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Coppell highlights fund‑balance strategy, sets budget calendar and public hearings
Summary
Finance staff reviewed Coppell’s fund‑balance policy, explained transfers and capital replacement funds, and published the FY2027 budget calendar (town hall April 7; July workshops; August tax‑rate public hearings). The city also announced a GFOA distinguished budget award.
Coppell — City finance staff on Feb. 6 walked the council through the city’s fund‑balance policies, recent transfers and the FY2027 budget calendar, and announced a national budget award.
Kim (finance staff) defined fund balance as "the net result of city revenues and expenditures accumulated over many years" and reviewed Coppell’s adopted policy framework. She told the council the city’s charter requires a minimum fund balance (10%) and council has set an additional 15% plus a strategic 50% guideline tied to budgeted expenditures to preserve one‑time capacity.
Kim said the city builds its budget conservatively and intentionally budgets sales tax and interest more conservatively than possible so excess flows into fund balance for one‑time projects rather than ongoing operations. She listed recent uses and transfers: a prior $31,000,000 transfer into an IMF set‑aside for identified capital projects (three of which relate to the fire stations) and a $5,500,000 transfer budgeted to the drainage utility district to cover projects while it completes a rate study.
Staff emphasized what a transfer is and is not. "A transfer is not new revenue," Kim said; it reallocates resources between internal funds and is not an expenditure until the council authorizes a budget amendment that budgets the transfer for a specific project.
Budget calendar: Kim provided a schedule for FY2027 budgeting. Key dates include: - April 7: Town hall for budget outreach. - May: Assistant directors present the five‑year forecast and service organizations; May 26 specifically for service organization presentations. - July 13: First budget workshop (service organizations, special revenue funds, water & sewer); July 20 and July 27: subsequent workshops to review general fund and debt service and to finalize adjustments. - Aug. 11: Vote on maximum proposed tax rate and public hearing for the Crime Control and Prevention District budget. - Aug. 25: Public hearing and adoption of the budget and tax rate (scheduled but subject to county deadlines for assessor documentation).
Award recognition: Kim told the council the city received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 17th consecutive year, noting reviewers gave perfect scores for the city’s long‑range operating financial plans and five‑year forecast.
Next steps: Staff will continue to develop the five‑year forecast and present draft budgets per the calendar; council members were asked to provide feedback on policy levers and any items they want staff to analyze further.
