Property and sales taxes are the largest source of revenue for the City of Bellaire (57%). The tax rate remains unchanged at $.3999 for the purpose of developing the FY2013 Proposed Budget. 

Total General Fund tax dollars are proposed to be $8.5 million and property tax dollars to the Debt Service Fund will be $4.8 million. For the purpose of developing the Budget, the City uses the prelimary values that were provided by the County in April of 2012. Based on the these values the total appraised value has increased approximately 4%: $3.21 Billion to $3.35 Billion. The City normally receives the final roles in late Fall.

General Fund - $14,991,504

• Reinstatement City Comp Plan (frozen for three years)

• Reinstate travel and training for employees
• Increased Parks Maintenance
• Increased Pool Maintenance
• All positions budgeted

• All employee benefits are proposed to remain at the same levels
• Workers Compensation constant
• Increase in calculation for retirement rate
• Full year of reduction in health insurance decrease effective Jan 1, 2012
• Portion of November Election is included
• City will be required to do a single audit this year
• Economic development 
• Included money to continue Comprehensive Plan efforts

• Increased City Wide Staff Technical Support
• Increased mowing & litter pickup on the IH610 loop
• City has gone to great efforts to ensure a lower rate for electricity and contracts with the State for its electricity through Dec 2013
• City has contract with State of Texas to obtain wholesale rates fuel rates as well

Enterprise Fund- $6,380,310 

• Reinstatement City Comp Plan (frozen for three years)

• Reinstate travel and training for employees
• Replacement of key assets programmed with the CIP and VET
• All positions budgeted

• All employee benefits are proposed to remain at the same levels
• Workers Compensation constant
• Increase in calculation for retirement rate
• Full year of reduction in health insurance decrease effective Jan 1, 2012
• All service levels in the Enterprise Fund are maintained
• Account for City of Houston increase of 3.5% for the purchase water
• Water rates remain the same
• Includes backup generator maintenance

Debt Service Fund- $5,752,028

The City's CIP is a funding mechanism for projects that add asset value to the life of an existing asset such as facilities, water plant, wastewater treatment plant, streets, sidewalks, parks, and pools. These projects are funded by many resources to include, the general and enterprise funds, grants, Parks Patrons, etc.

General Fund CIP - $ 860,000 (funded by the general fund and alternative funds made by donations) The FY2013 Proposed CIP continues to follow the Bellaire Town Square Master Plan projects with the Great Lawn and Pavilion project for $740,000. This project includes the construction of a new pavilion, paving, sidewalk, grading & drainage, lighting, trees, site furniture, and utilities. The City plans to move forward with entryway markers and wayfinding signage and has programmed $35,000. A streetscapes program has been programmed as well to survey the city for enhancements to the City's rights of ways for $35,000. The City has also included $50,000 for air conditioners and components as it relates to City facilities.

Enterprise Fund CIP- $1,204,000 (funded by user fees from water, wastewater and solid waste) The City plans to construct a fence to mitigate the drainage of water into the residential lots on Wilmington Drive for $75,000. The Central Elevated Storage Tank located on Jessamine will be completely rehabilitated for $784,000. Evergreen Water Plant has been decommissioned and will be demolished for $165,000 and the Electrical Engineering will begin on the Wastewater Treatment Plant to update current system for $180,000.

The VET Program -$1,467,082 (funded by general and enterprise fund) is a funding mechanism for current and future items with a useful life of more than two-years and/or a value of more than $2,500.  Items that fall within this program are all vehciles, computers and peripherals, public safety gear replacement, playground equipment and various other equipment.

The City proposes purchasing three patrol vehicles for $120,000. Providig for fire personal protective gear replacement program for $10,000, self contained breathing apparatus equipment for $69,532, new pool heater for Bellaire Family Aquatic Center for $25,000, storm sewer jet truck for $200,000, one garbage truck for $250,000 and technology replacement and upgrades city wide for $96,800. 

The City started a fall surface playground replacement program in 2011 to replace fall surface in the City's Playgrounds; for FY2013 $10,000 has been programmed. The City has a fitness center in its parks and recreation center that requires replacement of fitness equipment and $5,000 has been set aside for fitness equipment. 

In addition the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) began an initiative to require the radio spectrum available to all public safety users nationwide be changed to “Narrow Band”, and this process must be completed by January 1, 2013. In order for the City of Bellaire to meet this mandate it is necessary for the City to upgrade current radio equipment and systems. This will allow the City to continue to communicate with emergency services in the area such as Houston Police, Houston Fire/EMS and all other Harris County agencies during emergency situations.  The City started Phase I of this mandate in FY2012 for $295,000 and is budgeting for Phase II of this mandate for $315,000. Phase III which is planned for programming in the FY2014 budget to be completed in the early Fall of 2013 is planned for $50,000.

To comply with H.B. 3195 we are providing the following information: The FY2013 Proposed Budget is based on information available to the City at the time the FY2013 Proposed Budget was filed with the Bellaire City Clerk on July 12^th, 2012. The City of Bellaire estimates that it will raise more tax revenue than the previous year. The FY2012 Budget was projected to raise $12,736,770 and the FY2013 Budget is estimated to raise $13,272,268. The amount of this increase is estimated at $535,498, and the percentage of this increase is 4.2%. The City of Bellaire will not receive final tax information until the fall of 2012. The amount of the increase that will be raised from new property added to the tax roll is not available at this time.