Summary
To: Town Commission
From: Ashley L. A. Bernal, Assistant to the Town Manager
Date: 4/5/2022
______________________________________________________________________
Subject:
Title
Discussion of Commission Budget Priorities
Summary:
In the past month, staff met with all five Commission members to discuss budgetary priorities. The responses varied, but specific topics became a clear priority for each individual, which are bolded in the list below.
Resiliency
• Review and update reserve policy
• Creative opportunities for financing
o Recreation coffee kiosk, town merchandise
o Donation opportunities and communication about these
o Grants and other alternative funding sources outside of the state legislature (societies, partnerships, etc.)
• Increase bondable funds
• Inspect potential redundancy in consultants and software
• Review fees and identify potential for regulated increases
Infrastructure and Capital Improvements
• Ten-year Capital Improvement Plan
o Include smaller projects
o Broaden scope of projects to specifically address east of IRR
• Pedestrian oriented improvements
o Crosswalks and lights
o Sidewalks
o Signage (street signs, stop signs, signage around blindspots)
• Faster improvement by including smaller projects
• Building hardening
o Hurricane or natural disaster events
o Internal security within Town Hall and Dimmitt Community Center
• Drainage solutions
• Implement chargers for electric vehicles at Town Hall, Dimmitt Community Center, and parks
General Fund
• Staff
o Workload assessment
o Removing liability
§ Equitable and transparent policies
§ Identifying projects (records management, safety programs)
o Employee retention
o Training and accreditation
• Administration
o Reinvigorate Strategic Plan
• Police
o Code Enforcement
• Public Works
o Improved park maintenance standards
o Improve amenities
o Cable and treeline management
• Recreation/Communication
o Increased communication about town events, meetings, budget, etc.
o Pickleball courts
o Reduction in deficit (prioritize budget neutral/positive events)
o Larger events
§ Welcome Newcomers/open house
§ Pickleball tournaments
Enterprise Funds (Water and Solid Waste)
• Solid Waste
o Recycling
• Water
o Identifying solution ASAP
Staff is still analyzing the current list of items to determine which priorities are feasible to complete within the current budget cycle, 2022-2023 budget year, or if it will be a multi-year project.
End
Body
Previous Commission Action: Discussion of budget calendar in prior meeting.
Expenditure Challenges: These will be determined as staff processes the budget.
Recommendation: No recommendation required, this item is only for discussion.
Proposed Motion: No motion required, this item is only for discussion.