth safe routes to school and a detention pond at Mistletoe Park.
Library patrons will notice an investment in upgraded equipment for the Children’s Learning Center, electronic displays and mobile print services that will allow guests to print directly from their phone to a printer in the library.
The adopted tax rate is 12 cents lower per $100 of valuation than Fort Worth's. It calls for 74.2 percent of revenue to be used in maintenance and operations, with 25.8 percent designated for debt service.
For additional budget details visit www.burlesontx.com/Finance.