The total FY 2015-16 budget for all operating and capital funds is $603.1 million.
The property tax rate of $0.5941 was maintained and is the second-lowest rate among the 10 largest cities in North Texas.
Residential water rates are among the lowest for cities served by Dallas Water Utilities.
The budget maintains competitive employee salary and benefits.
The budget provides funding for several requested service enhancements.
o Full funding for Medic No. 1, serving southeast Irving.
o Half-year funding for personnel for Fire Station No. 12, allowing for full staffi ng of the new station when construction is complete in Fall 2016.
o Improvements to Twin Wells Golf Course.
o Phase 1 of the new Public Safety Training Facility, which will include construction of a burn tower and classrooms.
o Body cameras for all police patrol personnel.
o A Police Fusion Unit to increase crime data analysis to provide real-time support to officers in the field as they respond to calls for service.
o A second senior veterinary technician to increase the capacity for delivering veterinary care to animals in the shelter.
a 9.76 percent increase over the previous year.
$349.1 million in new construction was added to the tax roll.
Residential properties make up only 27 percent of the total tax base and are valued at $5.7 billion.
The average value of
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
component of General Fund expenditures is public safety. Forty-eight percent of the total budget is allocated to police, fire, code enforcement and animal services. The annual budget funds various services offered by the city, including:
Police, fire and emergency medical services to keep residents safe and secure.
Code enforcement, municipal court and animal services to maintain the health and safety of the community.
Road, sidewalk, alleyway and signal maintenance to enhance municipal infrastructure.
Innovative cultural, educational and recreational programs and facilities.
Economic development incentives and programs to attract and retain companies to provide employment, goods and services for residents.
Water, sewer, sanitation and stormwater drainage programs are funded by user fees and are separate from the General Fund operations, which are supported primarily through property and sales taxes.
All water and sewer operations, maintenance, capital improvements and debt payments are funded by user fees; here are some quick water and sewer facts:
Lake Chapman, completed in 2003, provides 85 percent of Irving’s water supply, reducing the cost of water service.
Dallas Water Utilities provides water treatment services for Irving.
Trinity River Authority (TRA) provides sewer treatment services for Irving.
o TRA is in the middle of a multiyear capital improvement program to upgrade its facilities, which are more than 50 years old. The pass-through costs of this program to Irving have been the largest budget driver over the past three years. TRA rates are projected to continue increasing for the next five years.
Water and sewer rates increased by 8 percent.
Water usage rates are tiered to encourage conservation.
Flooding in the spring of 2015 resulted in more than $1 million in unanticipated capital costs for repairs and remediation.
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o U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased operating costs at Lake Chapman.
The water and sewer system capital budget for FY 2015-16 focuses on the following key areas:
o Replacement of aging water and sewer infrastructure.
o Replacement of water and sewer lines for TxDOT highway construction at Loop 12 and State Highways 114 and 183.
o Increased pressure and capacity for new residential development in northwest Irving.
o Replacement of water and sewer lines in conjunction with major street replacement projects.