FY 2002-2003 Budget Document - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Capital Improvements Funds section includes a Description of Projects that would be of interest to the lay reader. The Debt Service Funds Section consists of the City's Long Range Service Plan for Debt Service and is designed to stand alone as a separate document. The Miscellaneous Section summarizes the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax and Economic Development Funds. Also included are the La Porte Development Corporation (Section 4B Sales Tax) Fund and the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone One (TIRZ) Fund. A schedule of Operating Capital Outlay is presented for your review. Especially helpful to the lay reader is the Chart of Revenue Accounts, Chart of Operating Expense Accounts and Glossary of Terms. The Statistical Section presents multi -year data far expenditures, revenues, property tax levies and collections, property tax rates and valuations for overlapping governments, ratios of bonded debt, legal debt margin, overlapping debt, ratio of debt service to general expenditures, revenue bond coverage, property value/construction, principal taxpayers and miscellaneous statistics. The Financial Management Policies reflect long-standing principles and practices that have enabled the City to maintain its financial stability. These policies provide a basic framework for the overall fiscal management of the City, and represent a foundation to address changing circumstances and conditions. The City Manager's Message, which immediately follows this guide, provides an in-depth overview of the proposed budget. For maximum benefit, you are encouraged to read this section and review the summary and statistical sections of the budget. Staff diligently strives to improve the Budget Document each year and participates in the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award Program. To be eligible for the award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, an operations guide, a financial plan and a communications device. This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting, and the City has received this award for eight consecutive years. Should you have any questions or comments regarding the information presented in this document, please feel free to contact the Director of Finance or the Assistant Director of Finance at 281-471-5020; or any of the Executive Staff Members listed on page iii. V1