57 / 373
2q
The Debt Service Fund has a fund balance of $10.9 million, $3 million higher than last year, with a
target level of $10 million. The fund covered debt service expenditures of approximately $16.6
million, amounting to approximately 6.5 cents of the general property tax rate. The total fund balance
at June 30, 2016 is assigned for debt service in next year’s budget with the balance to be used to
stabilize property tax rates from year to year, despite future increases in debt service amounts due to
new voter-approved bonds, as well as to support the City’s fund balance goals.
Revenues for general governmental functions (General, Special Revenue, Capital Project and Debt
Service Funds) amounted to $293,635,090 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and are comprised
of various sources as shown in the following graph:
Revenues by Sources – Governmental Activities
18.9%
0.6%
6.8%
1.5%
0.6%
1.3%
70.3%
Taxes
Intergovernmental
Licenses and Permits
Fines and Forfeitures
Charges for Current Services
Investment Income
Miscellaneous
Property tax
collections, for the current City levy, including $8,497,760 for GTA, amounted to
$162,676,466. The rate of collection as of the end of the fiscal year was 99.28% for the current year
levy, with collections for levies in previous years approximating close to 100%. We expect the
collection rate to remain at high levels due to the new statewide motor vehicle “Tax and Tag
Together” system, implemented by North Carolina effective July 1, 2013. The State of North
Carolina now collects property taxes on motor vehicles and remits to the City rather than collected by
Guilford County under the old system.
The overall property tax rate remained the same in FY 2016 and reflected the same allocations among
purposes. The FY 2016 budget was adopted with $0.0069 directly recorded in the Housing
Partnership Fund. This amount replaces the General Fund transfer to the housing fund that was
budgeted in previous years and allows the Housing Partnership Fund to remain a Special Revenue
Fund in accordance with GASB Statement No. 54. The FY 2016 budget also provides for $0.0050
for economic development purposes and $.0334 for public transit support. The resulting General
Fund tax rate was 58.72 cents per $100 valuation in FY 2016.