The Richardson City Council held two days of meetings to hear City Manager Don Magner present his recommendations for the 2024-2025 City budget. Highlights taken from the City's own slides:
- Property tax rate reduction of $.01877 to $0.542180
- Senior Tax Exemption increase of $15,000 to $145,000
- 3.95% increase in Streets, Alleys, Facilities and Parks Maintenance Programs
- 3.95% increase in the Economic Development Fund to $2,076,659; an increase in Economic Development Department funding of $78,434 to $1,280,818 (does not include the marketing position reassigned to the Communications Department)
- $1.9M for Home Improvement Incentive Program tax rebates
- $3.84 million in funding for pay-as-you-go capital replacements and $1.56 million for the IT replacement fund
- 3.0% merit-based market pay plan adjustment for all employees
- An increase the minimum starting salary for full-time and permanent part-time positions to $19.45
- Continued investment in public safety via 5.0% public safety steps, capital equipment replacement, mental health programs, expanded community programming, etc.
- Funding for Richardson Replants, ADA Transition Plan, Housing Needs Assessment, Citizen (CARES/CPA/CFA) and Neighborhood Association Programs, Network/Counseling Place support, Culturally Diverse Programming and Events
- 3.0% water and sewer rate increase
- $2.00 (+tax) per month rate increase to the residential solid waste rate
- $1.00 per month increase to the residential drainage fee to $5.25 per month
- Commercial drainage fee increase from $0.119 per 100 square feet of impervious area to $0.147 per 100 square feet
- Annual Arts Grants funding increased to $375,000
- Several fee adjustments to better position Sherrill Park to cover operational costs, equipment needs and fund a capital maintenance reserve
- Implementation of Phase 2 & 3 of Sherrill Park Master Plan via $6.0 million Certificates of Obligation