City of Schertz Popular Annual Financial Report

FY 2022-23

The financial data compiled in this report is designed to provide a summary of the city’s financial activities for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year. All numbers and figures provided are based on information compiled for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). You can find the ACFR and other information related to city budgets by going online to Schertz.com/budget.

A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

We are delighted to introduce our inaugural Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). Reflecting on the previous fiscal year, I’d like to provide you with an update on our city’s budget priorities and our collective vision for the future of the remarkable community of Schertz.

Our top priority has always been to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life for every Schertz resident. With proper planning and budgeting, we continue to reaffirm our commitment to this and allocate appropriate resources to ensure that our community continues to thrive and grow in a well-organized fashion.

As we navigate the budgetary decisions ahead, know that the City Council and I are dedicated to transparency and fiscal responsibility. We understand how important our role is in being good stewards of your tax dollars, and we are committed to using them to build a community we can all be proud of.

I encourage each of you to stay engaged in the process by attending city council meetings and sharing your thoughts and ideas. Let’s work together and continue to make Schertz an even better place to live, work, and play.

Whether you’ve lived here for two months or 20 years, we are glad you’re here and hope that you continue to enjoy all that our great city has to offer.

Mayor

Ralph

Gutierrez

SCHERTZ GOVERNANCE

Schertz is governed by a council-manager form of government where the City Council sets city policy, and the City Manager is responsible for city operations. The Schertz City Council consists of a mayor and seven councilmembers who are elected for three-year terms.

Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays

MEET YOUR CITY

COUNCIL

Ralph Gutierrez Mayor

Mark Davis Councilmember

Michelle Watson Councilmember

Paul Macaluso Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember

Tiffany Gibson Councilmember

Robert Westbrook Councilmember

Allyson Heyward Councilmember

Tim Brown Councilmember

of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz TX 78154. Council meetings are live streamed and published on the City of Schertz YouTube Channel. For information about upcoming meetings, dates, or agendas go to Schertz.com.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER

It is with great enthusiasm that I present to you the first annual Schertz Popular Annual Financial Report aimed at showcasing our city’s financial stability as well as key achievements from the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year.

In the following pages, you will find that through strong fiscal management and strategic planning, Schertz is well positioned to address the challenges and demands of a growing city. Additionally, you will find a review of department accomplishments, including highlights on the successful reconstruction of Tri-County Parkway, the inauguration of the Wendy Swan Splashpad, and the city’s receipt of the Texas Municipal League Excellence Award in the Public Safety Category for our Yellow Dot Program.

In the coming year, the city will continue to prioritize investments in the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the development of our city. We will also focus on expanding and enhancing the recreational offerings that play a role in fostering a sense of community, promoting well-being, and creating lasting memories for our residents. Finally, we will continue to fund the latest technology, training, and resources for our public safety departments to ensure they are ready to provide you with the security and peace of mind you deserve.

I’d like to thank each of you for taking the time to read this important publication. It is our hope that you will find valuable insights into the positive impact we’ve made together.

Steve Williams

MISSION, VISION & VALUES

The City of Schertz is a premier community located along the I-35 and I-10 corridors. Nestled between two of the fastestgrowing metros in the country, Schertz has been nationally recognized for its family atmosphere, foresight and innovation, and commitment to economic prosperity and workforce opportunities.

A welcoming community for all, Schertz is also known for its high quality of life, safe neighborhoods, and prosperous business industries. Founded in 1958, Schertz is home to over 43,000 residents and hundreds of thriving businesses.

Leading, improving, and serving a livable, sustainable, and financially sound community. VISION Community. Service. Opportunity.

CORE VALUES

Treat others the way you would want to be treated Do the right thing Do the best you can

Thanks to the visionary foresight of the founding forefathers, Schertz has blossomed into the vibrant city it is today.

Established as a city in 1958, Schertz has experienced remarkable growth from its humble origins. Amidst this growth, Schertz continues to honor its heritage through the blending of tradition with innovation, ensuring that the city’s legacy continues to flourish alongside its promising future.

32.27 SQ. MILES CITY AREA

FOUNDED IN 1958 SCHERTZ, TEXAS

44,360 RESIDENTS MEDIAN AGE:

NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS: 37 14,884

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $100,849

MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $271,056

39%

BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER:

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The data that follows regarding the city’s financials serves as a valuable tool for taxpayers, improving their understanding of public services and the decision-making process related to fiscal matters. This information effectively conveys the city’s financial well-being through easy-to-understand summaries and charts pertaining to tax rates, taxable values, city revenues and expenditures, as well as city reserves and debt.

HISTORICAL

TAXABLE VALUES

THE TOTAL ESTIMATED TAXABLE VALUE OF ALL PROPERTY IN SCHERTZ FOR THE FY 2022-23 TAX YEAR WAS: $4,802,195,802

AN INCREASE OF $734,186,064 FROM FY 2021-22.

The FY 2022-23 Budget raised more total property taxes than the FY 2021-22 budget by $2,541,687 or 12% increase, and of that amount, $576,517 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

FY

The Average Taxable Home Value in 2022 was $294,800 and the average city tax bill was $1,460.

More detailed information can be found on Pg. 100 of the ACFR.

SCHERTZ CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A BALANCED

FY 2022-23 ALL FUNDS REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES

BUDGETED:

Professional

Operation

FY 2022-23 GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES

Revenues for FY 2022-23 Budget increased 7.8% from the FY 2021-22 year- end estimate. The largest contributor to this increase was from property and sales taxes. The property taxes for FY 2022-23 increased 15.9% and sales taxes were estimated to increase 5.63%. These increases are offset by a projected decrease in commercial building permits and large deployment reimbursements received in 2021-22 that are not expected in 2022-23.

Permits/

Miscellaneous Income

Public Safety

General Government

Parks & Culture

Public Environment Administration

The overall FY 2022-23 Budget increased 3.3% from the FY 2021-22 year-end estimates. This includes annual wage increases, 24 new personnel and a 3% ECI increase.

BUDGETED: $41,488,769

ACTUAL: $38,754,179

FY 2022-23 GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES

CITY RESERVES RESERVE REQUIREMENTS

The city maintains a Fund Balance Policy designed to achieve a minimum General Fund balance equal to 26% of annual revenues for operational needs. This financial strategy guarantees a sufficient fund balance in operating funds, ensuring liquidity and furnishing the city with capital in the face of unforeseen financial challenges, including economic downturns and natural disasters. As of September 30, 2023, the city’s general fund reserve rate stands at 31%.

THE CITY’S

BALANCE WAS $1,113,858 IN FY 202223

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

• GENERAL FUND: The main operating fund for the city.

• NET POSITION: The net position of the city is equal to city assets and deferred outflows reduced by liabilities and deferred inflows.

• RESERVES: Amounts of fund balance that are not available for appropriation or are setaside for a specific future use.

• FRANCHISES: Charges to utility companies for the use of public rights-of-way.

• DEBT SERVICE: The amount set aside annually in a fund to pay the interest and the part of the principal due on a debt.

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

In the following pages, you will find a brief snapshot of key data points for each of the city departments. These insights provide a look at the city’s performance during FY 2022-23. From public safety to quality of life, we hope that residents feel the positive impact our city services have had on the lives of those we serve. The city encourages engagement and input from residents and welcomes any feedback on our efforts.

*Data below is based on estimates from FY 2022-23.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

• Estimated 4,848 calls for service

• 350 fire inspections

• 340 plan reviews

• 5,320 Hours of training

POLICE DEPARTMENT

• Estimated 31,929 dispatch 911 calls

• 11,845 citations/warnings issued

• 170 total cases cleared

EMS DEPARTMENT

• Estimated 14,495 calls for service

• 9,154 hospital transports

• 140 enrolled in the EMT certification class

ENGINEERING

• $30 million in construction of public improvements

• 50 non-construction plan reviews

• 9 residential subdivision constructions

• $31 million in residential construction public improvements

ANIMAL SERVICES

• 325 animals taken in by Animal Services

• 300 Adoptions

PUBLIC WORKS STREETS

• 1,100 signs produced

• 2,400 hours spent on roadway maintenance

• 187.5 miles maintained

DRAINAGE

• 5.15 acres of alleyways maintained

• 66.46 acres of rights-of-way maintained

• 220 acres of drainage ditches maintained

WATER/WASTEWATER

• 16,265 water connections

• 246 miles of water main maintained

• 133 miles of sewer main maintained

• 1,858 water service calls

• 1,506 water main breaks/service repair calls

• 756 sewer backup and repair calls

INTERNAL SERVICES

FLEET

• 1,120 Public Safety vehicle/ equipment work orders

• 2,500 hours worked on Public Safety vehicles/equipment

• 2,132 completed work orders

FACILITIES SERVICES

• 301,656 sq ft of space maintained

• 27 city buildings maintained

• 1,800 completed work orders

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/GIS

• 3,200 completed work orders

• 67 projects

• 1,239,530 emails received

PARKS & RECREATION

• 438.97 acres of park land managed

• 25 miles of trails managed

• 36 playscape units managed

• 84 special events/programs

• 26,776 special event attendance (total)

• 1,238 program participants

• 20,330 Aquatics-Pickrell Park pool visits

• 1,020 booked events at the Schertz Civic Center/Community Centers

LIBRARY

• 194,260 library visits

• 537 total programs

COURT

• 2056 traffic citations filed

• 640 state law citations filed

• 325 municipal ordinances filed

PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING/INSPECTIONS

• 132 Plat reviews

• 18 site plans and master plans

• 150 new residential construction

• 5,305 total permits issued

• 13,302 standard inspections and re-inspections

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES

• 3,400 code enforcement cases

• 215 other permits (food, foster, pool)

• 280 health inspections

HUMAN RESOURCES/PURCHASING

• 110 job announcements posted

• 5,000 job applications received

• 10 retirements

• 20 tuition reimbursements

• 20 bids and proposals drafted

• 75 contracts reviewed

• 65 Gov deal items processed

• 14,700 program attendance

• 160,000 total materials collection

• 397,156 total circulation

CITY SECRETARY

• 41 ordinances passed

• 140 resolutions passed

• 750 open records

AWARDS

AWARDS

TML AWARD

In 2023 the City of Schertz was awarded the Texas Municipal League Municipal (TML) Excellence Award for the Schertz EMS Yellow Dot Program in the Public Safety category for cities over 25,000.

SCENIC CITY DESIGNATION

In 2023 the City of Schertz was awarded the “Platinum Level” Scenic City certification by the Scenic City Certification Program (SCCP) of Scenic Texas – the highest-level of certification offered. The SCCP supports and recognizes cities for their commitment to high-quality scenic standards.

SSLGC 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Twenty-five years ago, the citizens of Schertz and Seguin, Texas joined together to create an organization that would be able to provide a stable water supply for two of the major cities in Guadalupe County. After 25 years, all the work, money, and long hours put in by the city staff, consultants and board volunteers gave the two cities and Guadalupe County a stable, long-lasting supply of clean water that the growing communities could rely on and interested businesses and industries could know would enable growth and certainty for the joint benefit of our region.

DEPARTMENT AWARDS

PARKS & RECREATION AWARDS

In 2023, the Schertz Parks and Recreation Department was recognized by the Texas Recreation and Parks Society for its hard work and commitment to the Wendy Swan Memorial Park project. Their outstanding work earned them the Maintenance Achievement Award. Additionally, the department earned a photography award for capturing moments of FUN during events and programs.

SCHERTZ PUBLIC LIBRARY AWARDS

Schertz Public Library Receives Achievement of Library Excellence Award - The Schertz Public Library has received the 2022 Achievement of Library Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association (TMLDA), an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League. Of the 552 public libraries in Texas, only 73 received this award in 2022. With this honor, the Schertz Public Library is now in the top 15% of all public libraries in the state.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS

In 2023, the Schertz Public Affairs Department was recognized for its creativity and hard work on some key communication projects. Staff earned the Award of Honor for their work on Schertz Magazine and the TAMI Award for a well-designed recruitment flyer from the Texas Association of Information Officers (TAMIO). In 2023 there were over 500 submissions for the TAMI Awards.

FINANCE DEPARTMENT AWARDS

Finance earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report FY 2021-22 from the Government Finance Officers Association.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

TRI-COUNTY PKWY RECONSTRUCTION

This project focused on the reconstruction of TriCounty Parkway from Corridor Parkway to FM 3009 and Lookout Road from Tri-County Parkway to Doerr Lane. The project also included intersection improvements and signalization of the FM 3009/ Tri-County Parkway intersection, and upsizing and replacing existing sewer lines with 18-inch sewer lines. This $4.9 million project was a joint effort between the City of Schertz and the Schertz Economic Development Corporation with Consulting Engineer Halff Associates and Contractor Sterling.

SPLASH PAD

The completion of this highly anticipated project made a big SPLASH in the community! Thoughtfully designed to be accessible for individuals of all abilities, the NEW splash pad ensures that every member of our community can participate in the FUN! Adjacent to the splash pad, residents will notice additional park upgrades were made at Wendy Swan Memorial Park, including new sod and the replacement of all irrigation systems, the planting of 30 new trees, new fencing and basketball goals, and the addition of a swing set with integrated shade. Park improvements also included a fresh coat of paint for the basketball court, pavilion, and building structure, which will complement the artistic touches soon to be added to the sidewalks around the park. Pickleball players will also notice that pickleball court lines were added to allow for multiple uses.

2020 SPAM PROJECTS

The 2020 Street Preservation and Maintenance (SPAM) Program focused on the “Preservation” of a few residential area street surfaces. The $2.2 million project included the resurfacing of street sections in the following subdivisions: Aviation Heights, Dove Meadows, Fairways at Scenic Hills, Ashley Place, Savannah Square, and Oak Trail Estates. These streets were selected based on evaluation of the 2016 Pavement Condition Index (PCI). The project entailed performing the necessary prep work to various city streets, and then applying a slurry seal on top of the road. Slurry seal consists of a dense blend of sand and oil. This method effectively seals the street’s surface, revitalized the existing pavement, and providing a fresh surface for vehicle traffic. Prep work began in Spring 2022 and was completed in Fall 2022.

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ACCESS

• INTERSTATES IMMEDIATE ACCESS is available to the I-35 and I-10 transportation corridors. I-35 runs north to south and nearly border to border, while I-10 spans the country from east to west.

• PORTS SCHERTZ is located 190 miles from the Port of Houston and 150 miles from Port Corpus Christi, which provide access to a variety of international markets and supply chains.

• AIRPORT SCHERTZ is conveniently located 15 miles from the San Antonio International Airport (airport code SAT), which provides both air cargo and passenger services.

• RAIL: There are five transload facilities located with 40 miles of Schertz. Additionally, active Union Pacific rail lines run along the north side of the city. #

• 3009 Distribution Center Construction

• Caterpillar Interior Line Expansion

• Core 5 Construction

• Health Texas Construction

• Hollingsworth Logistics Expansion

• Kellum Medical Construction

• Major Wire Expansion

• Quality Custom Distribution (QCD) Expansion

• Schertz Medical Office Goundbreaking and Construction

• Sysco Expansion

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STAY INFORMED

Through various forms of communication, the Schertz Public Affairs Office aims to be the primary source of City information for all current and potential residents and businesses, to disseminate accurate and timely information to residents and the media during an emergency and non-emergency situation, and to provide excellent customer service to all inquirers of City information. The city manages numerous communication outlets including Schertz Magazine, Schertz.com, City Headlines and several social media channels.

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Schertz Magazine is an award-winning monthly community publication wholly owned and operated by the City of Schertz and produced internally by the Schertz Public Affairs Department.

• Mailed to over 15,000 households in Schertz and 700+ businesses.

• Rated the #1 communication tool for the past 7 years (2016, 2019, 2021, and 2023 Resident Satisfaction Surveys)