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BUDGET MESSAGE

May 7, 2019

Mayor Cawley and Members of Town Council:

The proposed Town of Morrisville annual operating budget and associated general, enterprise, special

revenue, and capital project funds for Fiscal Year 2020 are submitted for your review and discussion. The

proposed budget has been prepared in accordance with the North Carolina Local Government Budget and

Fiscal Control Act. The

Budget Message

outlines the key focus areas and provides important information

that frames the budget requests.

The budget document consists of the following components:

✓

Basic information about the budget process, financial policies, and how the Town operates, including the organizational

chart and other personnel and pay plan details;

✓

A Budget Snapshot that will also serve as the framework for our public engagement strategy;

✓

Proposed user fee adjustments. Moderate, routine adjustments in Planning and Parks & Recreation user fees are

recommended. There are no other significant proposed changes to our revenue rates. Additional discussion of this

rationale is included in the General Fund Overview section of this message;

✓

Draft Budget Ordinances, Capital Projects Ordinances, and Resolutions for the formal adoption process of the various

funds.

✓

Details of budget requests and priorities are illustrated in summary form and through expanded departmental detail.

Each of these requests is supported by an identified link to our

Connect Morrisville

Strategic Plan. A long-

range forecast is also provided to demonstrate the impact of new recurring costs and known future commitments that

lead to fiscally responsible decision-making; and

The proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget document continues to clearly illustrate the impact of proposed

recurring and routine expenses in and on the base budget that influences future year decisions about

capacity and uses of available revenue. Non-recurring or one-time requests demonstrate the use of

remaining available capacity to advance key projects and initiatives in a transparent and fiscally responsible

manner. This approach allows Town Council, citizens, and community stakeholders to understand how its

tax dollars support core services; the impact of expanded programs, activities, and projects; and how

current decisions affect future forecasting of and planning for Town needs.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget is balanced with no recommended tax rate increase. An

appropriation of capacity available in the Town’s fund balance is proposed to support important one-time

Imprved Transportion

Mobility

Thriving, Livable

Neighborhoods

Engaged,

Inclusive

Community

Public Safety

Readiness

Operational

Excellence

Economic

Prosperity